I'm sure this has come up before and please feel free to direct me to the appropriate thread.
For the last six months or so I have been training not only at my own club but also infrequently at two other dojos nearby. The other two dojos are of a different style but still aikido.
I'm finding the cross training is helping a lot with my aikido by allowing me to see how others view things and show slight variations in technique, terminology and overall instruction.
Am I wrong to do this? Recently I heard of one instructor telling his students that they must only train in that style and no other while a member of the club. To me this seems inappropriate to aikido philosophy and if nothing else can result in close-minded students who have only ever seen one style. As an example, my club uses coloured kyu grades, a little while ago I was at another club where one of the students asked if I did karate as I was wearing a green belt. I was suprised by this and just sort of laughed and said, no, I do aikido.
I admit that at first, a student should just work on the basics at their own club so that they actually have a foundation to work on, but thereafter I say explore!
Your thoughts?