Exclusivity In Karate - Why Can't I Cub Hop?

When it comes to karate clubs, you'll be in one of two types - those who let you train with other clubs and those who don't. The former say that the more experience you get and different teachers you encounter, the more you'll learn. This is undeniably true. The latter say that loyalty is of primary importance and if your club competes in competitions (and you're a competition candidate) clearly club-hopping represents a logistical problem. I see their point. So when does expected club loyalty become weird control freakery? This is not as easy to answer as it first appears. Initially as any Westerner would be, I was deeply suspicious of controlling behavior. Surely, I should be free to learn from any number of Sensei? However, the origins of karate demanded from a student deep loyalty to both their club members and Sensei and this in turn would be rewarded. The point was that karate clubs back in the day, were a bit like an old fashioned marriages - for better or for worse and till death do us part. Only in this way do you get the full reward of life-long partnership but at the expense of short term fun. Your choice, it's a hard one.