Dojo Etiquette
Entering the dojo
- Upon entering the dojo, please bow and place your shoes neatly in the shoe rack.
- Please place your other belongings (gi bag, jacket, water bottles, etc.) neatly on the rack
- You may use the changing room to change in to your do-gi, but since time and space is limited, please come dressed in your do-gi if possible.
- If a senior student or teacher needs to change at the same time, please let them go first and allow them to use the larger changing room as a courtesy.
- Please bow from a standing position towards to shomen when entering or leaving the training floor. Please watch this video to learn how to bow properly.
Lining up at the begging of class
At the beginning of each class, the Instructor or senior student will announce "line up!" Please move quickly a quietly to line up facing the shomen in rank order from highest to lowest. Upon hearing this you must move quickly and quietly to stand in "heisoku dachi" or "informal stance" at your appropriate place of rank within that particular class. The lineup is done in rank order from right to left facing the "Shomen" or the “front” of the dojo. Stand in a straight line as set be those to your right.
The most senior student will announce "kiyotsukete!" to bring everyone to attention, and the Instructor will turn to the shomen.
Senior student will announce "shomen ni rei" and everyone will bow to the shomen (to the Instructor's instructors).
The Instructor will then turn to face the students and the senior student will announce "Sensei ni rei" and all students will bow to the Instructor.
Senior student will then announce "Ota gae ni rei" and everyone will bow again with intention to show respect for all potential training partners in the dojo.
There are two main types of bowing in Karate, we usually perform a standing bow, but you should know how to do bow from seiza as well:
At the beginning of each class, the Instructor or senior student will announce "line up!" Please move quickly a quietly to line up facing the shomen in rank order from highest to lowest. Upon hearing this you must move quickly and quietly to stand in "heisoku dachi" or "informal stance" at your appropriate place of rank within that particular class. The lineup is done in rank order from right to left facing the "Shomen" or the “front” of the dojo. Stand in a straight line as set be those to your right.
The most senior student will announce "kiyotsukete!" to bring everyone to attention, and the Instructor will turn to the shomen.
Senior student will announce "shomen ni rei" and everyone will bow to the shomen (to the Instructor's instructors).
The Instructor will then turn to face the students and the senior student will announce "Sensei ni rei" and all students will bow to the Instructor.
Senior student will then announce "Ota gae ni rei" and everyone will bow again with intention to show respect for all potential training partners in the dojo.
There are two main types of bowing in Karate, we usually perform a standing bow, but you should know how to do bow from seiza as well:
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Standing Informal Bow
Stand with heels together, feet pointing slightly outward. Keep knees straight; elbows straight and relaxed; hands open with fingers together and at the outside of your legs. Bend at the waist, about 20 degrees forward. Unbend. The whole bow takes about a breath's length. |
Kneeling Formal Bow (seiza)
Place left knee on the floor; then right knee. Sit down on feet. Keep back straight, shoulders relaxed, and chest out. Rest left hand (hand open, fingers together) on left thigh and right hand on right thigh, so that fingers point inward. |
Bowing in Seiza
Slide the left hand from the thigh to the floor immediately in front of the left knee, do the same with the right hand, so that the right hand motion is slightly behind (in time) the left hand motion, hands should form a triangle shape. Palms should touch the floor to show deep respect. Bow at the waist, taking a little longer than for a standing bow (forehead comes close to the floor, but does not touch it). Slide your hands back up to their initial position on the thighs, this time with the left hand slightly behind the right hand. |
Closing Protocol
Same as the above opening sequence.
Same as the above opening sequence.
Arriving Late
Arriving late is highly discouraged and should be avoided if at all possible. If you are late, please complete one push-up for every minute you are late, then kneel by the edge of the training floor in seiza and wait for the Instructor to give you permission to join class. Once you have received permission, please bow from a kneeling position, stand up, and step onto the floor if it is safe to do so. Please wait to join if the group is actively practicing a drill or technique. Do not walk in front of people. Please walk along the edges of the floor.
If you are more than 15 minutes late past the start of the session, please skip that session.
Arriving late is highly discouraged and should be avoided if at all possible. If you are late, please complete one push-up for every minute you are late, then kneel by the edge of the training floor in seiza and wait for the Instructor to give you permission to join class. Once you have received permission, please bow from a kneeling position, stand up, and step onto the floor if it is safe to do so. Please wait to join if the group is actively practicing a drill or technique. Do not walk in front of people. Please walk along the edges of the floor.
If you are more than 15 minutes late past the start of the session, please skip that session.
General Etiquette During Class
When class starts, your mind should be on karate and improving your own technique. Concentrate, give spirited kiai, don't talk unnecessarily, and practice hard.
When class starts, your mind should be on karate and improving your own technique. Concentrate, give spirited kiai, don't talk unnecessarily, and practice hard.
- Don't wear jewelry, watches, metal rings, etc. Don't chew gum.
- Whenever you're told to move from one part of the room to another, do it quickly (i.e., run, trot, or fast-walk).
- Don't pass in front of anyone, go behind and around them.
- When asked to stand back or sit back and watch, do so in a normal standing or kneeling position, silently, and without leaning on walls or legs protruding out.
- If you need to leave a class early, let the instructor know beforehand. Do not leave the training floor without permission.
- Every time you get a new partner for any exercise, bow first. Every time you're about to switch partners, bow to your old partner before moving on to the next.
- Don't make overt displays of how tired or in pain you are, no matter how tired or in pain you are. Stay calm, relax your face, breathe deeply through the nose and out through the mouth
- If you are injured or can’t continue training because of illness, ask to be excused and inform the instructor of your situation. If you have a limitation, please inform the Instructor before class.s
- When asked to count, do so in whatever language you feel comfortable with, but make the counts short, sharp, and spirited. Keep the same pace as the one set by the instructor.
- Don't say any words when you kiai. ‘Kiai’ itself, being a Japanese word should not be a kiai. Common kiai include ‘Ya!’, ‘Ei!’, ‘Hai!’. The kiai originates from the lower abdomen and not the throat. It is not a yell in the normal sense.
- Stay fully focused when Sensei or Sempai is giving instructions and do not ask irrelevant questions at that time.
- Do not come to the dojo if you are sick with something contagious like a cold or flu.
- When coughing, sneezing or yawning, be sure to cover your mouth with your elbow.
- Be sure to wear a clean uniform to every class and to observe common good hygiene. Please make sure your belt stays tied.
- Keep finger and toe nails trim so as not to scratch or cut training partners.
- Do not use strong cologne or perfumes or too much fragrance; some people are allergic to them.
- Do not consume alcohol or other mind-altering drugs or medications before training.
- Please turn off your cell phone or keep it in your car.
