Karate starts and ends with good manners. This is especially
important within the Dojo - the
place where training takes place.
Arrive in good time, at least 10 minutes in advance of the lesson.
Dojo fees
must be paid in advance to the club secretary or
nominated assistant. Wait for your name to be recorded so your regular
attendance can be recorded.
Always be suitably dressed before entering the Dojo. This
will be in
Karate Gi and a belt of appropriate Grade. ssociation
badges must be worn.
New starters may wear tee-shirt and track suit trousers for the first
few lessons.
No Jewellery is permitted in the Dojo. This includes
watches and earrings. If you wear a wedding ring that cannot be easily
removed, it should be covered during the lesson (e.g. with sticking
plaster).
Hair must be neat and, if long, tied back. No hair clips,
or other 'hard' head decoration should be worn.
Finger and toe nails must be kept well trimmed so as not
to present a hazard during training.
Never bring a mobile phone or any other electronic device
into the Dojo that might distract from training.
Always bow when entering or leaving the Dojo. Stop at the
entrance and assume the Musibi-Dachi
stance (heels together and hands to the side). Bow deeply from the
waist towards any senior grades within the Dojo.
As you bow say the Japanese word 'Osu
to signify respect. If the Dojo is empty when you enter, bow to the
centre of the room.
There will be some time between entering the Dojo and the
start of training. Use this time for your personal stretching and warm
up routine. You may want to use
this time to practice Kata
or techniques learnt in previous lessons.
Do not use this time for idle chit-chat. The session starts when you
enter the Dojo.
Be aware as Instructors and Senior Students (Black Belt)
enter the Dojo. As they
bow, you must face them and bow in return saying "Osu' as
a show of respect. Failure to do so is regarded as a serious breach of
etiquette.
When called to order at the start of the lesson you must
line up in grade order facing the
instructor(s) with senior grades to the right. Depending on the width
of Dojo and number of students, there may be
multiple lines. Senior grades must be in the front line.
Instructors must never be addressed by their name in the
Dojo. Senior Instructors must
always be addressed as Sensei
in the Dojo. Senior students who are assisting the instructors should
be addressed as Senpai
in the Dojo.
When receiving a direct instruction or correction from an
instructor, always respond
with "Osu" to show that you understand what is required.
Be fully attentive during the whole duration of the
lesson. Do not distract, or be
distracted, by other students.
Bottled water is allowed in the Dojo, but refreshment may
only be taken if directed by
an instructor. Juniors
may be permitted to have flavoured water (e.g. Orange Squash, Ribena,
etc). Fizzy drinks are not allowed.
No food or sweets are allowed in the Dojo at any time.
Chewing gum is prohibited.
At the start of formal training all students and
instructors must participate in the
bow. This may be executed from a kneeling position (Seiza)
or as a standing bow. At the start of training a selected student will
announce Sensei
nee Rei at which all students will bow and respond 'Osu'. The
student will then announce Senpai nee Rei
and again, all students will bow and respond with 'Osu'
At the end of formal training students will once again
line up in grade order for the final bow. A selected student will
announce
Sensei nee domo arigato gozaimashita - Rei at which all
students will bow and respond ''Osu'. The student will then announce
Senpai nee domo arigato gozaimashita - Rei” and again, all
students will bow and respond with ''Osu'.
At the end of the lesson, leave the Dojo quickly and
quietly. At the entrance, turn to
face the centre of the Dojo, and bow (with 'Osu') as you leave.