Dojo Etiquette

Take off all your jewelry before training, including earrings, watches, large rings, or necklaces. This is good common sense as well as a rule of the dojo. Students remove shoes and socks for training before you walk out onto the dojo floor, and visitors, please remove shoes before entering dojo visitor viewing area. This is practical, since we train in bare feet on the floor, and it is a cultural tradition of Shotokan Karate.

If you arrive to class late, change quickly, go to the dojo floor, bow, then sit in the seiza (sitting) position. Look at the instructor and wait for permission to join the class. At this club, there is no religious or subservience significance involved in bowing. It is a tradition and custom associated with the art of Okinawan/Japanese karate, and should be viewed as a demonstration of mutual respect for the art and one another.

As Master Funakoshi states, "Without courtesy you cannot practice Karate-do." This applies not only to our training but also to life in general. The word "dojo" is actually two words. "do" which means "the way" or "the path" and ‘jo’ which means ‘the place’. When the two words are combined it means "the place where the way is studied’. The dojo is the place where we learn to live together as human beings. This is a serious subject and therefore we must always follow dojo etiquette. This is the first step to practicing Karate-do.

Upon entering the doorway of the dojo, face shomen side, (the side with Master Funakoshi’s picture) and bow. This is called ritsu-rei and shows deep respect to the teachings of Master Funakoshi as well as the seriousness of your study. When the instructor says line up, move as fast as possible to form the line. Remember, more than two steps, you must run. Always keep both balls of the feet in contact with the floor when kneeling down or rising to the standing position. If your posture is not straight and your feet not gripping the floor, then it is almost impossible to effectively defend against an opponent. Try this for yourself.

After making seiza (sitting position), then you must close your eyes in mokuso. This term means to cleanse or make blank your mind to prepare for training. You have to forget all your thoughts and concentrate only on what the instructor is trying to convey. By only existing in the moment can you really learn.

After the command mokuso yame, you should open your eyes. Shomen ni rei - bow to the shomen (front of the dojo), Sensei ni rei - bow to the instructor. Every time you bow push your ego further down and become as empty as possible.

A typical class format includes:

Kihon (Basics) Karate is built upon a strong foundation of basic moves that include specific stances, punches, blocks, and kicks. Proper body alignment and movement are emphasized, as are concentration and focus. During the practice of basics, students learn stability, balance, proper technique, and the principles of body contraction and relaxation. Basics are practiced during every training session by every level of karateka (karate student).

Kumite (Sparring) They can be roughly divided into two types: those which emphasize muscle strengthening and body building, and those that concentrate more on speed training and the development of lighting fast reflexes

Kata (Forms) Kata, the formal movements of karate, are its very essence. They are sequences of movements which simulate attacks and defenses against a number of imaginary enemies. Katas contain all the basic techniques and stances, which are necessary to attain rhythm and coordination. Each kata begins with a block to emphasize the use of karate strictly for self-defense.

According to Master Funakoshi, kumite is ". ..a form used to apply the offensive and defensive techniques practiced in the kata under more realistic condition in which, by prearrangement between the participants, one applies offensive and the other defensive techniques." In other words, where the practice of kata assumes an imaginary opponent, kumite is practiced with another karateka in alternating roles of defender and aggressor.

Kumite allows the practical application of the moves found in the kata. Contact is not allowed to the face and there may only be light contact to the body. During kumite, students learn proper distancing, timing, body-shifting, and focus. Kumite always begins and ends with sparring partners bowing to each other as an indication of respect for each other. Jiyu Kumite is free sparring, which is sparring engaged in without prearrangement. It is practiced by higher belts and is a form of training that is developed through the practice of step sparring (prearranged sparring).

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