Basic Dojo Etiquette

                A Dojo is a place where people practice martial arts. The word Dojo literally means ‘The way place’   Do meaning way and Jo meaning place. Students entering a Dojo are required to bow when entering and leaving, as a sign of respect. This is done by standing in the doorway while facing inward and bow. Students are required to take off shoes, jackets, and hats before entering the main practice area.  Shoes should be lined up in a neat fashion. Once the student has entered, it is tradition that the student bows to the Sensei (instructor) and to other high-ranking students (sempai).

                The front wall of the Dojo is called the shoemn, meaning place of honor. Students line up facing the shoemn starting on the left continuing to the right. The students line up by rank with the highest ranking student lining up first and the lowest ranking student lining up last. When everyone is lined up the highest-ranking student will command the students bow towards the Instructor and the Instructor will return the bow.

Practice sessions vary but begin or end with a friendship bow then the Dojo Kun (school oath). Students are required to memorize and follow the oath. To recite the oath students face the instructor, raise their right hand, and recite the oath loudly.

1.    RESPECT ALL OTHERS

2.   PRACTICE A SENSE OF HARMONY

3.   GIVE OUR MINDS TO APPLICATION

4.   LEARN TO PERSEVERE

5.    AS STUDENTS, AND LATER AS TEACHERS, I WILL FOLLOW DOJO RULES

6.    I WILL NEVER MISUSE MY KARATE

                The students end class by bowing to the instructor, the highest-ranking student commands for the friendship bow. Students (usually the lower ranking students) will then clean and pick up the Dojo before leaving.  Leaving the Dojo, students should always remove their belt.  If the uniform is taken off it should be folded before leaving.

Uniform Care

                The uniform (GI) allows the martial artist to perform techniques comfortably and with out restriction. The traditional uniform must be neat and clean and fit properly with all alterations done before class begins. Beginning students will wear white uniforms, while the advanced students will get a choice of various colored uniforms depending on the students rank. The belt worn around the waist of a student is multifunctional. First it is used to keep the uniform top closed and is used to signify the students ability level or rank. The martial artist should not wash their belt or let the belt touch the floor. The dirt and wear and tear of a belt signifies all the work that has gone into getting it that way and the student should be proud of it.

Personal Hygiene

                The martial arts student should present to class with a clean personal hygiene because many times students are in close proximal contact with other students. Fingernails should be kept short and long hair should be pulled back into a ponytail. A student should not attend class if that student is not feeling well because the possibility of spreading illness to other students.

 Misuse of  Martial Arts

                Misuse of martial arts will not be tolerated at this school. Martial arts are to be used outside the Dojo in a self-defense situation only. The skills that you will learn as a student can be very dangerous outside the school if used on an untrained person. This rule includes using karate on brothers or sisters at home. Anyone found misusing their martial arts training will be subject to sanctions up to and including dismissal from school with no monetary refunds. A student of martial arts must be very careful when using force even in a self-defense situation because of the training the student has received the victim can easily become the aggressor.