ETIQUETTE

"Karate begins and ends with courtesy"

DOJO ETIQUETTE

• Greet Shomen (Front of the Dojo) with rei (bow), showing respect for those that have gone before.
• Greet those who are present in the dojo by saying "hello", acknowledging the instructor "Sensei" prior to the others.
• It is prohibited to enter the dojo with shoes.
• Senior members shall be kind, considerate and helpful to the junior members and through this effort will result a friendship based on the fact that we are all striving for the same goal.
• Newer members shall always show their utmost respect for the seniors, always greeting them first.
• Profanity will not be permitted to be used in the dojo.
• It is prohibited to smoke or chew gum in the dojo.
• Address the instructor by " Sensei".
• Members shall respect the instructor who shall in turn strive to be an example in front of the students.
• Be proud in your study of Chito Ryu.
• Practice courteous manners.
• Students must bow when entering or leaving the Dojo.
• Respect the ideals of loyalty, honor and those elders who have come before you.
• Students must wear the traditional Uniform (Gi) to all practice sessions.
• Your Karate Gi (Uniform) must be clean and in proper order.
• If you arrive late for class, you must wait until the instructor invites you to join the class.
• If you must leave early, please advise the instructor as soon as possible.
• Please keep finger- and toe-nails short so as not to injure yourself or others.
• There is no Kumite (sparring) permitted without the instructor’s permission.
• Students must not engage in idle talk while in the Dojo and should remain attentive at all times.
• Students must always be courteous and helpful to each other.
• Demonstrate your utmost courtesy in regards to anything that is tied to Karate or to your DOJO, whether during training or not, both on & off premises, and especially when representing your Dojo.
• Have a clean body and clear mind before entering the DOJO.
• Resolve conflicts before they occur by not allowing them to happen.
• Students must not chew gum or candy, or eat while in the Dojo.
• Try to go to the restroom before class begins.  It is also recommended not to eat at least one hour before class.
• Refrain from outbursts and comments during class, no matter what it pertains to.
• Refrain from violent behavior.
• All classes and groups of exercises should begin and end with bowing.
• Students should never use their Karate skills, except in self-defense.

Chronologically through a class, there are "rules" to follow.  Every dojo (martial arts training hall) is run differently.  From my experience, this is the way that the classes in Chito-ryu are conducted.

Karate-ka (students studying the way of Karate), and instructors meet at the dojo.  Footwear is removed before entering.  Upon entering, the student bows to the front of the dojo (kamiza), and to the most senior instructor.  If a class has begun, the student would then sit in seiza (on knees feet extended, with butocks on heels, back straight) just off the main floor and wait for the instructor to join class.

The highest ranking instructor will call "shugo" which is a command to line up.  The most senior ranking black belt (dan) will be positioned with his/her back to the kamiza.  Then other instructors (dan level) will line up beside the senior rank to his left.  All coloured belts (kyu) will line up 8 to a row facing the black belts.  The most senior ranked student will be ahead and to the right of a lower ranked student.  Each row is usually of 8 students but it varies with space.  There is always an even number of students in the front row.  This picture may help.

3d Highest Rank Instructor

1d Next Highest rank Instructor

1 to 19 (Highest to lowest rank coloured belts)  Any late arrivals regardless of rank will simply add on to the existing row, rather than disrupt class by reforming the rows. They should have been there early as a sign of respect. However, the karate-ka who arrives late would normally kneel beside the entrance and await a senior belt's approval to join the class.

In the unusual situation where there is a large number of black belts, the two top ranking karate-ka are at the front, and the remaining black belts form rows.  Then behind them, the coloured belts form new rows.

During the beginning of class, once a line up has been called, the senior instructor looks at the most senior student to issue commands.  The first call is "Shomen-ni".  This call is to face the front.  Once the instructor has turned, then the command "rei" (sounds like lay) is given. This means to bow.  Bowing should be done in unison, following the instructors lead.  Then a command to bow is given for each instructor.  Students turn to face the instructors and bow in unison.  During the bow, students say "domo onegai shimasu" (please guide me).  Then a command of Shomen-Ni is given again, and the rows face forward.

The class then begins under the instructors directions.  A few things to remember.  When leaving an instructor, to train, always bow.  It is a sign of respect and thanks.  When a command is given, students respond by saying "Hai".  The statement is one that the student has heard and understood the instructor, even if you do not really understand. Ask your questions though. That is the purpose of training.

After training, the students are called to line up again (shugo).  Then the senior student calls to turn to the left 180°.  Then a call of Gi-O Naoshite is given which means to adjust the uniform to be presentable.  Then Shomen-Ni is given again to face front.  At this point, a call may be given to go into seiza position (kneeling) in a more formal class.  A call may be given to meditate for about 1 minute.  Then like in opening, bow to shomen, to instructors, to remaining black belts (yudansha-ni), then to partners (otagai-ni). On each bow to an instructor, or to the partners, the students say "arigato gozaimshita" (thank you).  Partners are 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, etc. If there is an odd number of students, the last person will move to the left slightly and be included with the pair in front of that student.  (in the diagram, 19 would form a triangle with 11 and 12).  Ranks will then redress the front, and any messages to the class will be given by the instructor.  Class then bows and leaves. 

If you must leave the dojo for a reason during class, ask your instructor for permission.  Upon leaving the dojo, bow to shomen.  Upon re-entering, bow to shomen.  This is out of respect for karate, and your instructors.

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