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 must remove shoes and socks for training before walking out onto the dojo floor. Visitors, we ask that you please remove your shoes before entering the 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” means “the way” or “the path,” and “jo” 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 front 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 are not gripping the floor, then it is almost impossible to effectively defend against an opponent. Try this for yourself.

After getting into seiza (sitting position), you must close your eyes in mokuso (meditation). 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 truly learn.

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