HOMBO DOJO
Gateway Primary School
Caplan Street
Lisson Grove
London
NW8 8LN
Tel: 07957 634270k
DOJO ETIQUETTE & RULES
When entering the dojo, take off your hat and shoes, put out any cigarettes, dispose of chewing gum, turn off radios, and stop any other distracting practices that might interfere with your training. Visitors are also expected to observe these guidelines for conduct.
At the dojo, change from your street clothes and put on a training uniform (a dogi if possible). This will help you shed outside concerns and focus on the current task - your training.
When you greet a fellow student or an instructor, greet them by bowing and saying "Oss!" This is customary in the practice of Japanese Budo.
When coming onto or leaving the dojo floor, bow to the front of the dojo. This expresses your intent to concentrate fully on your training, and provides an opportunity to remind yourself to be grateful for the chance to train in karate.
When the class is ready to begin, all students should line up in a straight line.
If you arrive for class late (a practice that is not encouraged), it is proper etiquette to wait standing just outside the training floort quietly, until Sensei invites you to join in. Once you enter onto the floor, you should kneel at the back of class, close your eyes and meditate for a few moments to calm your mind to prepare for class.
Then, do 30 push-ups before joining in the warm-up. This is an excellent way of warming up quickly, and helps you to remind yourself to be on time in the future.
If you arrive late for line-up, but before Sensei has come onto the floor, you should take your place in line after the white belts so as not to disturb the class.
During the class, any student wishing to leave the floor or to practice something other than what the class is practising, must first ask the permission of the instructor.
Always begin and end your training with your partner by bowing to each other.
Never shout, curse, or become angry on the floor.
Talking on the floor during class is impolite and interferes with the concentration of other students. When discussion is necessary, keep it brief and quiet.
It is very poor etiquette to question a teacher's or senior's authority or technical knowledge, and especially so during a class. If you are confused about something, ask respectfully. Don't insist on your point of view.
When the class is ending, you should quickly line up and stand before the instructor. After the class is over, you should find your partners and bow to each of them, thanking them for training with you.
Other important aspects of etiquette deal with more commonplace concerns. Please remeber to pay your dues on time. It is easy in our enjoyment of karate to sometimes forget our responsibilities to karate, and to our instructors.
