Dojo Rules

The Dojo (place of practice) is a special place which must be respected. Students are encourage to bow on entering and leaving the Dojo which over time develops this understanding of respect. The Dojo is cleaned and maintained by the teachers and students themselves. The following Dojo rules must be strictly adhered to in order to maintain the high safety standard.


“Treat the Dojo with respect.
Show respect to senior grades.
Be sincere in your training.
Be careful in your practice.
Help yourself by helping others.”

 

When students come to train they must

  • Be clean.
  • Have a clean karate suit (Gi).
  • Wear no jewellery or watches. (If you have a ring that you can’t remove, then put tape round it.)
  • Long hair must be tied back.
  • Finger and toenails must be cut short.
  • Any clothing must be soft (i.e. have no pins or pointed catches).
  • Be fit and ready to train, (e.g. don’t come if you have consumed alcohol, or if you are ill).
  • Try not to be late, (if you are late, kneel at the back of the Dojo until the instructor acknowledges you).

During training

  • Have the correct attitude, i.e. awareness, concentration, intention to give 100% effort.
  • Be aware of those around you, for both their protection and to protect yourself from others.
  • All actions must be controlled and there must be minimum “touch” contact only.
  • Practice every technique with attention to detail.
  • Don’t slump. If sitting, keep the legs crossed or kneel down.
  • Don’t talk unless to ask a relevant question of an instructor.
  • Give instant response to the teacher. Respond to commands with “Hai Sensei”, run into position and back.
  • Bow in response to individual commands to Sensei or if you ask a question of them.
  • Humour has its place, and may be acknowledged internally, but expressed in a restrained manner.
  • During the line up, if you join or leave the lines, do so around the outside.
  • For safety reasons, you must not leave the Dojo without informing the instructor.

Outside

  • The practice of Karate-Do should be confined to the Dojo or other private place, or when under the control of an instructor.
  • Don’t wear your Gi (Karate suit) in a public place unless under the supervision of your instructor. When travelling to or from the dojo, keep it covered with a coat for example. Be especially respectful of the Obi (belt); this should definitely not be worn in public in a casual manner.
  • Take what you learn in the way of attitude and respect away with you to practice in your daily life; in many ways the whole world is your dojo.

Safety

The safety of both the students and instructors is the first priority of the school.

Considering that Karate-Do is based on a system of self-defence using vigorous physical movement that will involve contact, special care is taken by the instructors of the school to ensure that the highest possible level of safety is maintained. If you suffer a medical condition which could be affected by your training you must contact your doctor in the first instance and then inform your instructor if need be.

Students must maintain a good level of fitness. This can be achieved by stamina work, getting sufficient sleep, and keeping to a balanced diet.

All students must take special care when practicing. The rules covered in the section “Dojo rules, etiquette and attitude” must be observed. Discipline and self-control are a pre-requisite of training. You are constantly requested to exhibit overall awareness (Zanshin) of everything around you and to concentrate on both your own actions and those of your partner(s).