Dojo Rules & Etiquette

[ Class-Time ] [ Spirit ] [ Respect] [ Uniform & Equipment ] [ General ] [ Belt Testing ] [ Test Schedule ] [ Test Fees ]

Karate's history can be traced perhaps as far back as 5000 years. Because of this long tradition or, there are many rules of conduct and standards of etiquette of the student of Karate-do. These are necessary for everyone's safety, for maintaining an atmosphere optimal for training, and to protect the rights of others.

1. The Japanese refer to the Karate training hall as the "dojo" (doh_-joe). Dojo means more than merely a place for training; it means a place where one seeks to perfect their character, and to master their body, mind, and spirit. The dojo is considered a very special place and should be treated with respect.

2. Shoes are to be worn on the workout floor only during specific classes and never street shoes.. Shoes, bags, and clothing should be placed neatly out of the way. A Karate-ka (true student of Karate) is always precise. They keep their things neat, clean, and organized, as they should their minds and their lives.

3. As a sign of their seriousness and dedication, students should bow towards the workout area whenever coming onto or off the workout floor. It is also customary for students to bow and offer a greeting to the senior instructor present when they enter or leave the dojo.

Class-Time

1. Whenever instructed to line-up, students should run into place. Lines should be straight and by rank. The person to the right (the most senior member) will be the point on which everyone lines up. It is their duty to see that they are positioned properly. Also, it is their duty to see that the line is straight and orderly. When lining up, adults should line up ahead of teens or children of the same rank. And, teens should line up ahead of children of the same rank. (However, anyone who holds the same rank but received it a previous test are senior by virtue of time-in grade.

2. There should be no unnecessary talking when a class is in session, even if you are not in class.

3. Questions or comments during class-time should be kept to a minimum and related directly to the subject at hand. If you have a relevant question while the instructor is occupied, do not keep your hand up after you see that they have noticed that you have a question. This is distracting to others in the class and to the instructor, who may be attempting to explain an important and difficult point. What you need to know will be explained in class by the instructor. Many questions asked during class-time are about information which the instructor had already explained but the student had not heard because he or she was not paying attention.

4. There should be no unnecessary moving about during class. When not instructed to do otherwise, students should be at attention, with feet together. Students should be looking straight ahead ready for whatever will be performed next.

5. When instructed to take up a stance, a student should rush into position and "kiai" (key-eye) loudly.

6. Students should signal by raising their hands when they need help. They should stand with their feet together, at attention, whenever an instructor comes to assist them. They should bow to the instructor before and after their help and thank them or respond with "oos".

7. Students should always thank their instructor after class for their instruction.

8.If the instructor asks a student to help demonstrate a technique, the student should run to where the instructor designates and wait emotionlessly until they begin. They should bow to the instructor before and after the technique. They should do only as instructed and attack or defend with spirit. They should not cringe away or lunge weakly when executing their portion of the demonstration. If thrown, they should not attempt to get up or lift their heads until told to do so These rules are for each student's safety.

9. Students should not come onto or leave the floor during a workout without permission of the instructor. If they are sick or injured, they should notify their instructor by raising their hands. They should never leave the position until given permission as they may be accidentally struck or kicked by another student.

10. When given permission to cross the floor while a class is in session, student should whenever possible, pass behind the class. They should not pass behind the instructor or between the instructor and his or her class. When they must pass in front of another person, they should extend their open right hand (thumb up) and bow their heads slightly as they pass. (This is an old custom dating back to samurai days.)

11. If a student arrives late (which should only happen occasionally and for good reason), they should change quickly and do their opening warm-ups before stepping onto the far edge of the floor, behind the lowest ranking students. They should wait there at attention until told to join the workout. Unless instructed otherwise, they should line up at the first available spot at the end of the line, regardless of rank.

12. If a student is instructed to sit on the floor, he or she should do so by folding their legs underneath or in front of them. Also they should not lean against the walls, or lounge back against other people or objects. They should sit erect and orderly.

13. A student of higher rank always has the right of first choice of partners in paired drills. If anyone is to be left without a partner during an activity, it should always be the person of least rank within the class.

Spirit

1. A student should always train with a good spirit. "Tamashii" (tah-mah-she) is a spirit which will accept nothing short of victory, a spirit which is willing to endure whatever is necessary to achieve success. Tamashii is considered to be the soul of Karate-do. Without a strong Tamashii, one cannot rise to the higher levels of the art.

2. Students should monitor themselves closely, especially when just starting in Karate, to make sure their spirits are always high. They should immediately correct themselves should any loss of spirit, improper performance, or lack of proper etiquette occur.

3. In Karate, a student's responsibilities do not stop with his or her own performance. A student is considered a big brother or sister to anyone below them in rank. It is their duty to assist others in attaining their Tamashii. You are considered negligent if you do not assist others in this way. (Working to develop proper spirit and attitude is acceptable, however teaching Katas is by permission only; such as having a specific title which allows you to instruct your "Kohai", or having permission from your "Sensei".)

4. Students should kiai loudly and with spirit on the last repetition of a series when executing a technique, or when instructed to do so. "Kiai" means "shout of spirit". Students should strive to make it, like their spirits, as strong as possible. The kiai should be forced upward from a point below the navel (which the Japanese call the hara, or center of one's being). A students kiai should be deep and the sound should arise naturally.

5. Students should kiai at the point in their techniques where they want the greatest power. It should be timed so that it adds maximum power to their intended point of contact.

Respect

1. A student should always address the Master instructor by his title, such as Kyoshi, Shihan or Sensei. Other Black Belts or regularly designated instructors of the dojo should be addressed as Sensei, Sensei Deshi, Deshi, Sempai, or Mr., Mrs., or Miss along with their surnames (last names), whichever is appropriate.

2. A student should always respond with "hai" (yes) when addressed by an instructor and followed by the title such as "hai Shihan" or "hai Sensei."

3. Black Belts from other dojos, who are not regular students here, should be addressed as Sensei. If they are from another school originally but are not students here, they should be addressed as Sempai until designated otherwise by Kyoshi or Shihan. Black Belts should never be addressed by their first names except by others of equal or higher rank.

4. Students should strive to comply with the requests of their instructors relative to training. If it is recommended they compete in a tournament, for example, they should make every effort to do so. If they cannot comply, they should always let their instructors know as soon as possible.

5. Junior grades (those below the age of 16) are always inferior in position to adults of the same grade. This is because the power for which Karate-do is legendary is still lacking in their techniques. As such, they should always defer to those with full status.

6. Humility and respect for those below as well as above one in rank is the mark of a true martial artist. Arrogance and cockiness is the sure sign of one who is far from achieving true mastery of either themselves or the martial arts. A truly strong person is always able to be gentle because they are secure and do not feel threatened by others. A person who is weak inside demands respect, putting on a show of strength and superiority, because respect would not be forthcoming otherwise. A person who is strong does not need to brag and intimidate. They can be gentle, as their inner strength permeates everything they do without being stated, whether through word, deed, or even mannerism. Karate-do should bring peace, order, and. calmness to one's life.

Uniform & Equipment

1. Students should keep their "gis" (ghe) clean and in good order. The uniform should contain no patches or other markings that are not authorized. Authorized patches and marking are those directly related to our dojo and affiliated organizations These should only be afforded to specifically designated locations on their gi.

2. Students should wear their full uniform (unless given permission to do otherwise) and keep it as neat as possible throughout a workout. Any state of disarray should be immediately corrected during the interval between activities. Students should turn away from the instructor’s position (face the back) before straightening their uniform or retying their belts.

3. Students should possess their own weapons, supplies, and safety equipment. These latter include protective cup (mandatory for males), mouthpiece, headgear, and hand and foot pad. They should not expect others to supply these for them. Also, they should not handle other people’s equipment or supplies without their prior permission. Each student should mark his or her equipment for sure identification.

4. Inside the dojo we have specific uniform colors for positive reinforcement purposes. Only students at a specific level are allowed to wear those colors. For example, Black Belt Club members can wear black pants. Outside the dojo and for specific events the all white uniform should be worn. Exceptions must be approved by Kyoshi. Please note: A White Gi is always acceptable and correct.

General

1. Students should not enter the office area or the instructor's room unless given permission to do so each time they desire entrance. Also, they should not congregate around the office door. If the door is closed, they should knock once and wait until someone opens it. They should not open the door unless instructed to do so. It is closed because those inside cannot be disturbed.

2. Students should not go behind the counter or handle any of the equipment, books, supplies, or weapons in it. if they are interested in purchasing any of the items, they should ask the instructor, assistants, or business personnel and they will get it for them.

3. Instructors are expected to exemplify the most exacting standards of behavior within the martial arts. They are, for example, not allowed to date students. They are not allowed to intentionally hurt, offend, or insult a student. If, at any time, you feel that a member of the staff has not acted appropriately, please bring it to the immediate attention of the Head Instructor.

4. Student's dues should be kept current. Payments should be made promptly on their due-dates so that the club's financial obligations may be met on time. Each of us, our school, and Karate-do in general, will be judged by how conscientious we are in the execution of our business dealings as they will be in our personal dealings.

5. If a student miss a day or week of training, they may make the missed time up by attending more classes at their convenience.

6. Students may not train with other schools or instructors without prior permission from Kyoshi. This is standard martial arts etiquette and done to prevent confusion, a slowing of one's progress, and possible injury.

7. When attending formal karate events, specific behavior and etiquette is encouraged;

Men should open doors for the women.
If a lady gets up to leave the table, the men should stand.
A man should pull out the chair and help a woman sit at the table
Anytime you are talking to a senior adult student, address them as "Sir" or "Mame
One should never wear head covers inside a building.
When introduced to a senior Black belt it is customary to bow then shake their hand.
Place napkin on your lap while dinning
Wait till everyone at your table is served before eating.
Ask for someone to please pass something instead of reaching over some ones plate.
Never begin to eat before the senior person at the table begins.
One should sit with both feet flat on the floor and back straight while dinning.
Senior person at each table gets to sit in the position of honor - usually with his back to the entrance.

Belt Testing

1. A Karate belt will win no fights for you, and will not make you a better person. It is what you are inside, what you know and can perform that is important; that is your true rank. As such, attaining belts in Karate-do should never be your true goal. Rather, you should always strive to achieve the physical, mental, and spiritual mastery which results in a belt being awarded. Without these, a belt is worthless.

2. There is only one true rank in Karate-do; Black Belt. All belts below it are merely progress points. A Black Belt represents completion of a course of study in the martial arts. Colored belts ranks - such as yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, brown - merely represent progress towards achieving Black Belt.

3. Quitting Karate before a student is a Black Belt is like quitting school before he or she graduates. In many organizations, students who hold less than Black Belt rank lose their rank after 6 months if they quit. This is because these ranks only represent progress and not attainment of the only true rank - Black Belt. In the Japanese martial arts, all ranks below Black Belt are called "kyu" (cue) grades while Black Belt ranks are call "dan" (don) grades to note this difference.

4. Students should aim to test at each of their scheduled test dates. Tests represent fixed, short-term goals which should be successfully completed on time. As in the case of regular school exams, you should study diligently on a daily basis, cramming at the end if necessary to ensure you successfully pass. Also, missing a test date indicates a lack of self-discipline - the ability to set and achieve goals. Tamashii, or indomitable spirit, is a very important factor in Karate-do. It entails accepting a challenge and exerting whatever effort is necessary, or enduring whatever pain or labor is required, to achieve success.

Test Schedule

FIRST TEST: New students take their first progress checks for Yellow Belt and Orange Belt about every month .

NOVICE TESTS: Novice students test about every two months.

OTHER TESTS: At the brown belt belt level, testing should take place every 2- 3 months.

Time is not the important element between tests. Time requirements are established merely in general lengths of training time normally necessary to gain sufficient knowledge and skill to progress to the next level. if you have not trained regularly in class the required length of time, you might not be eligible for testing.

Many factors are weighed when considering a promotion. These include such things as your physical skill, self control, self discipline, respect, spirit, neatness, attendance and attitude - in the dojo as well as home school, and work. Each student's potential is also taken into consideration. If a student has a physical or psychological handicap, for example, he or she may be promoted to a higher rank with less demonstrated skill than a student who has greater potential.

Also, except for beginners, all students are required to successfully complete a screening process, known as Pretesting, in order to be allowed to take their next promotion examination. Pretesting is required for two reasons: 1) to see if a student is ready to test and 2) to allow them to discover prior to their actual examination, areas in need of improvement. Students may be required to retake various portions of the Pretest before qualifying for their next examination. Also, Pretest requirements may change from test to test.

The back of your attendance card is where your instructor records which items you have cleared, as you learn them. Once the required techniques have been completed, your instructor will initial and date the card. (Having a requirement cleared merely means that you have met minimum standards for that area. It doesn't mean you will necessarily pass during testing. So continue working to improve it.)

All instructors utilize an outline which specifies what should be taught each week. This is done in order that all materials required for testing are covered in class. if you miss a week of classes, you may miss certain subjects - just as you would at school. This is why it is critical that you not miss classes.

It is your responsibility to see that you are fully prepared for testing. if you are having trouble completing a Pretest area, you should ask an instructor for help. And, do not wait until just before the test to approach someone. This is seen as poor planning on your part and further proof that you are not ready to test this time.

A requirement sheet, containing all requirements for pretesting is posted here on the net. It is there to ensure you know what is required for each rank. Also, members of the SWAT and sempai team volunteer their time to help students who are having trouble. So, there is no excuse for not being ready to test. If you do not know what your requirements are, or if you do not seek help if you are having trouble, we know that you must not really want to be promoted - if you did, you would have done more to prepare yourself.

The promotion of students is considered a serious matter, As such, every every promotion is given a great deal of thought. It is highly improper to complain about not being allowed to test (which usually occurs because one missed too many classes or because Pretest requirements were not completed on time) or about not being promoted as high as one wanted to go (or thought they should go). All traditional instructors are extremely sensitive to this issue. As such, any such complaints can result in a student's expulsion, as it indicates that he or she obviously has a totally incorrect attitude and focus.

Test Fees

Test fees are required by the American Shorin Kempo Karate Association. These fees cover the cost of testing, your belt, promotion certificate, and the registration of your rank. This is standard within all accredited martial arts organizations.

Your test fees should be paid and signed-off on your test sheet prior to testing.