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Etiquette
Learning the basics
Seiza
It is expected that you will bow when entering and exiting the dojo. When returning to the mat should you have left for any reason during lessons or arrive late, please respectfully sit in seiza position and wait for permission from Sensei to join the class. It is important not to disrupt the session so others may focus.
OSS!
Osu! - Pronounced “Oss,” this is nearly a catchall word that is backed by positivity and respect. It could be translated (depending on the usage) to mean: “hi”, “hello”, “goodbye”, “respect”, “push it”, “great!.”
addressing our sensei
Our Instructor prefers to be addressed as: Sensei Brandon. You may see special guests or high ranking black belts use different terminology during their visits. Don’t forget it’s always encouraged to mimic your peers when learning the basics.
Etiquette (Lining Up)
Lining up
1/3
- When class begins, we line up shoulder to shoulder in rank order.
- Seiza (“kneel down”): done in rank order, starting with the higher ranks first.
- Mokuso (“meditate”): we take one minute to empty our minds and prepare for maximum concentration during class. Meditation should be done with eyes closed, body relaxed, and exclusive concentration on your breathing.
cont.
2/3
- Mokuso yame (“stop meditating”): gently return the focus from your inner self back to the environment you are in.
- Shomen ni rei (“bow to shomen”): we bow as a sign of respect and thanks to the founder of Shotokan and the ancestors.
- Sensei ni rei (“bow to sensei”): the entire class bows to the teacher. If sensei is not present, the command will be senpai ni rei, thus bowing to the leader of that day’s class.
cont.
3/3
- Otagai ni rei (“bow to the others”): we all symbolically bow to each other by bowing forward. This is a way of giving thanks to everyone for being present and helping us learn karate.
- We will all bow from a standing position (heels together, feet out, hands straight at our sides) together. Sensei then will turn to face us and will say "Rei" (which simply means "bow").
It's always good practice to follow along with your peers!
Spectators
We, with much respect, kindly ask that you support each session with the students overall success and development in mind. It is important to maintain a low volume level for all spectators during lessons. This consideration is essential to ensure that our students can remain focused and free from distractions. Should you feel the need to provide coaching, I kindly request that you do so during water breaks, prior to the commencement of the lesson, or after its conclusion.
Please clean up after yourself and loved ones when eating and drinking in the spectator area; this will help prevent unwanted insects. Keeping the dojo clean allows for a positive experience. Allowing our team members time to focus less on cleaning and more on our students, greatly benefits everyone.
You’re greatly appreciated and valued. We appreciate your respect and kindness when in the dojo. Thank you for being a fundamental part of your family members karate journey.
Anti-Bullying
We have a zero tolerance policy for bullying
Our dojo is against bullying! Building confidence and self respect is crucial to our anti-bullying practices. While self-defense should be a last resort, karate practice will help with all of the skills you need plus so much more. Training in Shotokan karate will help improve strength, flexibility, agility and endurance, as well as build self-esteem, confidence, awareness and self-control. Learning these kinds of skills will greatly reduce the likelihood of bullying and of any continued bullying by someone who tries it.
Remember that awareness, education and communication are the best tools we have against any problem like bullying.
Let’s work towards a common goal of keeping the dojo friendly, safe and respectful of ourselves and one another.