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Dojo Etiquette

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Overview

• Always be courteous and respectful.
• Bow before entering or leaving the training room.
• Do not wear shoes in the training room.
• When bowing at the start of class, say "Onegai-shimasu, Sensei" (phonetically ah-nee-gah-she-mas, sen-say), which means "Please teach me, Sensei".
• When bowing at the end of class, say "Domo arigato, Sensei" (phonetically do-mo-are-ee-gah-toe, sen-say), which means "Thank you, Sensei".
• Thank your instructor or partner for working with you.
• Keep your uniform and body clean to show respect for those who train with you.
• Keep your fingernails and toenails short and smooth to avoid injuring your taining partners.

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Before Class

Before entering the dojo, all students remove their shoes. Karate study is traditionally done in bare feet, but some students are more comfortable in socks. At the entrance to the dojo, each student bows before entering. This bow is intended to show respect for the training area and a readiness to focus on karate for the class ahead.

If you have some time before class begins, you may do individual warm-ups as you choose. Some students run, others stretch, some practice kata. Whatever you need to do to prepare yourself for the class. It is generally considered poor etiquette to sit around chatting, though you can chat while you warm up.

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Beginning and Ending Class

Sensei will announce the beginning of class by calling out, "Line up!". All students line up, highest ranking students to the left. Sensei will call "rei" and all students will bow together and say Onegai-shimasu, Sensei (pronounced: Ahnee goshee mas, Sensei). This translates to: "Please teach me, Sensei".

At the end of class, again Sensei will call "Line up!". Students return to the places in which they stood at the start of class. Sensei calls "rei" and all students bow together and say Domo arigato, Sensei (pronounced: Doh-mow oh-ree-ah-toe, Sensei). This translates to: "Thank you very much, Sensei". He responds Domo arigato, gozaimasu, which is the most polite version of "Thank you very much". Students remain bowing until Sensei says, "Rei".

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Questions about WSU Karate or about this web page may be sent to Jen White Doom: jen@wsukarate.org.

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