Dojo
Etiquette and Terminology
As a beginner you will find that etiquette in a martial art dojo is somewhat different than that which you would encounter in other activities; Karate follows a practice of respect and the etiquette, this forms a common bond the world over.
Entering the Dojo
- Always remove footwear before entering a Dojo
- Bow at the doorway upon entering and leaving the Dojo
- If you arrive late to a class, step into the dojo and kneel, wait for Sensei to call you to enter.
How to Tie Your Belt click here to see the video
SENSEI
A literal translation means “teacher”; however, it is usually reserved for the chief instructor of the dojo, or visiting instructors from another dojo.
SEMPAI
Students ranked higher than you
OSU
This term is used frequently in the dojo and is derived from “Onore Wa Shinobu”, meaning “I will persevere”. The use of this term is broad and usually indicates an attitude of respect. Examples of such use:
- At the beginning and ending of a class under the direction of the sempai with a kneeling bow
- When answering a question, YES, to a question directed at you from the instructor
- In a class session in response to a direction given by the instructor, indicating the class has understood the direction
BEGINNING AND ENDING A CLASS
The following is the sequence of commands that you will be expected to follow at the opening and closing of a class.
SHUGO - Come together – line up facing the front, in order of rank, with seniors to your right
SEIZA - Knee
MOKSO – Clear the mind, meditate – close the eyes and take slow deep breaths to relax and clear all thoughts other than the ones for training.
MOKSO YAME – Stop meditating – open the eyes
DOJO KUN – Philosophy of dojo – repeat after the sempai (at end of class only) (click here for dojo kun)
SHOMEN-NI-REI – Kneeling bow to the front
SENSEI-NI-REI – Kneeling box to the instructor
After the instructor leaves the Sempai will dismiss the students.
There should be no talking or fidgeting during this time.
General Hints For Beginners
One of the most important principles of martial arts to remember is “mutual benefit”; all members are here to help each other, so don’t be afraid in asking for help or advice no matter how trivial you may think your question sounds.
During your first few classes don’t try to keep up with the other members or get discouraged when you get tired or can’t keep up. Everyone is different and will progress at their own pace, your Sensei understands this.
General Terminology
- Do
- Literally means the way or path. The DO is the way of self development.
- Kiai
- Short, sharp, audible sound made at the instant of focus to help tense the body and focus the mind for maximum effectiveness.
- Kime
- Focus, the concentration of mind and body to achieve maximum effectiveness.
- Zanshin
- The state of total awareness and composure before, during and after an encounter.
- Jodan
- Face Level
- Chudan
- Stomach Level
- Gedan
- Lower Level
- Sensei
- Teacher
- Sempai
- Senior Belt
- Ken
- Fist
- Seiken
- Fore Fist
- Ippon-ken
- One Knuckle Fist
- Nakadaka-ken
- Middle Knuckle Fist
- Nukite
- Spear Hand
- Ippon-nukite
- One Finger Spear Hand
- Dojo
- Training Hall
- Shihai
- Tournament
- Makiwara
- Punching Board
- Hajime
- Begin
- Yame
- Finish
- Enorae
- Relax
- Mokso
- Breathing Exercise
- Seiza
- Formal Kneeling Position
- Gi
- Uniform
- Obi
- Belt
- Kyu
- Junior Rank
- Dan
- Senior Rank
- Shihan
- Master
- Mawatte
- Turn
- Shugo
- Assemble (line up)
- Yoi
- Ready
- Karate-ka
- Person practising Karate
Stances (dachi)
- Zenkutsu-dachi
- Front Stance
- Kiba-dachi
- Side Stance
- Kokutsu-dachi
- Back Stance
- Fudo-dachi
- Rooted Stance
- Hangetsu-dachi
- Half-Moon Stance
- Sanchin-dachi
- Hour-Glass Stance
- Neiko Ashi-dachi
- Cat Stance
- Shiko-dachi
- Square Stance
- Heisoku-dachi
- Feet and toes together
- Musubi-dachi
- Heels together, toes at 45 degrees
- Hachiji-dachi
- Feet shoulder Width and pointed out
- Heiko-dachi
- Feet shoulder width and straight
- Uchu Hachiji-dachi
- Feet shoulder width and pointed in
- Teiji-dachi
- T-Angled Stance
- Renoji-dachi
- L-Angled stance
Counting
- Ichi
- One
- Ni
- Two
- San
- Three
- Shi
- Four
- Go
- Five
- Roku
- Six
- Shichi
- Seven
- Hachi
- Eight
- Ku
- Nine
- Ju
- Ten
Blocking (uke)
- Age-uke
- Rising Block
- Soto Ude-uke
- Outside Forearm Block
- Uchi Ude-uke
- Inside Forearm Block
- Shoto-uke
- Knife Hand Block
- Gedan-barei
- Downward Block
- Juji-uke
- X-Block
- Haishu-uke
- Backhand Block
- Kakiwaki-uke
- Inside Wedge Hand Block
- Moroto-uke
- Reinforced Block
- Nagashi-uke
- Sweeping Block Knife
- Tate Shuto-uk
- Hand Block (arm straight)
Punching (tsuki)
- Choku-tsuki
- Front Punch
- Oi-tsuki
- Lunge Punch
- Gyaku-tsuki
- Reverse Punch
- Kizami-tsuki
- Leading Hand Jab
- Sanbon-tsuki
- Three Punch Combination
- Ura-tsuki
- Half Punch
- Kage-tsuki
- Hook Punch
- Mawashi-tsuki
- Round House Punch
- Moroto-tsuki
- Double Punch
- Yama-tsuki
- Mountain Punch
- Age-tsuki
- Rising Punch
Kicking (geri)
- Mae-geri
- Front Snap Kick
- Yoko-geri Keage
- Side Snap Kick
- Yoko-geri Kekomi
- Side Thrust Kick
- Mawashi-geri
- Roundhouse Kick
- Fumikomi-geri
- Downward Thrust Kick
- Ushiro-geri
- Back Thrust Kick
- Ashi-barei
- Knee Kick
- Naimae-ashi
- Returning Wave Kick
- Mikasuki-geri
- Crescent Kick
- Gyaku Mawashi-geri
- Reverse Round House Kick
- Kakato-geri
- Axe Kick
Striking (uchi)
- Uraken
- Back Fist
- Shuto-uchi
- Knife Hand Strike
- Teisho-uchi
- Palm Heel Strike
- Kentsui-uchi
- Hammer Fist Strike
- Empi-uchi
- Elbow Strike
- Haito-uchi
- Ridge Hand Strike
- Nukite
- Spear Hand
Sparring (kumite)
- Sanbon Kumite
- Three Step Basic Sparring
- Gohon Kumite
- Five Step Basic Sparring
- Kihon Ippon Kumite
- One Step Basic Sparring
- Jiyu Ippon Kumite
- One Step Semi Free Sparring
- Jiyu Kumite
- Sparring Free Sparring