In
general most classes in the UK are run in Leisure Centres or similar
facilities.In this type
of environment participants sometimes forget the true meaning and
importance of Dojo Etiquette.The
bow is the basic form of respect and gratitude.Stand facing the kamidana and bow on entering and leaving the
practice area of the dojo and when stepping on or off the mat.A few minutes before practice begins, warm up and sit in seiza
(kneeling) in quiet meditation.This
time is to rid your mind of the day's problems and to prepare for
Aikido practise.The
formal bow to begin and end practice is a bow in the direction of the
kamidana (deity-shelf),
and then a mutual bow between instructor and students.Effort should be made to be on time for class.If unavoidably late, sit in seiza at the side of the mat and
wait for the instructor to acknowledge you.If it is necessary to leave early, inform the instructor before
class.Do not enter or
leave the mat area while the instructor is showing a technique.After the instructor shows a technique, students bow, choose
partners quickly, bow to each other, and begin to practice.At the end of a practice session, stop practice immediately,
bow, and quickly line up in seiza.Wait for further instruction.The expression used at the beginning of class and of each
individual practice is onegaishimasu.After each practice session, domo arigato gozaimashita is the
expression used and it is used also after class.Traditionally, the instructor's title is Sensei (Teacher) in
the dojo.The proper and
preferred way to sit during practice is in seiza.A cross-legged sitting position is acceptable if seiza is not
possible, the instructor should be informed.Always, a balanced, straight posture should be maintained.Do not lean on walls or posts, never sit with legs
outstretched.Students
should not sit with their backs to the kamidana or pass between the
instructor and the kamidana or sit on the kamidana.Dogi’s should be clean and in good repair.Body, hands and feet should be washed and clean; fingernails
and toenails must be trimmed short.All jewellery, watches and rings should be removed before
class.Do not use alcohol
or drugs before class.Without
full alertness practice can be dangerous for yourself and others.Blood is a potential source of infection.If you are bleeding, immediately leave the mat and attend to
the injury.It is
important to cover the wound thoroughly and to clean any blood from
the mat.Do not let your
blood come into contact with other students.Once class has started, students should not leave the mat
without consultation with the instructor.Please do not eat, during class, any drinks should be consumed
away from the mat area and at the discretion of the instructor.When watching a class off the mat, watch quietly from the back
of the dojo.
After
class it is traditional for the students to sweep the mat area, this
should be treated as an honour and not a chore.The western equivalent would be for the students to take up the
mat area and store it correctly.Occasionally the mat should be cleaned and sometimes repaired.Again the students should feel that it is their duty and out of
respect to do these jobs and not to try and skive out of them.
Kamidana
If
you have been to a dojo that was built and prepared according to the
Japanese tradition, you may have seen a shrine in the front of the
dojo.The Shinto alter is
called ‘Kamidana’ in
Japanese and traditionally, every household had one.Kamidana is provided
to enshrine a deity and its purpose is to be a reminder to think about
higher moral thoughts and principals.Bowing to the kamidana signifies
paying respect to God, nature and every person and object around us.It is also to show appreciation of having good health and being
fortunate enough to be able to carry out work duties, study, or if it
is in the dojo, the appreciation of being able to practise.
On
the kamidana in the shinden
are one or a few ofuda enshrined.They are sacred pieces of paper or wood received from a shine
and give divine protection against calamity and misfortune.Rice, sake, water and salt are ingredients symbolic to Shinto
and are offered to the divine.Shimenawa,
or the enclosing rope on the top of the shinden
is a symbol, which designates a holy place.On each side of the shinden are two vases with branches from
the sakaki tree; an
evergreen tree which is the sacred tree of Shinto.
Kamidana
should face south or east in a light high clean place.It can be co-located with the shomen,
the front of the dojo, but in no circumstance should the kamidana
face to the north or west.Also,
it should never be placed above an entrance or exit in the intent that
no humans can pass in and out beneath the kamidana.
The
term ‘kamiza’ in Japanese means the seat where people of high rank
or guests sits, and is the farthest from the entrance, in front of the
‘tokonoma’ or alcove in
Japan.
Enshrined
inside the Shinden.
1) Shimenawa
(enclosing rope)
2) Kagami
(mirror): an indication of pure light, which expresses the bright
clarifying light of the Gods as well as the Truth and the Mind free of
all defilements
3) Sakaki
(sacred wood)
4) Ghoshikinuno
(five-coloured cloth)
5) Tomyo
(sacred light)
6) Osonaemono
(offerings): Objects which are made as offerings every morning. Rice
(cleaned, uncooked or steamed rice), water, salt on the first of the
month, products of the mountains and sea on the fifteenth, and sake at
festival times and on the first of a crop of rice are offered.
PERSONAL
ETIQUETTE
A good Aikido student will always conduct
him, or herself, in a dignified, respectful and courteous manner. Treat
your Teacher, Coach, Instructor, Senior grades, Junior grades and fellow
students with respect at all times. Be aware of the needs of others as
well as your own needs. Develop a caring attitude towards others. At all
times in the Dojo, you should train with your body and mind giving 100%
effort and concentration.
You should always keep your body clean
and well groomed, finger, nails and toenails should be kept short. No
jewellery or metal items of any kind should be worn during training.
No food or drink should be taken into
the dojo at any time. Liquid refreshment should be restricted only to
water and this should only be allowed at the teachers discretion and
only under special conditions or circumstances.
All graded students should wear a
clean Gi when training. In this way, all students are equal, it is not
possible to judge the station in life, profession, or ability by
uniform. The only means to evaluate the person as an Aikido student is
to watch his or her techniques and evaluate them against other of equal
experience, grade or standing. This is as it should be.
The Aikido student's Gi (Uniform)
should be white. The Gi should always be kept clean, neat and in good
repair. It should be worn closed left over right for both sexes. Usually
men and boys wear nothing under their Gi top. Ladies and girls should
wear a plain white t-shirt under their top.
Rei
(Bow)
In the Dojo there is a formalised etiquette. Covering how to greet
people, how to enter and leave the Dojo, how to tidy your Gi and how to
tie your belt. These formalities are observed by all Aikido students,
regardless of grade.
Etiquette
is not a question of rank
Courtesy is based on respect; for oneself, for others and for the Dojo
(Training Hall). The basic expression of respect and courtesy, which
comes from Japanese culture, is the bow or Rei but can also mean
courtesy. These are two positions from which to bow - standing and
kneeling.
The
Standing Bow or Rei
Is performed with the feet close together and the hands, palm open and
held close to the side (against the side seam of the trousers). In Japan
ladies and girls place their hands flat against their thighs. The bow or
Rei is performed from the hips. Not just a nod of the head, dip of the
shoulders or bending at the waist. The head and eyes must remain
aligned and you should not be tempted look up or forward.
The
Kneeling Bow or Rei
This is performed in what is known as "Seiza" or
Kneeling posture, you should use your left knee first, followed by the
right knee. This originates from the days when the Samurai wore their
Katana or long sword (usually on their left side). When sitting the feet
should be crossed at the toes, with the knees about six to eight inches
apart (two fists width). The hands should rest, palms open and down on
the thighs.
When bowing from this position the
head should never touch the ground. You should look about 6 to 8 feet in
front of you and bow from the hips. Your hands should be placed palm
down. First left then the right. The hands should form a triangle using
the thumbs and fore fingers. Once again this comes from the days
of the Samurai. By placing the left hand down first it showed that you
meant no harm, because you could not draw your sword from this position.
The bow is complete when you return to the upright position.
When entering or leaving the Dojo, you
should stop just inside the doorway, face the shrine or Joseki (the
place where the Teacher and or V.I.P.'s. sit) and perform a standing Rei.
Should a student arrive when a class is in progress he or she should
enter the Dojo make a standing Rei, then kneel down in "Seiza"
and wait to be invited to join the class, either by the Teacher or by
his senior assistant. Once invited stand up make a standing bow to the
shrine or Joseki and join the class.
Before a lesson begins the class will
line up, in grade order with the senior grade nearest the Kamiza or Joseki. The
senior student will say "Seiza" followed by "Kamiza"
or "Shomen-ni-Rei" followed by "Sensei-ni-Rei". When
the lesson ends the class will line up as at the beginning. The senior
grade will call "Seiza" then "Mokuso", which means
silent meditation. You should sit with your eyes half closed thinking
about what you have been taught during the lesson. Breathing in deeply
through the nose and out through the mouth.
This period of meditation will stop
when the senior grade calls "Yame" (this means end). The next
command will be "Sensei-ni-Rei". The class bow to the teacher
and he or she returns the bow. The next command is "Kamiza-ni-Rei".
The class turn to the Kamiza or Joseki and bow again.
The class remain seated until the
Teacher and senior grades stand up. Here again when you leave the Dojo
you should face the shrine or Joseki and bow.
This bowing, is not a sign of subservience but a sign of respect shown
to the whole aspect of, the Dojo, your Teacher, your fellow students,
training with you and for the privilege of being allowed to study the
activity.
