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DOJO KUN RULES & ETIQUETTE WHY KARATE? PROPER ATTIRE INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHIES CLASS SCHEDULE FOR MEMBERS

Typical CLASS


Students should arrive 10 - 15 minutes early. This will allow time to practice and get individual help.

Class is started by the sensei calling “shugo” which is the Japanese for 'come together'. All students line up according to rank [belt colour] usually in two lines centred to and facing the picture of the Masters and Dojo kun - “kamiza” .


Opening Exercises - Sensei kneels, then the senior student leads class through:

  • “Seiza” - all students kneel
  • “Mukso” - [meditate] close your eyes and take deep breaths to forget about other things and be ready for class
  • “Mukso yame” - open your eyes [stop meditating]
  • “Shomen ni rei” - bow to the front kamiza - respect for the founders
  • “Sensei ni rei” - bow to the instructor
  • Sensei then selects student to lead warm up

Warm up - a number of stretches and muscle warming exercises are done to prevent injury. Some flexibility is gained from these exercises but students should stretch every day on their own to improve.


Main training can usually include some basics, kumite and kata practice. The class may be focused on specific techniques or may be a general class with a wide variety of techniques practiced. It can even be a class of strictly kata practice. When training in class one should always work to do the best techniques possible. Good habits of using the strongest and quickest technique are needed to be able to defend oneself outside the dojo. A habit of not trying hard in class may effect your ability to defend yourself.


Warm down - a period of time is allowed for students to stretch muscles that have been worked the most in class. This helps prevent muscle stiffness and soreness the next day. As well, when the body is very warm it is a good time to stretch to improve flexibility. The warm down may be lead by the sensei, or by a senior student.


Closing Exercises - Sensei kneels, then the senior student leads class through:
  • “Seiza” - all students kneel
  • “Mukso” - [meditate] close your eyes and take deep breaths to forget about other things and be ready for class
  • “Mukso yame” - open your eyes [stop meditating]
  • “Dojo Kun” - sempai leads class in repeating the dojo kun [may be spoken in English or Japanese, although beginner classes use English only]
  • “Shomen-ni rei” - bow to the front kamiza; respect for the founders
  • “Sensei-ni rei” - bow to the instructor
  • “Sempai-ni rei” - bow to senior student[s]
  • The instructors stand up first then the sempai dismisses the class and all stand up together.

Group training in class helps each student by sharing the spirit and excitement of training. For many individuals it is hard to practice at top level all the time, but in class, the spirit of others can help you try your best. This spirit is very important to training.