KOBUKAI DOJO

ETIQUETTE

ARRIVE ON TIME

There are few excuses to arriving late to class. Arriving late disrupts the class and interrupts instruction. It also demonstrates poor planning. You should arrive 10 – 15 minutes before class begins. Leaving this buffer ensures you will arrive on time. Those who do arrive late should remain silent and wait in the seiza position at the rear of the class until the instructor acknowledges them and bows them into class. You will then apologize for being late.

PAY ATTENTION & CONCENTRATE

Your instructor has spent years gathering the knowledge he is about to impart to you. Make sure to pay close attention to every detail of your instructor’s movement and explanation. Also be sure to listen to the instructions. If you are told to do five throws each, make sure you do no more or no less until told otherwise. This shows attention to detail and concentration.

BOWING

Bowing is a sign of respect and reverence in the Japanese culture. Bowing holds no religious meaning in the dojo.

You will bow toward the Kamiza upon entering the dojo as a sign of reverence to those who came before you, and out of respect for your dojo.

You will bow to your partner before you work with him as a sign of respect and acknowledgement that you are about to literally take one’s life in your own hands. When you bow at the beginning of your workout you should say “onegaishimas,” which is the formal way to say “please” meaning “please work with me”. You will then bow to your partner at the end of practice as a sign of thanks for not inflicting injury upon you. When you bow at the end of your workout with your partner you should say “arrigato gozaimas,” which is the formal way to say “thank you”.

At the beginning and end of class you will also bow to the senior student, the sensei and the kamiza as a sign of respect and thanks for their time and instruction.

When class is about to begin, the Sensei or Sempai will tell the class to line up. Sensei will be in the front of the class, Sempai ahead of him and to his left, student several feet away line up in seiza. The most senior student will line up to the Sensei’s left.

Sensei will turn to the Kamiza and say “kyotski,” meaning “come to attention”. Then he will say “Kamiza Ni Rei”. This roughly means “bow to the Seat of Honor.” Everyone will bow to the Kamiza.

Sensei will turn to the class and the Sempai (or highest ranking student) will say “Sensei Ni Rei,” which means “bow to the instructor.”

Sempai will turn to the class and the highest ranking student will say “Sempai Ni Rei,” which means “bow to the Senior.”

LEVITY IN CLASS

The attitude in class should resemble the attitude one would have in a place or reverence. A dojo is a formal atmosphere. There should not be joking or fooling around. Some dojo are more formal than others. Kobukai dojo are formal, yet maintain a fraternal atmosphere. We consider members of the dojo as family members, so although formal, our training atmosphere is not stiff or militaristic.

ATTENDANCE

You have a responsibility to your instructor and fellow students to attend class at least two times per week. This is the minimum time a student must commit to in order to be a student at Kobukai. This is the minimum time required to become proficient in Jujutsu. Attending class less than two classes per week will mean you will not progress, and shows a lack of commitment to your teacher and your fellow students. If you have to miss a class, you will contact your instructor to let him know you will miss class.

TRAINING OUTSIDE THE DOJO

It is forbidden to study at another dojo or any other martial art as a student at Kobukai. A student can only commit to one instructor and one system. When one becomes a shodan, one may train in another art after discussing the desire to do so with your Sensei. If this is an issue for students, please discuss directly with your Sensei before you formally join the dojo.

INVITING GUESTS

Although students may not realize it, the Sensei are very careful who they allow to train at the Kobukai dojo. We require that a potential student contacts the Sensei directly to discuss his or her desire to train. If the conversation is satisfactory, the Sensei may invite a potential student to visit the dojo to watch class. If upon that meeting the Sensei still feels comfortable with the person, he may invite him to try a class. Only after that time will the Sensei decide if he should try the student out at the class for a period of time. If this works out, the student will stay – if not, he will be asked to leave. Even with this level of care, occasionally we do find a student no longer fits with our group, and is asked to leave.

With this said, we ask that students do not invite guests to the dojo. If a student has an acquaintance that may be a good fit at the dojo, he should tell his Sensei about the person to see if the instructor wishes to talk to the person. If so, the Sensei will let you know. It must be understood that a Sensei forms a relationship with a student and takes on a high level of responsibility for that student.

SENIOR STUDENTS

Senior students (Yudansha) assist in running the class. They have learned all of the basic techniques of the Kobukai dojo, and have passed their Shodan (blackbelt) test. They will be referred to as Sempai. These students will be shown a high level of respect. Sempai are not licensed teachers. They may only instruct under the tutelage of their Sensei. They may not open their own dojo, but may be given permission to run classes.

OTHER SENSEI

Often Sensei from other schools or systems may be a guest of your Sensei. They must be treated with ultimate respect – not matter what art they practice. If they are a guest of your Sensei – they have his respect, and thus must have your respect. How you display your etiquette directly reflects back on your own Sensei. If a guest Sensei sees students that are respectful and hard training, then that reflects well on your own Sensei. Do not allow your own opinion about a guest’s art to influence your etiquette.

DOJO DUTIES

The dojo is your dojo. Of course it belongs in a physical sense to the Sensei of the dojo, but he is a mere caretaker of the dojo. The dojo, the training methods, techniques and traditions will outlast any one Sensei. The dojo is a place of reverence, representing a place where ancient and dangerous knowledge is passed from one generation to the next.

The dojo is more than just a training hall. Therefore, it is the responsibility of all students to ensure the dojo is clean at all times. After each class, the two most junior students will dust the mats, mop the mats if necessary, and dust the dojo. When the Sensei arrives at the next class he should not find cobwebs, dust on any surface, bandaids or training tape or empty water bottles lying about. This is disrespectful to your dojo.

From time to time students may be asked to assist in dojo maintenance. A dojo takes a lot of beating and occasionally needs repair. This is the Sensei’s responsibility, however students may be asked to help. As a Sensei gets older, senior students should ensure Sensei’s time and energy are saved for instruction, not dojo maintenance.

DOJO DUES

Your instructor devotes a huge amount of time out of his personal life to pass on knowledge to another generation. The nominal dues required to keep the dojo running and to give some tangible compensation for your instructors time should be paid on time every month. A student would not consider paying any of his other bills late, and therefore should not consider paying his monthly dues late. This would show disrespect to the dojo and to the instructor.

Traditionally, the Sensei has a general aversion to taking money for his instruction, because then a certain financial value is assigned to the knowledge that is passed on. Also, Sensei who attempt to make a lucrative living from their students dues tend to make decisions based on what is best for business, instead of what is best for the Ryu, the dojo and the students. Therefore, it is also traditional that Sensei has an occupation away from the dojo in order to meet his financial responsibilities.

TEACHING LICENSE (Menkyo)

As has been done through the centuries, the Kobukai Jujutsu headmaster will grant a teaching license (Menkyo) to a blackbelt he feels will be responsible for passing on techniques and traditions of the Ryu in a fitting manner. Such a person will have achieved the rank of Sandan (in the dan ranking system), and will have successfully fulfilled the responsibilities and shown the technical ability necessary for receiving Okuiri (entrance to secrets – blackbelt) and Morkuroku (catalog of techniques) Menju (diploma). A specific license will be provided showing that person is licensed to teach Kobukai Jujutsu. He may then open his own dojo, and ask students for dues. No blackbelt may teach at his own dojo and collect dues without said Menkyo.

YOUR SENSEI

The term Sensei is constructed of two kanji. Sen means “before” and Sei means “life”. When combined they literally mean “he who has live before you”. In other words – your Sensei has gone through all the things you are going through. He essentially has been there and done that. Of course Sensei is more than a term. He or she is the person who will devote huge portions of his personal life to your instruction and your growth. He will have to deal with all your frustrations, and find unique ways to help each individual student move forward and succeed. He will pass on traditions and techniques and knowledge and philosophy that have been passed to him. You will more than likely make a lifelong relationship with your Sensei. You will probably have a life long debt (giri) to your Sensei. On the other side of the coin – your Sensei will adopt a lifelong responsibility for you, and will care deeply about your personal success.

Your Sensei is not magical, he is a man like all others. At the same time, he is unlike others simply by his lifelong commitment to Jujutsu and to spending his life teaching the art. But he is subject to fatigue, injury, and aging like everyone else.

Seek out a Sensei to teach you Bujutsu. Do not seek out a Sensei in hopes that some ancient philosophy he will impart will change your life, or that some Japanese secret will make you an invincible warrior. Seek out a Sensei who is technically excellent, who is an amazing teacher who can bring out the best in his students. Seek out a Sensei whose concern is the success of his students, and the preservation of warrior methods and traditions. Seek out a Sensei who is caring (although he may be severe). Also remember, a competitive champion does not necessarily make an excellent Sensei.