Notes on Dojo Etiquette
by Sensei St. Hilaire
What is so damn important about dojo etiquette?  Why do I have to bow?  I don't bow to anyone!  
What is the difference if I act a certain way or not, am quiet or not, am respectful or not?  Does it
mean I can't defend myself?  If I don't bow lower than my senior - does that mean I won't be able
to kick his ass anyway? And, why do we have ranks anyway.  If I can tap out a blue belt, why
aren't I a blue belt.

These are common types of questions in the West.  The American mind has been brought up in a
society that challenges authority, has been told anyone can be great or famous, and balks at the
concept of discipline.  We have a society that believes everyone is equal, and "I'm OK, You're
OK".  Basically we live in an "I don't have to do it if I don't want to do it" society.  We relegate
important issues which require action and decision to gray areas.  We don't like Black and White,
Right and Wrong.  We feel more comfortable with "politically correct" and "socially acceptable".  
We discuss issues with our children instead of instructing our children.  We'd rather be buddies
than leaders.  At the same time, many live under the delusion that they possess leadership
qualities.  This is what leads to the statements made in the first paragraph - which I have heard
over and over again in various dojo settings.

So why should we practice a certain etiquette in the dojo, and what are those etiquettes?

I can answer the first question in one word;  Samurai.  Samurai is an adverb that has become a
noun.  The word Samurai means "to serve".  It has the same connotation as those who "serve" in
today's military.  They take up a higher cause, recognize superior authority, and act selflessly in
defense of our nation.  The Samurai did the same for his feudal lord.  Among all those who
"Serve", whether the military, law enforcement, fire prevention, or other volunteer services, there
is a common code of behavior.  This code of behavior is built from necessity.  One must conduct
oneself in a certain manner to remain part of the group; in order to "serve" an authority; in order
to interact with each other; and in order to interact with the higher authority, and those who are
enemies of said authority.  With the Samurai, that code was called Bushido, or the Way of the
Warrior.  These codes of conduct - or etiquette pass along with the warrior methods themselves.  
There are clear reasons for this.  Warrior methods are methods of war, killing, and defense.  
Knowledge of such dangerous means demand serious controls on the conduct of those who possess
such knowledge.

There is a second level of etiquette having to do with warrior groups.  These are actions necessary
to gain entrance, maintain acceptance, establish place, and gain respect within the warrior group.  
This is common among all warrior groups, whether those of the Samurai, the martial art dojo or the
military.

First is recognition that you are attempting to gain entrance into a special closed group of very
dangerous individuals.  These individuals have spent years working hard to maintain their place in
this group, and have gone through enormous amounts of pain and hardship in order to stay in this
group.  From all this work, they have gained nothing more than camaraderie, silent recognition,
and self-confidence. Some groups give medals or trophies.  But at the same time, these warriors
realize these tokens are meaningless.  It is only in battle that what they have learned matters.  
Their survival is their only meaningful trophy. The next step is to maintain your newly earned
acceptance.  Even when you are in the group - you are not part of the group for a long time.  You
have to prove yourself.  You have to show the appropriate respect, acknowledge the skill and
knowledge of seniors, and train very, very hard.  When you have done that for a long time, you will
achieve a place in that group.  It will not be a senior place - but you will be part of the clan.  Worth
spending time with, worth protecting in battle, an asset more than a liability.  It is at this point that
acting in the correct manner is most important.  A breach reflects upon the seniors and their lack
of leadership.  Their seniors will come down very hard on them.  Very hard.  With years of hard
work and perfect conduct - you may gain respect in the warrior group.

There are traditional etiquettes that have existed in the Japanese martial arts for hundreds of
years.  Each came from the necessity to maintain safety, hierarchy, battlefield competence, a good
training structure, and proper attitude toward seniors.  This last one is of utmost importance,
because it was the seniors who made life and death decisions for the group in battle.  In the dojo,
these seniors still make life and death decisions.  They know when you are about to do something
dangerous to yourself or others.  They know how to get you out of trouble.  They have years of
experience.  Listening and following their commands (ok, we'll call them suggestions) can make or
break a real self-defense situation.

Here are the basic etiquettes that should be followed, accepted, and embraced.

1. There are seniors and there are juniors.  Nobody is equal in the dojo.

2. If there was no sensei, there would be no group, he or she is the glue that holds the group
together and sets the general tone.  He or she sets the training schedule.  He or she has gone
through all the hardships the student has gone through or will go through.  Thus, all etiquettes
focus on the sensei, and their sensei (s).

3. The dojo is the "way-place".  This is the room or the building or the spot where the knowledge is
passed from one generation to the next.  This place will always be special.  It is a place where life
changes take place.  Thus the place itself deserves reverence.

THUS:

Remove your shoes outside the dojo.  You will spend alot of time on the mats, often with your face
being ground into it.  You do not want to have the bacteria, dirt , etc. that your shoes have stepped
in during the day, to now be on the mat, and thus on you.

Bow to the Kamiza and Sensei (if he is in the dojo when you enter).  With this bow, say
Onegashimasu (pronounced Oh-nay-gah-shee-mahs).  This roughly means "please teach me".  
This instantly establishes your place in the group.  You have acknowledged your instructor and his
ability to teach you something you did not know.  You acknowledge those who spent their lives
teaching your instructor.  Thus you acklowledge the warrior spirit that has passed through the
generations to you.

Clean the dojo.  Before class starts, it is the students responsibility to make sure their training hall
is dust free.  Dust the walls, the pictures, the charts, etc.  Then dust the mats.  Again the practical
purpose is to remove dust you may be breathing, and any dirt or dust from the mats before you
work on them.  Why does the student have to do this and not the owner of the dojo?  Service.  You
are serving.  You are serving the dojo, ensuring its long life.  You are serving your fellow students,
giving them a clean environment.  Again, you are establishing your place in the group.  If someone
more senior than you is already cleaning - insist on taking over the cleaning from them. They have
spent months or years cleaning, and establishing their place - now the junior must also do so.  Only
when you show care for your dojo and concern for others in the group, will you be accepted.

Be sure your training uniform is clean before every class.  Hygiene in a place where sweatly
bodies are in constant contact is of utmost importance.  Viral, bacterial and fungal diseases are
easily spread.  Be sure your belt is tied tightly and correctly.  Seniors look for attention to detail.  
When you show a lack of attention to detail, seniors will think you will also ignore detail in
technique.  That could cause injury in class, or death of yourself or your dojo mate in battle.

Bowing during class follows this methodology.  Sensei will lead opening bows to the kamiza and
instructors.  Student bows should be slightly longer than those they bow toward.  Bowing is a sign
of respect.  Everyone wants to receive respect.  The fastest route to receiving respect is to give
respect with conviction.

After sensei gives instruction, a short bow is necessary.  This thanks him/her for the instruction,
and also signals clear understanding of his training directions.  One then bows to their partner.  
This acknowledges ones acceptance that you and your partner are about to engage in a dangerous
activity.  Each knows the other could mistakenly hurt them. Each knows the other could hurt them
on purpose.  Thus a symbol of mutual respect is necessary to set the correct tone in training.  
When you are finished working with a partner, you should bow as a sign of respectful thanks that
your partner did not injure you.

During training, one must suspect that they are under constant surveillance.  Which, of course,
they are.  Sensei and/or Sempai are always watching.  Watching your progression, technically and
mentally.  Watching your attitude and etiquette.  They are looking for any flaw that tells them you
should not be a trusted or respected member of their group.  Remember this.  I have personally,
and more than once said to myself "I am not teaching that technique to that person, because they
lack the mental control to use it safely." You are under scrutiny.  Even more so in a dojo that is run
by a traditional Sensei who is not concerned with making a certain amount of money, or running a
business.  He picks and chooses who trains and who does not train.  Student population is not of
importance.

Training hard and with precision and conviction shows the seniors and Sensei you are an asset to
the warrior group.  Laziness, and sloppy training tells them you are a liability.  Someday their own
life could be in your hands.  They keep that in mind always.  And that tells them who should stay
and who should go.

The most difficult part of dojo etiquette is letting go of the ego.  It is hard, when you may be a
doctor, or a police chief, or a captain in the army, to come to a dojo and relinquish control.  It is
hard to accept other authority - when in other parts of your life you are the authority. Even if you
do not hold a high place in society or a certain social group, it is difficult to accept that you are now
under the authority of 1000 years of warriorship.  Your sensei is a vessel of this authority.  And
you must accept this.  With training, and work, and understanding, and skill, you too may someday
be a sensei.  This, of course, never releases you from the On (debt) you owe your instructor, and
does not ever make you equal.  Your students will be in the same boat.



A good book to read on many of these matters is "Living The Martial Way" by Maj. Forrest E.
Morgan.