Protocol and Etiquette                           

Here are the rules of respect and discipline that we follow in our club.

General Protocol

1. Bow on entry and exit to Dojo.

2. Bow to senior rank Sensei on entering the Dojo.

3. If a senior Sensei enters class in uniform, call class to attention and all bow to him or her.

4. If students work in pairs during lesson (as opposed to warm-up) students bow to each other before and after working together.

5. During 3rd bow at end of class, students say quietly "Domo arrigato gozaimasu".

6. During tournaments:

• Behave with a high level of dignity and self-respect,
• Score honestly and without favouritism.
• Do not argue with judges over any score or decision.
• Bow before entering and on leaving a ring as a competitor.

7. During class:

• Members will always conduct themselves with courtesy,
• Higher belts will assist lower belts and lower belts will follow their guidance respectfully,
• Members will not criticize one another,
• No alcohol, drugs, candy or smoking is permitted in the Dojo,
• No member will provoke violence nor allow himself to be provoked,
• No sparring without permission of the Sensei,
• Personal cleanliness is essential, nails clipped, feet cleaned and hair must not interfere with training,
• All members are to wear clean two piece Dogi or keikogi, training uniform. 
• Under no circumstances will any form of Karate be taught by any member to a non-member,
• When you are left alone or asked to watch a demonstration the proper position is to sit on your knees as is custom,
• At no time is a member to leave the Dojo during training. If you must go, then properly address the Sensei for his permission.

Beginning of Class Protocol

1. All members of this Dojo will respect the protocol of the Dojo. That is all students will bow upon entering the Dojo and will address the Sensei as such during class.

2. Students will line up, facing the front of the Dojo. The Sensei will be positioned in front, centre, facing the students. The position or stance will be Hachi ji dachi.

3. Sensei will use the following commands:

• Seiza - (kneel) students kneel facing the sensei, sitting on their feet and hands placed on thighs,
• Mukuso - (meditate) students will close their eyes and breath in through their nose and out through their mouth. This is to allow students a quiet time to focus concentration to the task at hand, learning karate,
• Mukuso Yame - (stop meditation) students will open their eyes,
• Shomen ni - (sensei turns to face the front wall),
• Rei - (bow) everyone places their hands in front of them on the floor, creating a triangle with the tips of their thumbs and fingers. They will then bow, bringing their upper body to a vertical position,
• Otagai ni - (students turn and face each other and bow on command), in the same manner as stated above.

4. The senior belt present in formation will give the command "sensei ni" at which time all students will face the sensei and "rei" and bow to the sensei.

5. Sensei will have everyone stand and students will return to the stance hachi ji dachi, in preparation for warm-up and drills.

6. A similar procedure is followed at the beginning and at the end of class, save that at the third bow at the beginning, students quietly say "Onegaishimasu", whereas at the end they say "Domo arrigato gozaimasu". At the end of the class any presentations of belts or announcements are made before dismissal.

Once routine has been done, sensei will have everyone stand in hachi ji dachi, then into heisoku dachi and a final rei in respect.