Part Three
The DOJO
It is a Japanese word for "karate school". Most dojos are similar in many ways, They may be different in size and in some of their equipment, but the basic dojo had to have a certain features.
Description of a Dojo
When u look at the dojo from the outside, you probably see lettering in the windows that tells you the karate club's name and something about it. You may also see a sign that represents the club or the organization that represents the club or the organization to which it belongs. Clubs that compete in lots of contests probably have many trophies in their windows, Don't be fooled by this. Dojos that have lots of trophies probably practice sports karate, while others that are more traditional do not spend a great deal of time training for sports karate -- they are more interested in self defense.
When you go through the door and enter the dojo, there is probably an office to the side or a receptionist. Some have a wall between the entrance and the training area so that students can train in private. If the dojo is large, there may be an area for parents to sit and watch class.
There are changing rooms for boys and girls, but the main part of the dojo is the training are. This may vary in size, but it is always the biggest section. On one side of the training area there are probably photographs of karate masters hanging on the wall. On either side of the pictures you may see American and Japanese flags.
Some schools follow the Japanese tradition of having a name board on the wall. There is a section for each rank, and students who have that rank are listed there.
The Rules and Etiquette
Every karate school has very strict rules that you must follow. Let's look at the ones that designed for safety first.
Karate practice takes place in a dojo, which usually has a wood or a mat floor. The floor is kept very clean. You are not allows to enter the training area wearing shoes. All training takes place in bare feet. If you try to train with your socks on, you will probably slip and hurt yourself. If you train with your shoes on, you will not be able to develop any strength or flexibility in your feet, and you may injure your fellow students.
In order to have ten, twenty, thirty, or more people train safety at the same time, the class must be well organized. Normally, students line up in a row and face the instructor. The students are supposed to stand attention, with their feet about shoulder width apart and fists in front of the lower body. This is a natural position, and it is easy to move from this position into karate stances. Each time a new move is to be done, the instructor gives command, and all the students do the move together. This prevents people from bumping into each other and getting hurt.
Don't run around on the training floor before class begins -- this is time for you to practice on your own. Fooling around has no place in a karate dojo, and you may get in trouble with your instructor if you play around.
Do not enter or leave the training area without your instructor's permission. If you don't feel well or are injured and the instructor doesn't see you leave, there may be no one to help you.
A dangerous thing that might not think about are long fingernails and toenails. Many students have been cut badly by them, and girls who have long finger-nails can't make a fist correctly. Keep your nails cut short.
When you practice sparring drills with your training partners, make sure not to make contact with them when you kick or punch. Karate blows can injure someone, so you must be very careful.
Never aim at the eyes, throat, groin, or knee joint of your training partner's body during sparring drills. If you make a mistake and strike your training partner by accident, you may cause a serious injury. Do not spar without an instructor watching. Sparring matches can easily get our of control, and there may be injuries.
In all training you must listen carefully to the teacher's instructions and follow them closely, That way no one will get hurt.
Other rules are designed to show our respect for the past masters, our instructors, and other students. These include the proper way to speak to the instructors and how to bow to them and our fellow students.
Words to know
1. Kohai - one who is junior to you
2. Mokuso - the command to meditate
3. Mokuso yame - the command to stop meditating
4. Seiza - the command to kneel before and after practice
5. Senpai - one who is senior to you
6. Sensei ni rei - the command to bow to the teacher
7. Shinzen ni rei - the command to bow to the pictures of the past masters
Meditation - meditating at the beginning and end or practice has many benefits. You are supposed to clear your mind of any concerns or problems so that you can concentrate on karate training. It is not a religious practice, it is just designed to help you concentrate. Some schools only meditate for a half minute, and some meditate for several minutes.
Safety tips
1. Keep your fingernails and toenails short.
2. Pay close attention to the teacher's instructions.
3. Do not fool around in class.
4. Concentrate when you practice sparring drills with an opponent so that you do not accidentally make contact.
5. Do not aim your punches, strikes, or kicks at your training partner's eyes, throat, groin, or knee joint.
6. Time your blocks correctly to that you block against your opponent's wrist, not his or her elbow joint.
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