Beginner’s guidelines
If you are a beginner, we hope you will enjoy exploring this wonderful martial art with us. Here are a few points for your guidance.
You don’t need to immediately buy a gi or uniform for training. Initially it is sufficient to wear something comfortable, like a track suit.
Train within your abilities. It’s important to try and stretch yourself to learn new things but you can take your time and learn things at a pace that suits you. Your partner will be happy to adjust their training to suit your level of ability.
Read the information on Dojo Etiquette and the other guidelines on the next page carefully. Don’t be too anxious about forgetting a bow here and there, sincerity is more important and you will get used to the etiquette.
Sometimes beginners worry that they are interfering with other students’ practice, but this is simply not true. It is very helpful for other students to train with beginners, so you can relax and enjoy being part of the club.
Dojo Etiquette
Bowing before entering and leaving the mats and before and after working with a partner help to train to the best of your ability. As such, it indicates an open-minded attitude and a willingness to learn from one’s teachers and fellow students.
Bowing to a partner may serve to remind you that your partner is a person – not a practice dummy. Always train within the limits of your partner’s abilities.
Be on time for class. If you do happen to arrive late, warm up quietly beside the mats and then join the class after asking for permission to the instructor to step on the mats.
If you should have to leave the mat or dojo for any reason during class, approach the instructor and notify him/her.
Keep you personal hygiene up to scratch. Keep your finger and toenails cut short, keep your gi clean and free of offensive odours.
Remove watches, rings and other jewellery before practice.
Be aware that if you are visiting another dojo the etiquette may vary slightly from ours. For example, in some dojos students line up in grade order at the start of the class, with lower grades to the left. If you are visiting another dojo, be observant, or ask if in doubt.
These are only guidelines of general dojo etiquette. Always feel free to approach your instructor with any questions or queries you may have.
Training guidelines
Respect your training partner no matter what their grade. There is something to be learned from everyone.
Levels of technical skill vary, but students should strive to remain humble and to cultivate a beginner’s mind, open to all possibilities.
All present in the dojo have a duty of care towards one another during training.
The student-teacher relationship should be one of mutual respect and guidance, growing out of harmonious interaction on the mat.
If you have a minor injury, inform your instructor and also your training partner to make them aware of the problem.
To make the most of the training time, carry out the directives of the instructor promptly. Do not keep the rest of the class waiting for you
During class, if the instructor is assisting a group in your vicinity, it is frequently considered appropriate to suspend your own training so that the instructor has adequate room to demonstrate.