• When entering or leaving the ‘Dojo’, always face the inside, bow and say ‘Osu’, when arriving before class, greet ‘Sensei’ and ‘Sempai’.

  • When late to class, kneel at the side of the class in ‘Seiza’. Wait with your eyes closed in ‘Mokuso’. When acknowledged, remain in ‘Seiza’ and bow with a strong ‘Osu’, and quickly join the back of the class. Students who are late for class should try harder to be on time.

  • Address your instructor as ‘Sempai’, ‘Sensei’, ‘Shihan’ or ‘Hanchi’ as the case may be.

  • Listen carefully to the instructor's directions. Remember that the instructor will not ask you to do what he or she may think you cannot do. Acknowledge all instructions with a strong ‘Osu’.

  • When asked to proceed to a position, or when lining up at the beginning of training or for some reason during training, always move as quickly as possible - do not stroll.

  • Do not break rank for any reason without permission from the instructor. Never walk between rows, or between the instructor and those training. If you must leave your position, walk behind the row you are in to either side of the class and proceed from there.

  • Do not swear, laugh, giggle, talk, lounge or act inattentively during training. Treat your training seriously; it is not a laughing matter. A ‘Karate-ka’ is always alert and well behaved. Do not waste your time and everyone else's if you are not prepared to treat your training and your fellow ‘Karate-ka’ with respect and the seriousness deserved. This includes leaving before the end of training. Unless directed by the instructor, a student should remain in the class until completion of the final bow-out.

  • Kneel on your right knee to adjust or re-tie your belt ‘Obi’. Turn to the right, away from the front of the class, or from your partner if you are working with someone, to adjust your suit, ‘Dogi’. Learn to respect your belt as a symbol of your efforts in training.

  • Your ‘Dogi’ must be washed clean and neat at all times. Your belt should be aired dry but never washed, as it symbolically contains the spirit of your hard training.

  • The instructor, whoever it may be, should be treated with the respect that you yourself would expect as common courtesy. If you cannot find it in you to show respect to a person who is taking their time to teach you, then you do not belong in a ‘Karate Dojo’.

  

  • For the sake of safety and neatness, do not wear jewellery during training, or when you are wearing your ‘Dogi’.

  • Keep your toenails and fingernails clean and cut short at all times. Always be sure your feet, nails and hands are washed clean for training. In training you often work closely with others. Nobody likes to train with someone who is dirty.

  • Be sure to go to the toilet prior to training. An accidental blow to a full bladder can be extremely dangerous. Try also to remember that it is not good for the body to train on a full stomach, so avoid eating for at least one hour before class starts.

  • Do not remove any part of your ‘Gi’ during training without being told to do so.

  • Never practice ‘Kumite’ (free-fighting) unless an instructor is present.

 

Always do your best. Osu!