PERSONAL ETIQUETTE

Always keep your gi clean.  Repair any rips or tears.

We keep our gi clean as a sign of self-respect. As the gi is a representation of the style of karate we train in, a clean gi is also a sign of respect to the style. 

Historical note:  A samurai would dress knowing they might die in battle that day.  A samurai did not wish to meet his “maker” in torn or un-clean clothes so he made every effort to put great care into what he was wearing.  This tradition is loosely followed today in many funerals with the deceased who is dressed in their best clothing in preparation for their burial.

Your Gi should be washed often to remove the stains and sweat accumulated during class.  In the summer this may be more than once a week. 

Do not wash your belt!  The dirt and sweat you accumulate on you belt is sign of your progress and commitment.  Keep that with you forever.

During the summer months one may wear a plain or Seido t-shirt in place of a gi top.  The shirt must be full length.  The summer is defined as the time after the spring semester final exams and the start of “official” fall semester classes

If it becomes necessary to straighten up your gi in class, kneel down on your left knee and turn way from your instructor and the shinzen, but never turn your back to them.

Do not wear jewelry to class.  The jewelry may break or it could injure you or another person.  The only exception is that a plain (no jewels) wedding band may be worn.

Fingernails and toenails should be kept short.

When accepting or passing items to one another do so with two hands.  This is a sign of trust to the other person.

Historical note:  A handshake or a salute is done with the right hand.  Both the samurai  and medieval knights trained to carry their weapons on their left side to be utilized by their right hand.  A salute or handshake with the right hand shows the other person that one’s “weapon hand” was empty (a salute), or that they would not draw their weapon on the other person (a handshake).

SPARRING ETIQUETTE

Those belt ranks allowed to spar will wear full gear.  This is to protect both students.

Full gear consists of:

            Helmet

            Mouth guard

            Hand pads (fingers covered)

            Foot pads (toes and heels covered)

            Athletic cup – required for men, optional for women

            Chest protector – optional for all

            Shin/forearm guards – optional for all

Alternate activities will be found for the student if he/she does not have full gear.

Always bow to your partner before and after each sparring match.  This is thanking them for giving you the opportunity to train.

In a sparring match it is up to the senior belt to control the speed of the match.  Sparring is to allow both competitors an opportunity to exchange technique without the confines of a pre-ordained set of movements.  This is not an opportunity for revenge,  to prove status, or to take our personal frustrations.  There is no place for these when sparring.

Sparring is an opportunity to put into practice the techniques you have been learning in your kata and in your kihon.  Do not come to class only expecting to participate in free-fighting.  Your technique is paramount and just as important.

If the person you are sparring with is going harder than you can handle, step back and kneel on one knee.

Communicate with your partner – are they going too hard, too soft, too fast, too slow?

Sparring is part of your training – be open to accept instruction.

ABSENCE FROM  CLASS

If you plan to leave class early let the instructor know ahead of time so they can excuse you at the appropriate time.  It is considered extremely disrespectful to simply leave without explanation.

If you intend to be away from training for more than a week, inform the senior instructor.  Too often students are away and the instructor is left wondering if there is a problem.

Similar care is required if you wish to leave the school permanently. 

Remember…Technique before Strength, Spirit before Technique. 

It is better for you to have a positive attitude and to try your best than to have the best form.  In the same manner, it is better for you to perfect your technique than to just use power and have your form be sloppy.

1 2 3