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    • Dojo Kun (Training Hall Rules):

    1. Speak perfection of character
    2. Be faithful
    3. Endeavor (to excel)
    4. Respect others
    5. Refrain from violent behaviour

    Training Guidelines:

    1. Most importantly, the moment class starts, your mind should be on karate and on trying to improve your own technique. Concentrate, give spirited kiai, don’t talk unnecessarily, and practice hard! (This is under “etiquette” because doing otherwise would be disrespectful to the instructor, as well as to yourself, both of who have bothered to come.)
    2. Don’t wear jewelry, watches, etc.
    3. Don’t chew gum.
    4. Whenever you’re told to move from one part of the room to another, do it quickly (i.e., run or trot, at least). Also, don’t pass in front of anyone – go behind and around.
    5. Whenever you’re asked to stand back or sit back and watch, do so in a normal standing or kneeling position, silently, without leaning on walls or distracting others. If you’re ever in a kneeling position and you’re uncomfortable, it’s generally okay to bow and then switch to sitting cross-legged.
    6. Whenever you stand from a sitting position, switch to kneeling, bow, then stand.
    7. If you ever need to leave a class early, let the instructor know beforehand.
    8. Every time you get a new partner for any exercise, bow. Every time you’re about to switch partners, bow to your old partner before moving on to the next.
    9. Don’t make overt displays of how tired you are, no matter how tired you are.
    10. If you’re ever asked to count, count in whatever language you feel comfortable with, but make the counts short, sharp, and spirited.
    11. Follow normal rules of etiquette that apply.
    12. Finally, these aren’t strict rules followed by every dojo. Some don’t follow them exactly, in which case, you should start off erring on the side of being overly courteous but avoid doing anything to stand out, since that in itself can be interpreted as rudeness.

    Other Points To Know:

    1. Don’t say any words when you kiai. “Kiai” itself, being a Japanese word should NOT be a kiai. Common kiai include “Ya!” and “Ei!”
    2. Don’t be afraid to kiai! If you have a strong kiai, it will often spur others to work harder, as well. The overall tone of a class is set by the level of spirit of the class, which can be raised with better kiai. On the other hand, if your spirit is poor or your kiai weak, you might bring down the class spirit.
    3. Do not hesitate to ask senior students and instructors for help before or after class. Time permitting, you should try to learn kata outside of class so that during class, the instructor can spend more time making comments about your technique rather than what move comes next.