Five Etiquette Tips for the Dojo

For the undisciplined who sign up for martial arts in order to gain greater self-control and awareness, etiquette around the dojo often comes as a surprise. But don't forget that the word "martial" in "martial arts" refers to war - the art of war. Martial arts dojos are like miniature barracks that help people train for combat. Along with that mindset comes certain rules of etiquette that should be adhered to. Here are five tips to help you keep from making those mistakes on your first day.

1. Allow plenty of time to get dressed and be ready. If you get dressed at the dojo, make sure that you arrive with plenty of time so that you're dressed and ready for when the lesson begins. Being on time doesn't mean you're in the door when the lesson starts; it means you're out there on the floor, dressed, and properly suited up.
2. Be mindful of your superiors. You might be the boss down at the office, but when you enter the dojo, you enter a different kind of ranking system. Be mindful of the people who outrank you (you'll be able to see simply by the color of their belts). This doesn't mean you have to submit to their every whim, but it does mean you should show respect and common courtesy.
3. Keep your uniform clean. Have you ever seen a dirty uniform in a martial arts class? If not, then you don't want the first to be yours. Make sure that your uniform is clean for every martial arts lesson. It may require that you adhere to specific cleaning instructions, but once you get the hang of these washing instructions, you won't even have to think about it anymore.
4. Trim your fingernails. Believe it or not, this can actually become a pressing issue, especially if you've ever been cut by a sparring partner's fingernails. Keep your fingernails trimmed and clean. Cutting your nails can seem mundane, but if you're doing it because you take martial arts classes, you'll probably feel better about it.
5. Posture. You'll notice that many martial arts instructors have great posture. Make sure to remain mindful of your own posture - don't slouch or slump back. Stand up straight and show that you're paying attention. Posture is something that can effect the quality of your life outside of the martial arts world, so use this as an excuse to begin fixing it.

Photo Credits: BinaryApe

Originally posted 2009-08-10 03:57:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

This post involves:

art of war, belts, boss, Dojo, fingernails, martial arts classes, martial arts instructors, mindset, nails, plenty of time, posture, self control, sparring partner, superiors, surprise, train, whim

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Dojo, Martial Arts

Posted by Martial Arts Karate Kung Fu on March 17, 2010 in Dojo, Martial Arts. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.