What to expect in terms of Karate Etiquette with your first class

When starting a new martial art, you may not be fully aware of its cultural norms and values. Generally speaking, traditional martial arts such as Karate will take etiquette seriously when it comes to training. At the other end of the spectrum, some of the modern martial arts such as MMA and BJJ are more relaxed when it comes to gym etiquette.

Regardless, the chances are that you’re here to focus on Karate – so that is what we shall be looking at today. It should also be known that when it comes to Karate, every dojo is different. You may have some very modern-looking sensei and gym owners who are laid back and relaxed.

Again, you may find the complete opposite with some who take traditions very seriously and do things in an old school way. As a new white belt, the last thing you want to do is annoy your teacher or training partners out of unintentional disrespect. Here are some things to look out for when you start training Karate.

What to do when you first enter the dojo

In Karate and many other martial arts, upon arrival you are expected to line up in rank order. As a brand new white belt, your place is sadly at the back of the queue. Fortunately, this should serve as inspiration to improve your skills and improve your Karate. With consistent training and dedication, you should be able to get promoted and perhaps one day earn your place with the black belts.

Whatever your thoughts on lining up in this order, it’s nothing to take offense by. Try not to let your ego get in the way and remember that it’s just a structure based on hierarchy and isn’t anything personal.

Bowing

When it comes to Karate, bowing is a pretty deal. Even in more liberal Karate dojos, you will be expected to bow and you’ll typically see a lot of bowing inside the dojo. This stems from Japanese culture which is heavy on bowing as a sign of respect. Whilst bowing may seem overly formal in western culture, it’s important to remember the roots of Karate that are focused on humility and respect. So, you may feel awkward bowing to others but this is completely normal in Karate culture.

Bowing is often done as a sign of respect to your sensei and peers, and you should do it when you enter the dojo which is a polite way of saying hello. You can also do this when leaving the dojo as a formal goodbye and it’s also done just before sparring. This is to let your training partner know that you respect them as a human being.

In Karate, the bow is performed exactly as you’d see a bow in other areas of life. Just remember, it’s particularly important to do this when you first meet your sensei. It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced, world champion Karateka – you should still do this out of respect for their knowledge and years of experience.

Kneeling (seiza)

Often Karateka will sit in a very specific way. Once again, this is a nod to its past. Basically, this involves sitting down with your knees forward, leaning back on your heels. In terms of your upper body, your arms should be rested on your thighs. Sometimes, your sensei will teach a class whilst performing seiza, in front of his students who are mirroring the same kneeling position.

This can also be seen when a teacher is doing a demo move on an uke, whereby fellow practitioners will sit in seiza whilst watching the technique being shown. Seiza is deeply embedded into Karate culture and acts as a formal way of viewing and taking in information.

Imagine a teacher showing a move where students sit around showing lazy, uninterested body language. Even if unintentional, it can be taken negatively and seen as disrespectful. This is just one of many examples of how Karate remains very traditional and helps uphold moral values in the process.

Seiza bow

So far, we’ve looked at bowing whilst standing and seiza. Now, we shall look at the two in combination, which is called the seiza bow. From the previously mentioned seiza position, you should then bow your head down so it’s looking at the floor.

This is followed by placing your left hand on the floor. After the left hand has touched the ground, you should then follow it with your right hand side. Often, the seiza bow will be performed on the floor after the sensei has given a command. They could have just finished a demonstration whereby your fellow Karateka will respond by performing a seiza bow in unison. This shows acknowledgment of the instruction and appreciation for the move that has been taught.

Karate etiquette when sparring

In Karate, sparring is often referred to as Kumite and is a big part of the curriculum. Many Karateka see Kumite as the most enjoyable part of training, which is when you can put your skills into practice.

When it comes to sparring, the most important rule of them all is to keep you and your partner safe. This means you’re two people helping each other learn in a competitive environment. What it doesn’t mean is that you’re both trying to murder each other.

Being dangerous in sparring is the most common way that students will get kicked out of the gym and this is for obvious reasons. In short, you should be able to train safely in a competitive way without fear of getting knocked out.

Remember to take in what your sensei says whilst sparring and also to take any advice afterward. For instance, if a higher belt gives you a few tips then take them on board. Try not to have an ego and remember that these people are trying to help you progress. Usually, this means they know better.

General rules of the dojo

Avoid foul language

This rule should be easy enough to follow. Foul language is questionable at the best of times but has no place in a Karate dojo. This is particularly true when children are around. So, if you arrive at the dojo then please don’t swear. The likelihood is that cursing won’t get you thrown out on day one but it does set a bad tone. If you kept up with this then you could eventually get kicked out.

Arrive on time

One of the biggest irritations of any teacher is students that arrive late. Remember, this is something that you should be able to handle as an adult. If you are going to be late then let the gym know in advance. Most places should be understanding if you’re late as a one-off as random things such as bad traffic can occur. However, if you make this a habitual thing then once again, it could ultimately result in expulsion.

Keep your hygiene in check

When it comes to Karate hygiene, we mean the basics such as trimming nails, making sure you’ve washed, and that your kimono is clean. This may sound like common sense to some but is sadly hard for others to follow.

For obvious reasons, if you or your kimono isn’t clean then this can spread diseases and infection. As Karate is a contact sport, this is something to be taken seriously to avoid stuff like ringworm and other health issues.

Avoid talking over your sensei

When your sensei is talking or showing a move, it’s time to listen. This means staying silent and trying to take in what is being said or shown. Remember, you’re at Karate to learn and it isn’t a social club. At most places, there will be a friendly atmosphere and you should have time to talk before and after training. Nonetheless, please stay silent when techniques are being shown or discussed as it is quite rude. If you have a question, then raise your hand to be spoken to.

When rules go too far

So far, we’ve discussed the basic etiquette of a standard Karate dojo. Before wrapping up, it’s also important to remember that some places can be too strict and authoritarian for the wrong reasons. This can develop into a culture of hero worship and bullying. So, although Karate does have certain rules and systems, they’re pretty innocent for the most part.

Warning signs of a bad gym can be when students are forced to clean the floors after. Although you may see this in old martial arts movies, it’s not something you should do as a paying adult. Training may be important but if it eats into your personal time then this is problematic.

Also, if you see bullying behavior early on (either through words or rough Kumite) then you may want to think twice about joining the dojo. Always remember to check out other Karate places and look out for red flags. Respect is a two way street and should be reciprocated from the sensei to their students.

Conclusion

It’s important to remember that Karate is built on respect. As seen with the 20 founding instructions of Karate, it goes well beyond a physical art form and has lots of real world applications too. In short, it’s important to stay humble and grounded. Without this mentality, you can become rude, out of touch, and lose your way.

So, the formalities and etiquette in Karate aren’t there to control you or to hero worship others. Instead, they act as a rough guide in showing you how to respect others. As ever with Karate, if the world was to adopt its key principles then it would probably be a much friendlier, safer place. So, why not behave the correct way whilst in the dojo?

If you want to learn more about the rules of the dojo then check out this great book.