The
dojo
Karate is taught in a school which is called a Dojo. It is more than a
gymnasium or club. A Dojo is a cherished place of training with an atmosphere
of brotherhood between dedicated Karate students. A Dojo is a place where
you try to master the art of defence and try to find unity of mind and
body.
The word Dojo has a deeper meaning: for the dedicated student it becomes
an ideal, a way of life. Therefore the study of Karate means more than
just learning certain techniques. It fills the spirit, and the student’s
character is influenced as much as the body. The student will follow a
“road” to perfection, self-realisation, adulthood and maturity.
Karate training is based on strict discipline, thus only the dedicated
will reach the ultimate goal of the sport.
The Sensei
The Sensei is the master of the Dojo. “Sensei” is the Japanese
word for “honourable teacher”. All students must refer to
their instructor, as well as senior black belts, as “Sensei”.
The Sensei is there to give encouragement and confidence when necessary,
and also to give strict, honest criticism. Compliments are rare in the
Dojo.
Respect
for seniors
The Chief Instructor of Funakoshi Karate S.A. at the moment is Sensei
Chris Botha of Johannesburg. He is currently a 8th Dan. Instructors of
1st Dan and higher are known as “Sensei”, on and off the floor.
Brown belts are addressed as “Sempai”.
You come to a Dojo to be taught by your instructor. Anybody can teach
you Karate for years without you showing any progress. The feeling of
true skills can only be implemented by someone you respect and honour.
Do not criticise your instructors if you think they are in the wrong.
They know what they are doing, as you will find out on your road to progress.
What looks wrong today will reveal itself to be correct in your next lesson.
Trust your instructor.
When you approach an instructor, you must first bow before speaking. Before
you leave, bow again then take a few steps backwards before turning around.
Turning your back on your Sensei is a sign of disrespect. When you bow
to your instructor, you are thanking him/her for his/her tuition and showing
him/her respect.
At the end of a class, everyone stands in a line with the highest grade
to the lowest in seniority. They repeat the five maxims of Karate, whereafter
bows are taken.
The student
All Karate beginners go through pain – with experience they learn
how to avoid this. This elementary training continues until the beginner
is confident in the fighting skills and emotions. There is no place for
an anxious heart during a hard Karate practice. The use of all your power
and energy, the correct Karate breathing, and the satisfaction of fighting
against different opponents, followed with relaxation exercises, give
the Karate student a feeling of a good, healthy experience.
Every student quickly learns that the basic requirements for continual
development is to give his/her best at all times. As the student progresses,
the requirements set for him/her become more difficult.
Karate, besides being a means of self-defence, is an excellent form of
exercise. Karate is for all ages of both sexes. As Karate is important
for the young in developing character and confidence, so it is important
for older people in keeping supple and obtaining interesting exercise.
Naturally we cannot expect the same physical ability from an older man
as that of a younger man – so each must work to his own individual
capabilities and will be graded on the effort of those capabilities.
The sport Karate has become very popular in recent times. Man has always
liked to compete with his fellow men. It is important though that it is
done with the right attitude. It is important to win to honour one’s
Sensei and the hours of hard work put in by the student. But to lose is
not a serious crisis, because there cannot be a winner without a loser.
Both are important in the sport of Karate.
Karate is a system whereby we take all the available force in body and
apply it, in actions and reactions, balance, use of extensions of power,
by means of limb or body, in conjunction with thought stimulus. In applying
these various moves and forces we must at all times revise our system
for the maximum effect in our Karate. All systems have a link with the
past. It is important to remember the past when striving for the new.
Karate is a system and must always be researched.
The law of the Dojo is: Everyone practices, nothing comes without effort.
Everyone starts at the bottom, nothing is free.
Bow procedure
Partner-work: When engaging in partner-work in the Dojo, first bow to
your partner before commencing with your exercise. By doing this, you
thank your partner for practising with you. At the end of the exercise,
bow again. This is to thank your partner for having shared their knowledge
with you. The procedure is repeated with each partner change.
Kumite: At the beginning of a fight, first bow to your opponent, then
to the instructor. Again, you are thanking your opponent for practising
with you and for having shared their knowledge with you.
General: Whenever a student enters the company of higher-graded karateka,
they should approach each of these higher grades and bow as a gesture
of respect, starting with the highest grade first down to the lowest.
Again, a few steps should be taken backwards before turning around and
walking away.
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