Original subtitles

The dojo is a very special place, unlike any other martial arts school or gym.

And in today's video, you're gonna learn about the correct

behavior, matters and etiquette of a traditional Japanese dojo.

Keep watchin'.

And I'm looking forward to hearing what you have planned for today's content.

Because a lot of foreigners love to come to Japan and practice in a real dojo.

But through many things that they need to consider, right?

Yes, there are.

So let's take it from the beginning.

What is the first thing that somebody needs to keep in mind in a traditional dojo?

When you go into a Japanese household in general, you have to take off your shoes,

put the heel side close to you.

And then you bow.

Yes, correct.

So you put the shoes down, get your jacket, everything on your shoulders down.

Pull that to your side and bow.

And is there anything special you should be saying as you bow when you enter the dojo?

So you say, and what is the translation of this phrase?

Excuse me.

Okay.

Like may I enter?

Yes, may I enter.

And then what is the next step?

After you've entered the dojo, what should you think about them?

So I guess there are... if there's a senpai or a sensei already inside the

dojo, before doing anything, you go to them and you say konnichiwa.

Okay.

Or konbawa.

Right.

Yeah.

And if there are nobody there, then you put your stuff down.

But there's a point that you should consider putting your stuff down.

You don't want to throw it on the ground.

You want to place it nicely on the ground.

Is there a specific order you should put things?

I wouldn't say there's an order, but let's say you're putting down something.

Let's say you're putting down your belt.

And if there are lines or more, then I guess you want to put it alongside the line.

You want it to be like this.

Okay.

So it should be kind of neat and interesting.

Okay.

So then you probably start getting changed.

You put on your karate gi and your belt and then you head into practice.

So then when everything starts, usually people

line up for the traditional bow, the seza.

And what are things that people should know about the bow?

So, I mean, this is also different between dojo's.

But I guess the two common steps that we take is

that we bow to the front and we bow to each other.

Right.

So those are the two steps.

And when we bow to the front, the sensei or the oldest person in the dojo.

We say show mainly which means to the front.

And then we'll say they.

So we bow.

And then after that we bow to each other.

So if the sensei is behind you, then the students turn around.

Right.

And we say, what are they?

What are they means to each other and lays the same word.

So we bow to each other.

And then you also keep bowing during training when you find a partner, for example.

So how does that work?

Before starting, let's say, you're doing a sparring practice.

Before you do the actual sparring, you say, you're doing a sparring.

Ah, I see.

Which means... It's a difficult term, right?

Yeah.

You're doing a sparring.

That's the mutual respect.

Yeah.

To show respect to the opponent.

Like, please teach me or please train me.

Yeah, let's have a good lesson.

Yeah.

Good practice.

Hey!

And when we're done with the practice section, we say, how do you get the whole sign?

Right.

Which of course just means thank you very much.

And do that.

And what are other considerations in the dojo?

So, I guess the common mistake people make is that when a senpai or someone older,

or a senze who's a teacher, is watching someone train or do something.

Yeah.

You're not allowed to cross in front of their eyes.

Right.

So you don't want to lock their view.

So the senze or whoever is higher ranked than you should have a clear visible line.

Yes.

So, when you go, when you have to go in front of them, you can go down.

Are you duck under?

Duck under.

Or it's the best, if the three space behind them, you just go behind them.

So what if you want, or if you need help from the senze?

Should you be like... Yeah, the senze come over here.

Or is that wrong?

You have to go to the senze and say, and say, today she wants... Okay.

Which means, okay, have your moment, please.

Stop.

Hey, senze!

How's my color?

Give me an analyst.

Wait.

What was that?

Okay.

Hey.

Hey.

And a common thing that I have noticed is that when Westerners or foreigners come to

Japan in practice, they expect a lot of positive feedback from the senze.

They want a lot of encouragement.

Yeah, that's good.

Can't do that.

But this is more of a Western thing, right?

Yes.

Yeah.

I, in my experience, a Japanese senze will not tell you that much.

And if it tells you something, it's what you're doing bad, right?

So if a senze doesn't like you, he will just ignore you, right?

But if he likes you, he will tell you everything you're doing wrong.

But a Westerner might see this the opposite way.

Do you think the senze doesn't like them?

I mean, I think it comes from a cultural background where

we don't really give them positive feedback all the time.

Yeah.

So maybe he'll point out problems.

And once it's fixed, you'll say, it's a little better now.

A little better.

Not it's good.

It's just a little better.

Yeah.

I'd say it all depends on the same.

Yeah.

So what do you think are other common mistakes

that a Westerner might make in the dojo?

Let's say during the club practice, you're allowed to sit down.

Yeah.

When you sit down, first, you sit down in this position called seza.

Like we're in right now.

Yes.

And since this position is hard for some people, you can sit down in...

What's it called?

With your legs crossed?

With your legs crossed.

You bow down, right?

You say seza shimasu.

Which means please excuse myself.

Yeah.

And... You're not today.

Oh my God, I thought you would never die.

I don't like this.

So this is more informal, right?

So if a sensei tells you to sit down, you should start with the seza.

And the sensei will tell you, please feel relaxed.

Yeah.

Please sit down with relaxed position.

And then you say seza shimasu.

Right.

And then you sit down with this.

So what if somebody sits like this or like this?

No.

Or like this?

Oh, no, absolutely.

That's a big no.

No, no.

Yeah, that's what I was going to do.

Because it's disrespectful, right?

Yeah.

It's always like this.

It's either this or the seza.

Those are the only two.

Or you stand up.

Or you stand up.

Right.

If you're... yeah, it's like you go.

If you have your straight or your knees up.

Yeah.

I think knee up will be like the most taboo thing to do.

Really?

So that you can't have like... No, it's not always.

Yeah.

And this is a problem because many people, especially in today's society,

are very stiff.

Because they sit down a lot.

So their hips are tight, their hamstrings are tight.

They can barely sit in these positions.

So... Start stretching.

Start stretching.

Definitely.

I mean, you can have your hands down here, but then...

I mean, this is a cultural Japanese thing.

Yeah.

But this would be unacceptable.

Really?

But then, I guess this would be okay.

Yeah.

I mean, if you come to Japan, you have to consider those little things.

Yes.

Yeah.

And these are the things that people who have

never been to Japan might never understand.

Because it's so woven into the texture of the culture and the society.

Yes.

But stuff like this, these kinds of nuances are

what can take your karate to the next level.

Make you a more complete practitioner.

So, what else?

I guess one topic would be wearing your t-shirt.

So, you are allowed to wear a t-shirt during the summer season.

Because it gets really humid and hot in Japan.

Okay, so let's clarify this.

You can wear a t-shirt in the summer season when it's humid and hot.

Right.

However, when you start a lesson... Yeah.

And when you end a lesson, you bow to the front and you bow to each other.

During that time, you have to wear your t-shirt.

That's the most formal time of the lesson.

Alright.

That's the idea to have this on.

Okay.

And does it have to be a white t-shirt?

Can it be a pink or a yellow t-shirt?

No, I don't think there are any limitations.

Okay.

And do you keep the belt on when you wear the t-shirt?

You can.

Okay.

And I think you should.

In my personal opinion.

Yeah.

I think you should.

So, you finish a lesson.

You bow off.

You go to the changing room.

And maybe you want to have a little snack after training.

Is it okay to eat in the dojo?

No.

No.

You want to keep the tatami where the mat will be clean.

I see.

So, you don't want to be spilling everything on the tatami.

No.

So, when you eat or when you drink something, make sure you're off to the side.

I'm so tired.

Thank you.

I've also heard that it's very important that you always run in the dojo.

Is that true?

Well, I wouldn't say you have to be running with me.

Not much.

But you want to be, let's say... In a hurry.

You don't want to be just walking slowly.

Uh-huh.

You're going to be there as quick as possible.

So, maybe jogging pace would be nice.

Because you don't want to waste time.

Right.

Or is it something to do with respect?

Respect wise and high noise, I guess.

Exactly.

So, don't be a lazy bastard in the dojo.

Make sure you move with haste.

And how about talking in the dojo?

Some students love to just talk, talk, talk, talk.

And they don't do a lot of training.

Is this good?

No, I don't think so.

I've heard the term kuchibushi.

Have you heard this?

It's like a keyboard warrior.

People just talk, but don't really train.

I guess, yeah.

I mean, when you're practicing karate in

general, I don't think there's any time to talk.

Because during the key home, which is the basics, there's no one in front of you.

So, if you're talking to yourself, it makes no sense.

And I guess when you do kata, that's going to become an individual practice.

So, it's possible for you to go to your friend and be like, you know, what you

think about this, or you might be talking about, I guess there is TV show.

If it's related to karate, then I think you're welcome to talk about it.

Yeah.

If it's not related to karate, then just save that for later.

But also, like you said, and especially for people who only practice maybe two or

three times a week, you don't want to waste that time.

You want to make sure you get it as much repetition and training as possible.

So, how about when you finish training?

Are there specific points to take into consideration

instead of just running out of the dojo and going home?

Right.

So, there are two points.

Number one, you have to say goodbye and thank you for the lesson.

So, you say this to someone older than you.

So, that would be your senpai, or there are senpai.

Okay.

And so, you go up to them, you say, siregato gozaimashita, which means thank you.

Okay.

And then you say, sireshimasu, which means I will excuse myself.

All right.

So, those two words, ariyata gozaimashita, sireshimasu.

Okay.

And then you leave.

Right.

And number two would be cleaning up the place.

Right.

So, let's say you put the back down and then you got all your karate mats.

Yeah.

The meds that you use.

Like your head gear and mouth placement and all that stuff.

You have to put it back to where it was.

Okay.

So, when you leave the dojo, it has to be really clean.

Like the way it was when you walked into the dojo.

So, you want to restore everything.

Right.

So, do you run with the towels?

I've seen that in some dojo.

I think, yeah, some dojo.

And some just sweep it with the broom.

Yes.

I think that's the first.

Okay.

And who does the cleaning?

Especially the youngest one.

Okay.

It has to be, you know, the first.

Like the newest students.

Right.

But then, I mean, I mean, the older people can help out too.

Yeah.

But it's usually the youngest one that does it first.

I see.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Ah, that's the first sentence.

Okay.

I don't see it.

I don't see it.

I don't see it.

I don't see it.

Just say it.

I'm not gonna ask it.

Okay.

And let's say you're gonna leave the last one to leave the dojo.

You close the windows, shut the lights down, turn the AC, if there's AC,

then turn the fan off.

Turn the fan off, do all that stuff, close the door, get the keys done,

and then you get to leave.

And don't lose the keys.

Don't lose the keys.

They're done bad.

So I hope you guys enjoyed this.

So you can now finally learn what it's like when you visit a real traditional dojo.

Because these things are super important.

And it's all about respect and humility.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much.

Say it for having me.

And I hope to do more videos in the future.

Yeah.

See you guys next time.

Cool.

Alright.