Dojo Rules & Procedures

A "Dojo" or martial arts school can be anywhere an instructor or Sensei chooses to teach. In fact, the "dojo" is not just a physical place, it is a community of people who choose to train together. In order to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for everyone, we ask that students pay attention to the following rules and procedures.

Have fun.
Be safe—The safety of the student is the number one concern of the Sensei. The safety of your partner is the number one concern of the student.
Ask questions—Questions are always welcome, but please do not question the effectiveness of the techniques or teachers. If the techniques didn’t work, we would not teach them to you.
Make mistakes—That’s how we learn. In Seirenkai martial arts true mistakes are rare, instead they are really just opportunities for more learning.
Make new friends—Treat your partner with respect and get to know your classmates.
Keep it clean—Please keep your gi (Seirenkai uniform) neat and clean, nails should be kept short and clean to avoid scratching one’s partners. Feet should be clean since our faces do touch the mat.
Do not bleach your gi and do not wash your belt.
Leave your shoes lined up neatly in the hallway, please. Keep your water bottle and any jewelry (rings with stones, watches, bracelets, hanging earrings, necklaces) at home or in your shoes.
Please do not walk through the dojo (training hall) or on the mats with shoes on.
Please bow when entering or exiting the dojo and before & after practicing with a partner. There is no religious significance to this bow. It is a greeting and a sign of respect.
Always try to arrive at class on time. If you arrive late, be sure to wait at the door before entering the dojo until the Sensei acknowledges you with a bow. If you arrive early, begin to limber up quietly and make sure the dojo is clean.
If you need to enter or exit the dojo while class is in progress, please be sure to wait at the door until the sensei acknowledges you with a bow. If you need to leave before the end of the class, let the Sensei know in advance and make sure you bow out to your partner and to the Sensei before leaving the dojo.
When in our class, please only practice techniques you have been taught in a Seirenkai dojo.
All dans (black belts) are called by their title while in the dojo. Black belts have worked hard for their rank and deserve the respect of using their title (Sensei, Mr., Mrs., Ms, etc.) and not their first name.
All techniques should be kept in the dojo unless you need to use them as a last resort in self-defense. Seirenkai Jujitsu and Seirenkai Karate are not games, nor should one “play” with them outside of class, even at home. Unless needed in self-defense, do not use Seirenkai outside of the dojo without your Sensei’s permission.