Etiquette Badge. Definitions of etiquette: rules governing socially acceptable behavior. "Martial Arts without etiquette is street fighting"

Transcription

1 Etiquette Badge Definitions of etiquette: rules governing socially acceptable behavior "Martial Arts without etiquette is street fighting" Etiquette plays a significant role in Martial Arts training regardless of style. All martial arts students will encounter and adhere to some form of etiquette whether they practice Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Chinese Kung Fu, Aikido, Judo, or one of the many other styles of martial arts. In its most basic form martial arts etiquette is a prescribed set of standards for a person's conduct and attitude toward themselves and others. Etiquette in the Dojo ensures a positive and safe environment that is necessary to accompany the physical aspects of all martial arts training. Always show respect for others and take it upon yourself to help and encourage others. Be courteous to other people's time and space. Basic dojo rules: 1. Always be courteous and respectful. 2. Bow when entering or leaving the dojo and going on and of the mat. 3. Gain permission before leaving the mat or dojo. 4. Inform the instructor of any injures before training, or any injuries sustained whilst at Training. 5. No jewelry to be worn whilst training. 6. Nails must be trimmed and clean for training. 7. Always wear shoes when coming to training, shoes must be placed on the provided rack. 8. Clothing and personal hygiene must be kept as high as possible uniforms must be ironed. 9. Maintain self control and self discipline. 1

2 10. Always be early for training, at least 5 minutes. If late do not come onto the mat, kneel at the edge of the mat and wait to be acknowledged by the Instructor 11. When a higher rank speaks to you show respect. 12. Follow the advice of the Instructor. 13. Your training should be used in self defence only students who use there techniques for violence will be expelled from the school. 14. Don t practice or show your martial arts techniques outside the dojo (this is how injuries can happen). 16. Don't wear your uniform outside the school. 17. Martial Arts is a skill that can never be learned in isolation. It must be learned from practice with other people. So as our progress depends on others, we must therefore be respectful and considerate to all with whom we practice. Bowing Ideally, bowing is just a symbol of mutual respect. Bowing to an instructor is to show respect for his or her knowledge and ability, and as a way of showing gratitude for his or her instruction. Bowing to other classmates is a way of demonstrating mutual respect. You both bow to each other, showing you are on an equal basis. The martial arts does require some humility, but not to the point of humiliation. Humility comes into play in every class. A student should respect the knowledge of an instructor, and be open minded and ready to learn. A student should respect the talents and abilities of their classmates, and recognize that everyone can be better than someone else in one skill or another. Humility also keeps people safe in training. When a student tries to show off, or uses excessive force in training simply to prove they are the best, someone can be seriously injured. Mutual respect, humility and being considerate are traits that must be fostered in the martial arts. Bowing should have nothing to do with being assertive, or submissive. It is simply a way of being considerate and respectful. When you are asked to bow in class, instead of considering it demeaning, think about the nature of the request, and the way it is intended. The Asian custom of bowing is comparable to the western handshake. Lower ranks will always bow first 2

3 When do I bow? 1. Entering or leaving the dojo. 2. Stepping on or off the Tatami (mat). 3. Before or after training or consenting to train with a partner. 4. Addressing an Instructor or when answering a question. 5. To a seated student, indicating you would like to be his partner. 6. At the beginning and end of each class (formal bow). How do I bow? Standing Bow (Tachi Rei) - Stand with feet together, arms at the side and bow slightly from the waist. The bow is not a religious formality, it is a gesture of respect. Sitting position (Seiza) - Seiza is the formal sitting position where the student sits on his or her heels with big toes crossed or touching. Traditionally knees should be one fist apart, with palms resting on the top of the thighs and elbows relaxed against the sides. Backs should be straight and the head held upright. Formal bow (Ritsurei) - From standing to seiza kneel first with the left leg, followed by the right. In seiza, place the left hand flat on the mat followed by the right, forming a triangle with the thumbs and forefingers. This triangle is in front of the face when bowing. Bow with good posture. The right hand is then returned to the thigh, then the left. Stand by rising on the right leg first, then step back to the left foot so that the feet are together. The formal bow in seiza position is at the beginning and end of each class. You will always stand up in order of rank, highest rank first. 3

4 Belt systems Before the 20th century most belts were colorless, but since students were prohibited from washing their belts, the belts grew steadily darker through the years of accumulated sweat and soil. If the belt, or OBI in Japanese, becomes undone during practice, martial arts etiquette is observed. The wearer turns around, facing away from his partner, and while kneeling on one knee reties his belt before again facing his partner. In accordance with ancient Oriental philosophy, there is a balance of ten student grades and ten master grades. At all levels, the rank of the wearer is indicated on the right side of the knot. Sixth, seventh and eighth degree holders have the option of wearing a black belt with the relevant number of red strips, or wearing the ceremonial red and white belt. In similar fashion, the ninth and tenth degree holders may wear a black belt or red belt. The origins of the coloured belt systems (From a Japanese point of view) Belts are used in Japanese martial arts as a description of rank or experience. It seems that this idea gained somewhat in popularity around the early to mid part of this century, influencing other styles. In Kung-fu a similar approach is taken, only they use a coloured sash instead. As for Korean styles, I believe there belt systems were copied from Japan as they use identical belts with similar colors, but I am not too sure on this point. The concept was very simple - you start with a white belt, end of story! In early martial art training the colour white was simply to match your clothing which was of a simple style (you don t wear your best tunic to roll around on the floor). Your belt really was only to hold your trousers up. As time progresses, the belt became dirty turning in to a darker colour. The suit (gi) would be washed for hygiene reasons, but the belt (obi) was not really very important so would get no more than a brushing. In time this lead to a simple rule of thumb to how much mat time someone had accumulated - the dirtier the belt the more experience. When the belt system was originally introduced, there were only three colours, white green and black. In time more colors joined this list, mainly due to Western influences. Today there can be between 5 and 10 different coloured ranking belts, including black in a given martial art style. All colors except black are called kyu grades. 4

5 Addressing instructors Instructors are addressed by the following titles: Mr, Mrs, Miss - Kyu grade. All levels Sempei - Senior student white and black belt or blue uniform Sensei 1st-5th dan Shihan 6th-9th dan Uniform Shoes should always be removed before entering the training area. All students should help keep the dojo neat and orderly. Always observe the highest standard of personal cleanliness in class. Personal hygiene is important. Keep nails on both hands and feet trimmed back to protect both yourself and your partner. Uniforms should be kept clean and neat, do not leave them lying around. Traditionally, a student's belt should never touch the ground. And it should never be worn outside of the dojo. The MAQLD uniform (Gi) The traditional attire for Jujitsu practitioners consists of a jacket, long pants and a belt (Obi). The jacket is made of a cotton material, with the length being long enough to cover the hips and buttocks. The sleeves must be long enough to cover at least three-quarters of the forearm and loose enough to be allowed to be grasped by a partner. The pants are made of a cotton material, with the length being long enough to cover the proximity of the shin and ankles. Similarly, they must be loose enough so as not to restrict the free movement of the wearer. Traditionally, the uniform is white. A full blue gi may be worn only by instructor grades, particularly during ceremonial occasions. On such occasions, dan grades may also be required to wear an Oriental culotte known as hakama. The belt is approximately six centimetres in width and must be long enough to wrap around the waist twice, with approximately 20 centimetres at each end after the knot is tied. The knot is consistent with the style of a reef knot. For reasons of modesty and comfort, female members are required to wear a T shirt under the gi coat. The preferred colour is white or blue, consistent with the MAQLD colours. To enhance flexibility of movement, male members are discouraged from wearing any other clothing under the coat. 5