Many people have never seen a Karate class and they get lost when going to their first training session. And because we’ve all been there, you can find here a presentation of a typical class. It’s an example and that means it’s not a rule … some dojos could have slightly different classes without meaning they are wrong.
THE SALUTE (REI)
You show your respect to the superior and the training hall. It’s quite weird for us to have to salute the room we train in, but don’t forget to do it, if asked. You bow when entering and exiting the dojo. There is NO religious aspect in bowing to the class, sensei and your peers, so it won’t contradict your religious beliefs. Think of it as a hand shake.
You can bow standing or sitting. In the first case you’ll remain biped, in a natural stance, palm open, touching the thighs, heels together, front parts apart, in a 45 degree angle. Sensei or sempai would ask for it while saying MUSUBI DACHI. Although you can almost always hear only something like “subi dachi”, that’s the stance. From it you’ll bend your trunk while looking down. There’s quite a debate whether to look the sensei or the opponent in a kumite match in the eyes durind REI, or look down. It’s said you have to look at the other in order to prevent him from hitting you while you salute. Usually the competitor would be disqualified if he would attack you during salutation. And the image of a martial artist saluting the attacker in a street confrontation before starting to respond to the aggression is good only for Hollywood. Having all these into mind and the fact looking into the other’s eyes while saluting is considerred an offence, some say it’s better to look down.
See how REI is performed in your dojo and do it accordingly. The bow shouldn’t be too deep, in order to avoid funny situations when you look like a 90 degrees angle. The angle is way shorter … somewhere near 20-30 degrees.
LINE UP !!!
When the command is given all students line up in one or two rows. At right (left from sensei’s part) there are the highest ranks and afterwards the others, in a descending order. Those who are not in a karategi, or are missing the belt, pants or shirt are at the left. Those who are late usually go there too. It’s not a rule to have all dojos do the same, but usually this happens in many of them.
YOI !!! or GET READY !!!
Now you’ll get into a natural stance SHIZENTAI (feet apart at a shoulder width, arms straight, fists closed slightly forward.)
SEIZA
This is the second way to salute. Some dojos omitted this, some still perform it. In order to know what’s all about you have here a short description. Put your LEFT knee on the ground, the right one afterwards. The feet are straight, and the soles of the feet “look” upwards. Knees are a shoulder width apart. Put your palms on the respctive thighs fingers oriented inwards. Straighten your back. Now you can meditate. It’s called MOKUSO. There are many dojos that skip it because of the limited class time. MOKUSO YAME means the time for dreams is over. You’ll have to “wake up” and salute. You put your LEFT palm on the ground after that .. the right one. (It would look like a triangle .. the thumbs would make a side and the palms would complete the form). Bend the trunck and place your forehead on the “triangle”. Say ONEGAISHEMASU (please teach me). Straighten your back. That’s the salute.
Put your RIGHT palm on the thigh, followed by the left one.
TATE !!!
On this command you’ll jump on two feet with kiai. If you’re asked to get up slow you’ll do the sequence of getting to seiza vice-versa. Bend the soles of the feet so you can support your weight on the tips, straighten the RIGHT leg and the left afterwards. Now you’re back on two feet.
After all this ritual the training itself can begin. Students spread in a work formation and practice KIHON, KATA and KUMITE. The class ends with another set of salutation. If done sitting, in SEIZA, the line changes from ONEGAISHEMASU (said at the beginning) to ARIGATO GOZAIMASHITA (Thank you).
In many dojos this is done standing. The highest ranked student calls: MUSUBI DACHI in order to have all the students ready and afterwards SENSEI NI REI.
Things may be different from dojo to dojo, but there are times they do it the same. Remember it’s an example, just to give you an idea of what’s going on in a Karate class.
MORE INFORMATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A DOJO
Every set of exercise begins with YOI. After you are done with it you’ll heat YAME. You’ll get back to YOI (“ready” position) and you’ll hear another word you’ll come to love YASEME (“relax”). Even the relaxantion part is done at a command in the dojo. It’s the moment you can use in order to rearange your outfit and to recover from the intense effort.
When you are late you should wait for the instructor to see you. He would determine if you are in for some pushups or you get away this time. When lining up those who are late or without complete equipment are put at the left side (behind the beginners). You get there behind all students, and not by crossing in front of them. Never forget to salute.
If you have to leave practice earlier, make sure the instructor knows it from the beginning. Thus you avoid unpleasant situation when you are not alowed to leave before the end of class. When exiting, remember to bow.
When coming into the class for the karate training make sure you leave aside the shoes, socks, hat, watch, jewelry and turn off the mobile phone. Don’t chew anything (especially chewing gum) and try to be clean and ready for the effort.
Many times you’ll have to do “impossible” moves. Well at least that’s how they look for a total beginner. Make sure you are really trying to overcome the problems and always remember you can do it with some practice. Starting out with a “can’t do it” state of mind insn’t quite the path to success. Try to learn and execute, ask and make sure there are always some people to help and correct you. You’ll never get punished for not being able to do something, but for refusing the effort it takes.
You’ll be asked to count and it’s better to know how it’s done:
Ichi – one
Ni – two
San – three
Shi – four
Go – five
Roku – six
Shichi – seven
Hachi – eight
Ku – nine
Ju – ten
KIAI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For some reason people are ashamed to perform it. Don’t be. KIAI means “yell, cry” so it’s not quite the best idea to yell it like it us. You can chose a sound or a couple of them to use. Make sure you don’t yell “s..t” or similar things. It’s best to use “ha” and “he”. As for using it, it’s best to never leave it aside when needed. Sometimes you are the only ones who perform it and get some “nice” looks from the others, who may not know anything about it. Never focus on the others, but yourselves and just do your job. One day they’ll understand, but until then, just mind your own training and don’t feel uncomfortable just because you stand out by doing the right things.