Important Japanese Terms

[Ascalon]

Have a session at a very traditional dojo tomorrow. Wanted to get my head around a few basic titles/terms before I go, since all I know are Korean ones from TKD.

Head instructor = Sensei

Assistant instructor/other blackbelts = ??

Greeting = ??

Thank you (after sparring) = ??

Those are probably the essentials I think. Anything else I need to know in order to comply with basic etiquette, feel free to throw in.

[JohnnyB]

Head instructor = Sensei

Assistant instructor/other blackbelts = Sempai

Greeting = Oss or Osu

Thank you (after sparring) = again Oss or Osu! (always bowing)

[DoctorQui]

Other traditions to be mindful of other than the Japanese terminology

1. Bowing when you enter and leave the Dojo - I've never been anywhere where this isn't a requirement.

2. Turning away from the front of the Dojo and kneeling to adjust your Gi - This tradition seems to be dying out though.

3. Never turn you back to the instructor (unless technique dictates) during warm up and training.

4. Never eat or drink in the Dojo - some adhere to this, some let you drink water

5. Never leave the Dojo without asking the chief instructor - This may or may not be the case but its best you check

Sorry if I'm teaching granny to suck eggs!

[Dobbersky]

Other traditions to be mindful of other than the Japanese terminology

1. Bowing when you enter and leave the Dojo - I've never been anywhere where this isn't a requirement. (Not only in Japanese Styles others too)

2. Turning away from the front of the Dojo and kneeling to adjust your Gi - This tradition seems to be dying out though. (I find this anoying half way through kata or varying techniques a bad habit I feel, I tell my students adjust their Gi after the end of the Kata etc)

3. Never turn you back to the instructor (unless technique dictates) during warm up and training. (Again some students feel they should not adjust their Gi Directly infront of Sensei and turn to adjust their Gi to then represent themselves in a better appearence)

4. Never eat or drink in the Dojo - some adhere to this, some let you drink water (Goes without saying regards food - Water completely different but NOT on the mat)

5. Never leave the Dojo without asking the chief instructor - This may or may not be the case but its best you check (More for Health & Safety requirements and also Security. Sometimes you gotta go when you gotta go - as long as you bow out and in.....)

Sorry if I'm teaching granny to suck eggs!

Added a few points in bold but I feel that your points ARE important too, OSU[/b]

[JohnnyB]

Drinking reasonable quantity of water or isotonic drink in the middle of training sure helps a lot but its up to the instructor to give permission.

In my dojo we are not allowed to drink unless we are given permission. If we ask for permission to drink water we get push ups instead! Only on very hot summer 1.5hour sessions our sensei did set us drink water as far as I remember..!

[darksoul]

Drinking reasonable quantity of water or isotonic drink in the middle of training sure helps a lot but its up to the instructor to give permission.

In my dojo we are not allowed to drink unless we are given permission. If we ask for permission to drink water we get push ups instead! Only on very hot summer 1.5hour sessions our sensei did set us drink water as far as I remember..!

I love how my Master does this... "Oubliez pas de boire de l'eau!"

Translates to "don't forget to drink water!" and he will say this throughout the class at random times. When that's said, everyone goes.

[DoctorQui]

If we ask for permission to drink water we get push ups instead!

Ooooh Harsh!

[Ascalon]

I strongly disagree with instructors who limit when people are able to drink water. My opinion is that you should be able to keep a bottle at the side or the back of the dojang/dojo, and have a quick swig at any gap in proceedings.

Most people sweat profusely and hydration is very important. I had a two hour session the other night in a hot hall with high humidity, where we were permitted a single one-minute break in the middle to drink water. IMO that is borderline irresponsible.

[moriniuk]

I started martial arts training a long time ago and at that time drinking during a training session never happened. It just wasn't something that people did or even thought about.

Nowadays people seem to have to walk around with a bottle in their hand all the time.

Obviously it's good to keep hydrated, but I think too much is made of it.

As a trainer I offer regular water drinking oportunities during a session when there is a natural break in the routine.

To be given a punishment for asking to have a drink is, in my opinion ridiculous. But, on the other hand, a student should be aware that there is a natural break coming up soon when they will have the oportunity to have a drink and shouldn't need to ask.

[DoctorQui]

But, on the other hand, a student should be aware that there is a natural break coming up soon when they will have the oportunity to have a drink and shouldn't need to ask.

I suppose, in clubs that have loads of juniors (kids), like toilet breaks, if you get one child asking, they will ALL ask and before you know it, you've got 10-15 kids all leaving for a drink! It seems to be morally wrong these days, to refuse a child a drink (or the loo).