The Dojo |
道 場
The
place in which the Japanese martial arts are practiced is usually
referred to as a Dojo. This word is made up of two kanji characters:
道 “Do” which means a path, road, or "way".
場 “Jo” and meaning a place.
Therefore “Dojo” literally means “a place of the way”
During
the time of the Samurai, the estates of the Daimyo (feudal Lord) often
contained Buddhist temples. These were called Dojo, a “place” where the
monks followed the “way” of the Buddha.
After the end of feudalism
and the abolition of the samurai class in Japan, the warriors sought a
better use of their martial skills. They used their training and
practice instead of ways of waging war, but as ways to concentrate their
minds into perfection of their characters, so started to use the suffix
“do” after their arts.
So some martial arts, or bujutsu as they were called (武 Bu – martial or millitary; 術 Jutsu – arts / techniques), became martial ways (武 道 - Budo).
The places where these budo were carried out also came to be called, dojo, places where the ways of war could be practiced.
Following
is a guide to the set up of a traditional Dojo (please note, that due
to the constraints placed upon the area used as the dojo, this layout
may not be possible, but where practicable most of what follows should
be how one finds the place in which the martial arts of Japan are
practiced:
When you enter the dojo, the door through which you
enter should be directly opposite the Kamiza (higher seat), sometimes
called Shomen (the front). It is here where one might find a shelf upon
which sits a shrine (the Kamidana) with its associated accoutrements
(see below). It is at the kamiza one usually finds pictures of the
founder of the martial art practiced at the dojo. Aslo sometimes one
will see a hanging scroll (called a kakemono) displaying calligraphy
meant to inspire the students practicing there.
It is at the kamiza
that the teachers will place themselves and toward which the students
will face during the formal proceedings that take place during a
training session. On entering and leaving the dojo, it is towards the
kamiza that one must always bow to.
When facing towards the
kamiza, the wall behind you in the Shimoza (the lower seat). In some
dojo, it is on the shimoza wall that one would find the Nafuda Kake, a
board holding wooden tags displaying the name and rank of the dojo
members. In dojo without changing rooms, it is on this wall that might
be found pegs to hang clothing and it is against this wall that kit bags
etc should be placed tidily, if no storage facilities are available at
that dojo.
Facing the kamiza, with ones back to the shimoza, to
your right is the Joseki (seki is another way of saying seat), and to
your left is the Shimoseki. It is against these wall one might find Dogu
kake, racks for weapons that might be used in practice at the dojo, and
if it’s a karate dojo, it is here where one might find the Makiwara
(striking posts).
When one lines up after the command of
“Seiritsu” (“line up”), the class will line up with the class facing
kamiza, with the most senior grade at the far right (at the joseki) and
the lowest grade on the left (at the shimoseki). Incidentally, the floor
that you will be standing on is called the Taijo (unless it is marked
out with lines for competetion, then it is called a Shiaijo).
道場 礼儀
Reigi comes from two Japanese words:
礼 “REI” which is defined as: bow, salutation, salute, courtesy, propriety, ceremony, thanks and appreciation.
儀
“GI” which is defined as: ceremony, rite or function. Combined, the
term “Reigi” can translate as: Ceremonial manners - Etiquette.
Proper observance of etiquette is as much a part of your martial arts training as is learning the techniques of your system.
Reigi
is an extremely important part of martial arts training and is steeped
in the highly ritualised social practices of Japan. Some of these
practices as carried out in the dojo have their origins in the religious
methodologies of Japan (and in the case of the some carried out in The
East London Goju Ryu Dojo, specifically to the practices of Shinto), but
this should not deter one from observing these rites, irrespective of
ones personal religious beliefs. For example, part of the formal bowing
ceremony carried out at the start and end of each session includes the
term “Shin Zen ni Taishte, Rei” which literally translates as “bow to
all spirits” and comes from the Shinto belief that all things in nature
have an innate “spirit” that should be honoured (not worshipped). Paying
observance to this act, does not infer “worshiping false gods” (an
anathema to most religions, and to those with no religious beliefs at
all), but rather to acknowledge respect for all things.
One has
to bear in mind, that the practice of the martial arts in the East is
inherently bound to the religious practices upon which it formed (in
fact, almost every system claims an ancient link to the Buddhist
teachings of Tao Mo (Bodidharma) and the Shaolin Temple). Indeed, the
very name “dojo” comes from the halls in which Buddhist rites were
practiced.
It should be stated that religious connotations play
only a small part of reigi. It is manners and correct behaviour that
forms the bulk of the practices associated with it. Understandably, many
affectations would have evolved in the mannerisms of the warrior
classes (in the case of Japan, the samurai), to ensure that no offence
was felt by one or other which may have led to armed, possibly fatal
conflict. Therefore, they behaved in a way that showed courteousness and
mutual respect for each other so that the risk of misunderstanding and
therefore violence was avoided. This “thoughtfulness” is equally
necessary in today’s martial arts practice (though of course not because
of the possibility of lethal combat) but because correct behaviour will
reduce the risk of injury (especially when training with weapons). Also
the practice of good manners and mutual respect is conducive to
effective common practice.
At the East London Goju Ryu Karate Club, at the beginning and end of each training session, we carrying out the following as part of our reigi:
When it is time for the class to begin, the senior student present calls "SEIRITSU" calling the class to line up.
After the Instructor kneels to face the Kamiza in the formal kneeling position called "SEIZA", the senior student present says:
ZEN SEIZA (“zen” = all). Whole class kneels.
"MOKUSO" (meditation, eyes closed)
"MOKUSO NAOTE" (stop meditation, open eyes)
"SHOMEN NI, RE"I (“shomen” = the front of the dojo, “ni” = to. “rei” = bow. shomen ni rei = bow to the front).
"SHIN ZEN NI TAISHITE, REI"
(“shin” = spirits – from Shinto, “zen” = all, “ni” = to, “taishite” =
towards, “rei” = bow. “shin zen ni taishite, rei” = bow towards all
“spirits” – show respect to nature).
"ZEN HANSHI NI TAISHITE, REI"
(“hanshi”
= master, title usually given to 8th Dan and above, ““zen hanshi ni
taishite, rei” = bow towards all masters – show respect to all the
masters that went before us, and handed down to us the techniques, kata
etc).
The Instructor then turns to face the students
Again the senior student present speaks:
"SENSEI NI, REI" (“sensei” = teacher), bow to teacher.
When performing the bow, all the students say:
"ONEGAI
SHIMASU". (“onegai shimasu” = if you please, the polite expression used
when asking for something, in this case asking to be taught or to
practice).
The senior student again speaks:
"OTAGAI NI, REI" (“otagai” = all together / as one. Show respect to all in the dojo).
When performing the bow again everyone says:
"ONEGAI SHIMASU".
The teacher turns again to face the kamiza and then stands
The senior student then says:
"ZEN KIRITSU" (all stand).
At
the end of a training session, the same words and actions are carried
out with the exception being the words "Onegai shimasu" are substituted
with the words "DOMO ARIGATO GOZEIMASHITA" (the polite expression used to say thank you for something, in this case for being taught).
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