Hajimemashite dozo yoroshuko ongaoshimasu
(Respecteer en heb eerbied voor uw Sensei)
Reisetsu O Mamori (Stick to the rules).
In the dojo good etiquette must be observed by the following rules.
Tos
Shingi O Omanji (A student must have loyalty to his instructor).
This is the most important thing in Martial Arts. It is not possible for someone to change his style in Japanese Martial Arts – people who do so cannot learn the correct etiquette and spirit of Martial Arts.
Tos
Jojitsu Ni Oberezu (Teachers and students are not all one).
Outside the Dojo you can be friendly with your Sensei but do not take advantage of this friendship.
Tos
Shinkenmi Ni Tesseyo (Be serious in your efforts).
No flippancy, chattering, smoking, gum chewing, eating or drinking in the Dojo. Concentrate solely on Karate and train hard in everything you do. The dojo is not a social gathering hall and visitors as well as students shall respect the rules and Maxims.
Kata principes
- Ikita Kata. Kata must be alive and done with feeling and purpose.
- Inen. Kata must be performed with spirit.
- Chikara no Kyojaku. Kata should be done with changes in application of power. Technique can be strong or yielding, hard then soft.
- Waza no Kankyu. Kata should be done with variations in the timing of movement, sometimes fast, sometimes slow.
- Kisoku no Donto. Kata must be done with proper rhythm of breathing, when to inhale and exhale.
- Balance. Proper balance must be maintained in the performance of Kata.
SU indicates that a beginner must correctly copy all karate techniques from his instructor.
HA means that after a number of years of training, when the karateka has attained a high degree black belt, he is allowed to develop new techniques provided they are improvements. This applies to all movements with the exception of basic techniques.
RI is the highest form. It means that after an even longer period of training than for HA, the Karateka must be able to perform all forms of karate automatically, not stopping to think about his moves.