START OF CLASS

• Sayretsu (Say-re-tsu) - Class is called to line up by the instructor

• Kioske (Key-oh-skay) - Class is called to formal attention

• Seiza (Say-zah) - Kneeling Position

• Mokuso (Mock-sew) - Meditation: close eyes, clear the mind, relax

• Dojo Kun (Dojo-coon) - Students recite the Dojo creed:

  • One, to strive for the perfection of character

  • One, to defend the path of truth

  • One, to foster the spirit of effort

  • One, to honor the principles of etiquette

  • One, to guard against impetuous courage

Opening AND Closing

• Shomen ni Rei (Show-men knee ray) - Silent bow to the front, done out of respect for those students who have trained before

• Sensei ni Rei (Sen-say knee ray) - Second bow to the front – done out of respect to the head instructor for the class

  • Opening - While bowed students say Sensei, Onegai Shimasu (Sen-say, oh-knee-guy she-mas), meaning “Teacher, teach us please.”

  • Closing - While bowed students say Sensei, Arigato Gozaimashita (Sen-say, ah-ree-ga-toe go-zie-ah-mas), meaning “Teacher, thank you very much.”

Teacher Titles

• Hanshi (Han-she) - Chief Grandmaster Instructor

• Kyoshi (Ki-o-she) - Grandmaster Instructor

• Shihan (She-han) - Master Instructor

• Renshi (Ren-she) - Senior Instructor (“Senior Trainer”)

• Sensei (Sen-say) - Instructor (“One who went before”)

• Sempai (Sem-pie) - Assistant Instructor (“Older sibling”)

• Shidoin (She-doyn) - Apprentice Instructor

Belt Colors and Ranks