Dojo etiquette (Reihō)

Reihō (礼法) is the etiquette of the dōjō — the customs that govern how we treat the training space, the instructor and one another. New students sometimes see it as formality to get through; in truth it’s the frame that holds a serious class together. What follows is a plain guide to the etiquette you’ll meet at KarateTTDI and why each part exists.

Rei — respect and the bow

Rei (礼) means both “bow” and “respect”, and the two are inseparable: the bow is the outward form of an inward attitude. A standing bow is called ritsurei (立礼); a seated bow is zarei (座礼). By custom, a junior bows a little lower and holds it a little longer than a senior. One traditional timing, rei-sansoku (礼三息), runs across three breaths — inhale as you lower, exhale as you hold, inhale as you rise.

You bow at the natural hinges of training:

• Entering and leaving the dōjō.
• When meeting or greeting a senior or the instructor.
• Before interrupting instruction, and when excusing yourself from the floor.
• To a partner before and after working together.

Hai and Ossu

Hai (はい) is the ordinary Japanese “yes” — an acknowledgement that you’ve heard and understood. It’s the correct response in Shitō-ryū and in most Okinawan schools; a clear “hai” when the instructor corrects you shows you’re listening.

Ossu (押忍) is a forceful, informal expression more at home in Shōtōkan and Kyokushin dōjōs. It isn’t standard in Shitō-ryū and can read as out of place in a formal or public setting, so we keep to “hai”.

Kiai — spirit and breath

Kiai (気合い) joins ki (spirit, energy) with ai (union) — the sharp shout delivered as a technique lands. It’s not showmanship. A good kiai:

• Lifts your focus and drive even when you’re tired.
• Forces a full exhale at the moment of impact, syncing breath to technique.
• Shifts you from shallow chest breathing to the diaphragm, steadying your core.
• Braces the abdomen so the body can absorb a blow.

The dōjō — “place of the way”

Dōjō (道場) literally means “place of the way”. Traditionally the room has an orientation: the kamiza (上座), the upper seat at the front, is where the instructor stands; the shimoza (下座) is the lower seat at the rear where students line up. The senior side is the jōseki (上席) and the junior side the shimoseki (下席). Much of this ordering descends from Ogasawara-ryū (小笠原流), a centuries-old system of Japanese etiquette. Knowing the geography of the room is simply knowing where you belong in it.

Entering and leaving

Treat the threshold with attention. On arrival:

1. Bow to the dōjō as you enter.
2. If the instructor is already present, bow to them next.

And when you go:

1. Ask leave of the instructor and bow to them.
2. Bow once more to the dōjō on your way out.

Footwear is left neatly at the entrance with the toes pointing outward, ready to step straight into — an old practical habit that keeps the doorway clear in an emergency.

Sempai and kōhai

The dōjō runs on the relationship between sempai (先輩), the senior student, and kōhai (後輩), the junior. Seniors look after those behind them; juniors give their seniors respect and attention. When a senior or the instructor enters, the most senior student present may call kiotsuke (気を付け — “attention”) and everyone turns to bow together. If no call is given, each student simply bows to them individually.

Arriving late

Try not to — but if you do, don’t stroll onto the floor. The courteous procedure is to:

1. Bow towards the instructor at the edge of the floor.
2. Kneel in seiza (正座) and wait quietly.
3. Perform a seated bow (zarei) and briefly apologise for the interruption.
4. Join in only once the instructor signals you may.

Bowing ceremonies

Class opens and closes with a short formal sequence that marks the change of mind between everyday life and training. The order is broadly:

1. Line up by rank.
2. Stand to attention — kiotsuke (気を付け).
3. Kneel in seiza (正座).
4. Close the eyes to settle the mind — mokusō (黙想).
5. Open the eyes — kaimoku (開黙).
6. Bow to the front, shōmen (正面), on formal occasions.
7. Bow to the instructor — sensei ni rei (先生に礼).
8. Bow to one another — otagai ni rei (御互いに礼).
9. Rise — kiritsu (起立).

The opening sets your intent; the closing gives a moment to reflect on what the session taught you.

The gi and tying your belt

The uniform is the karate-gi or keikogi (稽古着), and it comes in three parts: the jacket, uwagi (上着); the trousers, zubon (ズボン); and the belt, obi (帯). Keep it clean and in good repair — a tidy gi is part of your etiquette.

To tie the obi:

1. Find the centre of the belt and hold it against your stomach.
2. Wrap both ends around your waist so they cross behind your back.
3. Bring both ends to the front — you should now have two even layers around you.
4. Cross one end over the other, tuck it up under both wraps, and pull snug.
5. Tie the two ends in a square knot at the centre; the ends should finish level.

When you fold the gi away, fold the jacket lengthwise, fold the trousers into thirds, and lay the folded jacket on top for neat storage.

The ranking system

Grade is shown by belt colour and recorded in two stages. The coloured kyū (級) grades count down from 9th towards 1st — the closer to 1, the more senior — and the black-belt dan (段) grades count up from 1st. The traditional colour progression under the Malaysian Association of Shito-ryu Karate-do runs:

Grade	Belt colour
9th kyu	White
8th kyu	Yellow
7th kyu	Green
6th kyu	Blue
5th kyu	Purple
4th – 1st kyu	Brown
1st dan onward	Black

Some dojos add white stripes to a brown belt, or gold bars to a black belt, to show grade within a colour. Whatever is round your waist, wear it the same way you bow — with respect for what it represents and for the people you train beside. For the full grading path and syllabus, see our syllabus & belt guide.

Adapted from the KarateDatu dojo guide.