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礼儀Dojo Etiquette (Reigi)

Dojo etiquette — reigi (礼儀, “courtesy”) — is considered foundational to karate, not a formality bolted on top. It runs on rei (礼), usually translated ‘bow’ but meaning respect, gratitude and humility. This is the point of Funakoshi’s first precept: “karate begins and ends with rei.” The exact choreography varies by dojo, but the underlying principle — respect, humility, cleanliness and courtesy — is universal.

The central idea: rei

Rei is the outward expression of an inner attitude of respect. Funakoshi’s point (the first of his Twenty Precepts) is that a fighting method without rei is mere violence, not a martial art — and that this respect should carry into daily life, inside and outside the dojo.

Core etiquette practices

  • Bowing (rei): bow entering and leaving the dojo (toward the front, shomen), stepping on and off the training floor, and to the sensei and your partners before and after working together. A standing bow is ritsurei; a kneeling bow is zarei.
  • Seiza: the formal kneeling posture — lower the left knee first, rise right-first by convention — used for the opening/closing ceremony.
  • Mokuso: a brief seated meditation (eyes closed, focus on the breath) at the start and end of class; ended with ‘mokuso yame.’
  • Verbal courtesies: ‘Onegaishimasu’ (‘please train with me’) at the start; ‘Arigatō gozaimashita’ (‘thank you,’ past tense) at the end; a clear ‘Hai’ (‘yes’) to instruction.
  • Titles & hierarchy: address the instructor as Sensei; line up by rank; don’t walk in front of higher grades when the class is lined up — pass behind or excuse yourself.
  • Dress & cleanliness: remove shoes before the floor; keep the gi clean and yourself tidy (short nails); remove jewellery for safety; help keep the dojo clean.

Do’s and don’ts for a first-timer

Do: arrive early (if late, kneel at the edge and wait to be invited on); bow on and off the floor and follow the group’s lead; address the teacher as Sensei and answer ‘Hai’; keep your gi (or clean, modest clothes) tidy and feet bare; ask permission before leaving the floor; train with effort and control and thank your partners.

Don’t: wear shoes on the mat or jewellery while training; chat, joke or use your phone on the floor; step in front of or over seniors or their belts; spar harder than the agreed level. Leave ego at the door.

Etiquette varies. Which way you bow, exact wording, whether and when mokuso is done, how strictly rank-order and titles are enforced — all differ by style, organisation and dojo. The principle (respect, humility, courtesy) is universal; the exact choreography is local. A first-timer’s safest rule: arrive early, watch, and follow the seniors’ lead.

Frequently asked questions

What is dojo etiquette?
Dojo etiquette (reigi) is the set of respectful customs central to karate — bowing (rei) on and off the floor and to the instructor and partners, formal kneeling (seiza) and meditation (mokuso), keeping the gi and dojo clean, lining up by rank, and courtesies like ‘onegaishimasu’ and ‘arigatō gozaimashita.’
Why do you bow in karate?
The bow (rei) expresses respect, gratitude and humility — an inner attitude, not just a gesture. Funakoshi taught that ‘karate begins and ends with rei,’ meaning a martial art without courtesy is just violence. You bow to the dojo, the instructor and your training partners.
What do you say at the start and end of karate class?
At the start, ‘Onegaishimasu’ (roughly ‘please train with me’); at the end, ‘Arigatō gozaimashita’ (‘thank you,’ past tense), to the instructor and partners. You answer instruction with a clear ‘Hai’ (‘yes’), and address the instructor as ‘Sensei.’
What should I do at my first karate class?
Arrive early, remove your shoes and any jewellery, wear a clean gi or modest workout clothes, and bow when stepping on and off the floor. Address the instructor as Sensei, answer ‘Hai,’ follow the seniors’ lead on bows and commands, and train with control. If you arrive late, wait at the edge to be invited on.