1. It is a way of separating the activities of the dojo from
the outside world.
At the beginning of class it is when you leave the rest
of your life outside and prepare for sacred battle. At the
end of class it is when you mark the transition back to
profane reality.
2. It is a traditional Shinto way of paying respect; to the
kami, to the dojo, to the art and to your fellow students
and instructors.
The Ceremony
Line up - ensure the person to your right is of equal or
greater rank and that the line is straight. Neatness
counts.
Seiza! This means sit. To do so, kneel
down on your left leg first, then right. Buttocks
should be resting on heels with the big toes of each foot
touching. Back straight, hands resting on thighs, elbows
tucked in, presenting no obvious target to a weapon.
Mokuso! This is a 'simple' breathing exercise,
based on Zen practice. Place the right hand in your
lap, palm up. Left hand is placed on this, also palm up.
Tips of thumbs touch, creating, "neither mountain, nor
valley", to form the universal mudra.
Eyes should be almost closed, (not completely shut,
remember we are martial artists and as such should
try to keep a level of awareness at all times), and
directed towards the floor about two metres directly in
front of you.
Breath out through the mouth and in through the
nose. There are many visualisations that could be
practiced here. The simplest and often most effective
thing to do is simply focus on your breath and nothing
else. Do not try to control it, just "experience"
it.
Do not think, just breathe. Any thoughts that do
arise should be let go without giving them any
attention, not another thought. "One thought is not
thinking"
The aim is to let your breath sweep your mind
clear.
Do not focus on your aim.
Just breathe.
Yame! Stop mokuso. Open your
eyes.
The instructor will now turn to face the
kamiza. As they bow, so do you. The first two bows are
half bows. Place left hand on the mat first,
followed by the right to form a triangular shape with
the thumbs and forefingers. Bow from the waist, keeping
the back straight.
Two claps are now performed. Place the palms
of the hands together at chest height. Clap in time with
the instructor. The point is to draw attention to
yourself from the Kami, so try to stay focussed!
After the second clap, keep palms together and
push the left hand forward, then the right, then the
left again; a bit like you are washing your hands. You
can see this gesture as a symbolic embodiment of the
principles of In and Yo.
A final full bow is now made. Head almost
touching the floor. Do not close your eyes when you bow,
nor bow so low with neck bent, that you loose awareness
of your surroundings.
As this bow is made you say, (to yourself, not
out loud), O'negaishimasu, or if it is at the
end of the class, Domo arigato gosaimasu.
You are either asking the Kami of the shrine for a good
class, or thanking them for having just had one. At
the honbu dojo, the Kami enshrined is Sarutahiko no
O'Kami.
The instructor will then turn to face the
class and the most senior student will give an
instruction to bow "(title) ni rei". It is both
polite and expected for students to now bow to the
instructor. Keep in mind what was said above about
bowing.
The instructor will then greet the class,
(what is said will depend on the time of day), and bow,
students bow in return while saying:
O'negaishimasu!
The class will now begin.
If you have any difficulty with this ceremony
or do not understand something, please ask a senior
student or the sempai for help.
