A brief introduction on Dojo manner

When you enter the Dojo:

We understand you would start practice soon after you go back to the dojo. We do kendo with respectful. Start with this, finish with this as well.

So, you may do the rei before practice before we practice or prepare equiment in the dojo.

We should take the shoes off before we get into the dojo. This is respect to the dojo. We suggest you take off you socks as well or it will be too slippery for you during practice. After that,bow to the dojo and greet people with bow. To say "O-ha-you-go-zai-ma-su" (Good morning) or "Kon-nichi-ha" (Good afternoon) or "Kon ban ha" (Good evening) loudly when you bow. This is respectful. Be hold you shinai, bokuto or katana with your right hand when you greet to sensei. When you bow, keep your back and neck straight and move from the hip. We should take the "Sei-za" position to greet sensei if sensei is taking the "Sei-Za" position as well.

The proper posture of the "Sei-Za" position:

First of all, Put your feet togrther. Keep your body stable and straight. left foot step back. Use your toes and left knee to prop on the floor. Bring the right leg down together. Lie your feet on the floor. Buttocks sit on the ankle but do be slack when you are doing "Sei-za". Both knee between two feet long. Keep your body stable and also straight of your back and neck in kendo. Put our hands on the legs. Never open your elbow too much.This is the posture of "Sei-za".

Sei-retsu:

One of the senior will lead to line up. All the members should take your position with shinai and bogu as soon as possible. The line starts from the Shomen .
Seniors will line up first, juniors should follow the seniors to from the line well. The senior who leads line up will say Chaku-za or sei-za.

Which means sitting down in a proper way. The Senseis will sit on our opposite side. We put the shinai on the right side and put the Men and Kote on the front left. Different schools have different ways. But make sure that line the bogu up with senior's bogu. The blade side face to yourself even the Shinai doesn't have "Blade".

About "Shoumen ni Rei":

Traditionally, there is a "kamidana" or the keepsake of the dojo, like Flags. So "Shoumen ni rei" is to express our respect and thank to God or the People who help in the development of Kendo. Never keep eyes on the shoumen when we do the rei to it.

In Sei-za's position. The way to do the rei is to make a triangular in front of your knee and move(bow) your upper body with your hip.

Bring your two hands to the front together. this is a bit different to do rei to people.

About "Tou-rei":

Bring your Shinai or bokuto or katana to your left hip. Use your right thumb hold on the Tsuba. Pull you sword

out a bit and bring it to the front. the grib on the right side, blade on the front. The ending Tou-rei is a little difference.

bring the sword out from left hip. Straighten it in front of the right knee. lie it down on the floor grib point to the left. Bow.

About Rei to the opponent:

Hold your shinai with right hand and bow. Change to left. Move your right foot first and three step foward.Then, do the "shonkyu".

Keep our back and fill in full air in stomach. Open the knee. Then we can keep balance. Remember , The one who practice with you is not your enemy but companions. We should respect each other.