What to Expect

Whenever we exit our comfort zone and try something new, a bit of nervousness and confusion is inevitable. This is especially true for an interested visitor or new student in a traditional dojo, as a dojo not only uses elements of a foreign culture and language, but also teaches techniques and strategies that have the potential to inflict damage. To lessen some of the unease that a prospective or new student may have, this article will introduce some of the things you will see and experience when visiting or beginning to train at our dojo.

Etiquette

One of the first things you will notice is how formal and polite people are. This may be surprising at first, as in the U.S. we have a more casual culture in comparison. For many people, putting on a tie and calling someone sir or ma’am seems uncomfortable or old-fashioned. In our dojo however, wearing your uniform correctly, bowing properly, and calling someone sir or ma’am is commonplace and expected. Those with a military background generally assimilate quite easily. It is important to note that in our traditions, bowing is not a sign of deference, but is akin to a military salute. Some basics of etiquette in a traditional dojo can be learned in a student’s first class, but learning all there is to know can take a lifetime. A new student need not worry about making mistakes. Like all techniques, the rules of dojo etiquette are taught and improved gradually. There are many reasons for this formality, but two are straightforward and practical. First, it focuses the mind. Doing everything properly, from lining up your shoes neatly at the entrance to the dojo, walking across the mat, and leaving to go home, requires tremendous concentration and attention to detail. This mindset translates to a student’s training, and a focused mind becomes self-disciplined and capable. Second, etiquette is necessary for safety. In a dojo full of activity and weapons, knowing precisely what to do, where to be, and how to properly approach someone is critical for safety. Knowing exactly how weapons must be approached, used, and passed between participants is also vital. Safety and etiquette are inexorably intertwined.

Safety

We focus a great deal on etiquette, and that translates directly to a focus on safety. You may see senior students throwing each other ferociously to the ground or swinging weapons at full speed at each other’s heads, but somehow no one seems to get hurt. This is because seniors will train at their partner’s level of competence. When two very senior students train together, they may train at a very high level which can seem a bit terrifying to a newcomer. When a senior student works with a junior student, however, they will work to that student’s level of ability. The senior will push the junior to the point where they can barely keep up, but no further. For the junior it might seem a bit scary at times, but they should always have enough capability to keep up and progress. The very first things students learn are techniques to protect themselves, including ways to fall or be thrown and not get hurt. When you see a student execute this sort of technique well, although they may be thrown forcefully headfirst to the ground, they will roll right back onto their feet unharmed, ready to keep going. This doesn’t mean a student will not go home sweaty and sore, and it definitely doesn’t mean that a student will never pick up a bruise or a minor injury here or there, like in any other physical activity. Significant injuries, however, are extremely rare. If you are brand new to the dojo, the most dangerous person in the room is you. A lack of control or failure to pay attention to instructions is generally the cause of any injury. We train hard. But we do not train recklessly.

Uniforms

The students you see on the mat at Great Falls Budokan will wear different uniforms depending on the tradition they study and their level within that art. We teach two separate and unrelated martial traditions, and their equipment and uniforms are different. Yamate-ryu aikijutsu uses a kyu-dan ranking structure similar to many other martial arts. Newer students wear a white keiko-gi (training uniform). Depending on the student’s progress, their belt will be white, then green, and then a little later on, brown. Once the student earns shodan (first degree black belt), they will wear a black hakama. The hakama is a very wide legged pair of pleated pants.

New students in Itto Tenshin-ryu kenjutsu wear a white uwagi (the jacket from the keiko-gi), and a white hakama. Itto Tenshin-ryu predates the colored belt ranking system and instead uses an older series of paper licenses. The first license is roughly equivalent to a first-degree black belt, and at this point the student will wear a black hakama. Seniors who have earned subsequent licenses will wear an indigo uwagi.

Equipment

When you visit the dojo, you will see racks of weapons on the walls. Some of them will be wooden, and if you visit a kenjutsu class, you will likely see actual steel swords either in the weapon racks or in use by the students. Note that the vast majority of kenjutsu and iaido schools train with iaito. Iaito are blunt practice swords generally made from zinc aluminum alloy, and they cannot be sharpened. At Great Falls Budokan, we never use iaito. We only use shinken (real swords). Yes they are sharp, and yes they will cut you if you are careless. Most of the weapons on the racks belong to someone, and you should never touch a weapon or take it out of the rack without proper guidance. If you are attending a kenjutsu class, the instructor will arrange for you to use a wooden training sword. There is a lot of other equipment you will see around the dojo, and learning how to use all of it is part of a student’s journey.

Conclusion

If you are thinking of trying out a class or if you are a brand-new student, welcome! Although a traditional dojo can feel intense and foreign, we are always pleased to show our dojo and our martial traditions to new students. We appreciate those who want to explore these fascinating and challenging arts. Getting out of your comfort zone can be stressful, and it can also be a lot of fun, putting us on the road to personal growth. Traditional Japanese budo, with its focus on mental discipline and physical capability is an excellent path to follow and we welcome you to walk that path with us.

Andrew Stevenson is the chief instructor at Great Falls Budokan.