Beginning and Ending Formalities
The beginning and end of each practice is marked with brief formalities. These formalities are important because they mark the separation between what goes on in the dojo and what goes on in the outside world.
We are in the dojo to practice Kendo. Bringing the concerns of the outside world into the dojo will lower your concentration and slow your learning. It might even distract you enough to cause an injury to yourself or others during practice. The brief period of meditation is provided to allow you to leave these thoughts behind
The other formalities show respect for your instructors and fellow students, without whom you could not practice and learn.
The formalities are outlined below. Click the commands to hear what they sound like.
Lining Up
In our dojo, instructors line up on the side of the dojo which is to the right as you enter
On the command "Seiretsu!" (Line up!) students line up opposite the instructors, in order of rank, with the highest ranking person farthest from the entrance, holding your shinai in your left hand. Wait for the command to sit down. The instructors will sit down first.
Tradition requires that you move into line quickly, to make the most of precious practice time. Keep the line straight
Sitting Down
The highest ranking student will shout the command “Chakuza!” (Sit down quickly!). When you hear the command, wait until the person to your left begins to sit down, then immediately follow them into the formal “Seiza” kneeling position.
Meditation
On the command "Kiotsuke!" (Attention!), sit up straight. On the command "Mokusō!" (meditate), assume the meditation position, with your hands in your lap, left resting in the palm of the right, thumbs touching at the tips. Close your eyes almost completely, focus on a spot on the floor about a meter straight in front of you. Breathe deeply from your abdomen, in through the nose, out through the mouth. Clear your mind of any thoughts as you prepare for practice
On the command "Mokusō Yame!", stop meditating, open your eyes and return your hands to their normal position while in Seiza.
On the command "Shōmen ni!" (To the head of the dojo!), turn to your left to face the wall of the dojo farthest from the entrance. In a Japanese dojo, this wall would have a Shinto shrine, calligraphy scroll or other object of importance to the dojo
On the Command “Rei!” (Bow!), perform a seated bow as follows. Place your hands flat on the floor in front of you, with the tips of your thumbs and index fingers touching and forming a triangle. Perform a seated bow (Zarei) by bringing your nose and eyes down into the triangle. Do not let your bottom rise up as you bow.
On the Command "Sensei ni!" (To the Teachers), face the instructors. On "Rei!", perform the same seated bow. At this point, the instructors will outline the plan for the practice.
Ending the Practice
At the end of practice, the process is exactly the same, except for a bow to each other which is added at the end. After bowing to the Sensei, you will hear the command “Otagai ni!” (To each other!). The highest ranking student and the second student in line face each other, the third and the fourth student face each other, and so on down the line. If there are an odd number of students, student on the low end of the line faces up the line toward all the others. On the command "Rei!", bow to each other while saying thank you. In Japanese, thank you is “Dōmo Arigatō Gozaimashita”.
After this, it is customary to stand and walk over to the Sensei, starting with the highest ranking, sit down in front about two meters from the Sensei, perform the seated bow, and say thank you for the practice.