Minding our manners at the Independent Karate School

The Independent Karate School is fortunate to have quite a few beginners in our Merrimack classes these days.  This is a good thing for many reasons: they represent our future.  They also help us to see our school and its traditions with a fresh eye.

One of the things we have to show our beginners is the basic etiquette of the dojo.  Students and instructors always bow when entering or leaving the training floor.  Training partners who are about to begin practicing a technique bow to each other first.  Students and instructors of all ages normally address each other as "sir", "ma'am," or "Mr./Miss/Mrs. So-and-So."  All members of the school are expected to treat their colored belts respectfully, refraining from placing them directly on the floor or fooling around with them in any way.

There are many such rules and customs, as I have been reminded by watching our white belts slowly learn them.  Of course, the purpose is not to give the students more to remember.  These practices help to keep everyone organized and comfortable, and to create an atmosphere of mutual respect.  In this way, they are like all forms of good manners.

Learning to be courteous at karate seems to rub off outside of class, too: students who have been with us a while seem to instinctively understand when they should hold a door for someone, or how to speak politely to an older person.

An anecdote: on one occasion, our headmaster was organizing the class into smaller groups for instruction.  He invited a few boys to step over to one corner of the room by gesturing and saying, "This way, gentlemen."  One of the boys was relatively new to our school (or he wouldn't have thought this was a good idea), and piped up: "But I'm not a gentleman." 

To which he received the answer: "You will be."

Interested in joining our crew of beginners?  Visit any time!  Classes in Merrimack are held every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 pm (with the upcoming exception of Halloween!) at the VFW post near the Common Man.  Hope to see you there.