Shobudo

 

1. Entering the dōjō (道場)

The etiquette begins before stepping on the floor.

• Bow at the entrance
  rei (礼), a simple standing bow.
  Purpose: acknowledge the training place and leave daily life behind.
• Say quietly:
  onegai shimasu (お願いします)
  Meaning: I ask for your guidance.
• Adjust gi (着) and obi cleanly
  No snapping, no dramatic gestures.

2. Lining up

Commands you will hear:

• Seiretsu (整列) – line up
• Chakuza (着座) or seiza (正座) – sit
• Mokusō (黙想) – quiet reflection
• Mokusō yame (黙想止め) – end meditation
• Shōmen ni rei (正面に礼) – bow to the front
• Sensei ni rei (先生に礼) – bow to the instructor

After bowing, everyone says again:

onegai shimasu (お願いします)

At the end of class:

arigatō gozaimashita (ありがとうございました)

3. Basic training commands

• Hajime (始め) – begin
• Yame (止め) – stop
• Yoi (用意 / 準備) – ready
• Mawatte (回って) – turn around
• Kamae (構え) – guard posture
• Kiai (気合) – spirited shout
• Naore (直れ) – return to natural stance
• Kōtai (交代) – switch partners

4. Directions and levels

• Migi (右) – right
• Hidari (左) – left
• Mae (前) – front
• Ushiro (後ろ) – back
• Ue / jōdan (上段) – high
• Chūdan (中段) – middle
• Gedan (下段) – low

5. Stances (立ち, dachi) used in Shūdōkan

• Heisoku-dachi (閉足立ち) – feet together
• Heikō-dachi (平行立ち) – parallel stance
• Zenkutsu-dachi (前屈立ち) – front stance
• Shuto-dachi (手刀立ち) – L-stance
• Neko-ashi-dachi (猫足立ち) – cat stance
• Tsuru-ashi-dachi (鶴足立ち) – crane stance
• Usoku-dachi (右足立ち) – lean-away stance (unique to your dojo context)

6. Strikes and blocks used in your Keishin kata

• Oi-tsuki (追い突き) – lunge punch
• Gyaku-tsuki (逆突き) – reverse punch
• Mae-geri (前蹴り) – front kick
• Shuto-uke (手刀受け) – knife-hand block
• Shuto-tsuki (手刀突き) – knife-hand strike
• Gedan-barai (下段払い) – low sweep block
• Age-uke (上げ受け) – rising block
• Nukite (貫手) – spear-hand strike
• Tettsui-uchi (鉄槌打ち) – hammer-fist
• Nijū-uke (二重受け) – double block

7. Common dojo phrases

These are used in Shūdōkan just as in traditional Okinawan karate.

• Osu / Oss (押忍) – acknowledgment, respect, I understand
  (Not shouted, used with awareness.)
• Ganbatte (頑張って) – do your best
• Hai (はい) – yes
• Wakatta (分かった) – understood

8. Etiquette during partner work

• Bow before and after each drill
  rei (礼)
• Say
  onegai shimasu before,
  arigatō gozaimashita after.
• Never correct another student unless you outrank them and the sensei delegated instruction.
• Keep full control.
  Shūdōkan emphasizes form and safety, not impact.

9. Etiquette specific to kata practice

• Announce kata name clearly:
  Keishin! (敬心)
• Begin from heisoku-dachi.
• Stay quiet unless asked.
• After finishing,
  naore and rei.

10. Vocabulary list (clean alphabetical list)

This is ready for your Obsidian file.

age-uke 上げ受け – rising block

arigatō gozaimashita ありがとうございました – thank you very much

barai 払い – sweep

chūdan 中段 – middle level

eri 襟 – collar

gedan 下段 – low level

gedan-barai 下段払い – low sweep block

gyaku-tsuki 逆突き – reverse punch

hai はい – yes

hajime 始め – begin

heikō-dachi 平行立ち – parallel stance

heisoku-dachi 閉足立ち – feet together

hidari 左 – left

hikite 引き手 – pulling hand

jōdan 上段 – high

kamae 構え – guard posture

kiai 気合 – spirited shout

mae-geri 前蹴り – front kick

migi 右 – right

mokusō 黙想 – quiet reflection

nankuru naisa なんくるないさ – it will be ok (Okinawan spirit, optional)

naore 直れ – return to natural stance

neko-ashi-dachi 猫足立ち – cat stance

nijū-uke 二重受け – double block

nukite 貫手 – spear-hand

oi-tsuki 追い突き – lunge punch

onegai shimasu お願いします – please guide me

rei 礼 – bow

seiretsu 整列 – line up

seiza 正座 – kneeling

sensei ni rei 先生に礼 – bow to instructor

shomen ni rei 正面に礼 – bow to front

shuto 手刀 – knife-hand

shuto-dachi 手刀立ち – L-stance

shuto-tsuki 手刀突き – knife-hand strike

shuto-uke 手刀受け – knife-hand block

tsuru-ashi-dachi 鶴足立ち – crane stance

usoku-dachi 右足立ち – lean-away stance

yame 止め – stop

yoi 用意 – ready

zenkutsu-dachi 前屈立ち – front stance