What is the first thing you do when you enter the dojo? Bow

What is the last thing you do before you leave the dojo? Bow

Which way should you face, towards the training area or away? Towards

What do we say at the beginning of every exercise and kata? O-negaishimasu

What do we say at the end of every exercise and kata? Arigato-gozaimasu

What should you do if you arrive to class late? Wait for the instructor to acknowledge you and allow you to join

Do you walk in front of the class or behind the class to get to your place in line? Behind

When you walk in front of people, which hand should be extended out? Right hand

Where did we get the tradition of extending your hand out from? Japanese Samuri

Who’s job is it to bring attention to Kaicho, Shihan or Sensei entering the dojo? The highest ranking student in the dojo at the time

What is the command to line up according to rank? Narande or Seiretsu

What is the command to sit in Japanese? Suware

What is the command to stand up in Japanese? Tate

What is the proper way to sit in Karate called? Seiza

What is another acceptable way to sit? Cross-legged

What are two things (sitting and standing) you never do in the dojo even if the teacher says ‘Relax’? Show the bottoms of your feet and lean against the wall

What is the position called when you squat on the balls of your feet? Sankyo

What does sankyo mean? Respectful squat

What is the Japanese word for ‘Difficult’? Muzukakashii

What is the Japanese word for ‘Practice’? Renshu

What is the Japanese word for ‘Tighten Up’? Shimeru

 

Dogis

What does the word dogi mean? Do-the way, Gi-uniform

Who developed the concept of wearing dogis (uniforms to train)? Kano Sensei – Judo founder

Who introduced the dogi to karate? Gichin Funakoshi

What is the difference between a karate gi and a judo gi? Judo gis are much thicker material

Why are our karate uniforms the color white? Represent an open mind, ready to be written upon

Why are kobudo uniforms black? Represents the complimentary opposites of empty hand (karate) and kobudo

What are the top two characters on left chest on the karate uniforms ? Oki-nawa

What are the three vertical characters on the left chest on the karate uniforms ? Ko-bu-ryu

What does the character ‘Ko’ mean in Koburyu? It is in Kaicho Kinjo’s first name – Takashi but the character also means to honor and respect your parents and teachers

What does the character ‘Bu’ mean in Koburyu? Martial arts and ‘Stop the Fight’

What does the character ‘Ryu’ mean in Koburyu? Style

What are the three characters on the left sleeve of the karate uniforms? Ko-bu-kai

What are the bottom three characters on the left chest on the karate uniforms? Kara-te-do

What does the character ‘Kara’ mean? Empty

What does the character ‘Te’ mean? Hand

What does the character ‘Do’ mean? The way or method

What are the bottom three characters on the left chest on the kobudo uniforms? Ko-bu-do

What does the character ‘Ko’ mean in Kobudo? Ancient

What is the symbol in the middle of the logo on the back of the karate uniforms? Ko (Kaicho Kinjo’s first name – Takashi and to honor and respect your teachers, parents and people in authority over you)

What is the symbol in the logo with three spheres on it called? Mitsudomoe

What does the mitsudomoe represent? It was the symbol for the Ryukyu islands (Okinawa)

What does it mean if the letters on the jacket are red in color? Shihan title

What is the word for your belt? Obi

Which side should a stripe be on if you have one? Right side

Why are the stripes on the right? Because the higher levels are to the right when you line up according to rank

What does it mean if the letters on your belt are red in color? Shihan title

What does it mean if there is one red stripe on a black belt? Renshi title

What does it mean if there are two red stripes on a black belt? Kyoshi title

What does it mean if there are three red stripes on a black belt? Hanshi title

Should you wash your belt? No

Where did the tradition of not washing your belt come from? Originally all students were white belts and  practiced karate on dirt floors. Students would take their uniforms home to wash them, but hang their belt up next to their name after training. The students with the darkest belts from their sweat and dirt had been training the longest.