Iaido Etiquette

This article is by Jason Stone senpai

As mentioned previously, being mindful of reiho/etiquette is especially important, not just during the seminar, but at all times in iaido. It is just as important a part of our art as any waza.

Below are a few points of dojo etiquette that have stood out to me over the past few months as things that we need to do a better job of teaching and practicing.

If you're late for class, don't just walk in and join the class. Acknowledge that you're late and wait for Sensei to explcitily invite you to join the class. Enter the dojo to the minimum necessary so that Sensei can see you, then sit seiza with your sword and any other belongings and wait quietly for Sensei to notice you and give you a wave or a nod to come and join the class. It may take a while for Sensei to notice you; be patient and just keep waiting...

During the seminar, with the large number of people and the large space, you might get ignored for the entire session. So don't be late!

If, for regular practice, you expect to be late frequently or consistently (due to work or school schedule, family obligations, etc.), let Sensei know.

Be well-prepared for class. At the point when Sensei calls the class to order, you should be already fully ready for anything that Sensei might do for class. E.g., if you need knee-pads for seiza/tatehiza, don't wait to see if class will be standing waza or seiza waza; put on the knee-pads before class so that you're ready no matter what Sensei chooses to teach. Have a bokuto (your own, or a club loaner) laid out and ready in case Sensei calls for you to use it. Etc.

When Sensei is teaching a group and you're in it, do not randomly wander off to get a drink or check your phone or anything else. Stay engaged, pay respectful attention, and stay in place with the group. Only leave the group if a) it's urgent, and b) you ask first.

Move with a sense of urgency when in the dojo. When going to pick up your bokuto after warmup, or going to set down your bokuto and pick up your katana before opening reiho, etc, move quickly and efficiently. No need to run, but do move quickly and try not to be the last one back to your spot in line.

Proactively greet people -- especially Senseis -- and address them appropriately (i.e., "Sensei"); broadly show respect and appreciation for the people who put in time and energy to teach you. You should have, at some point, received an informational sheet with Japanese terminology for greetings/responses, dojo commands, body parts, sword parts, etc. (If not, ask a senpai.) Review this and try to use appropriate greetings/responses when you can.

If this is your first time hearing any of this, no worries; but do try to remember and act on it as best you can. Any questions, please ask.

Thanks!