What are some of the basic points of etiquette? I would like to learn Japanese martial arts, but it is in conflict with my personal beliefs/comfort zones.
Not necessarily. The last thing we want is to exclude people. Either one of two things can happen. Perhaps you can change your perspective (not your beliefs), or a compromise can be made. It's something that should be discussed with Sensei. There are people who feel extremely uncomfortable with bowing. Sometimes these are religious beliefs (one should only bow in prayer to God), or other set of ethical beliefs (bowing is a symbol of subservience). In Japan, bowing is a sign of respect - to Sensei, to training partners, to the building, to the memory of others who have come and trained before us. Your beliefs are your own and you can interpret bowing as you wish. If you are adamant about not bowing, then you need not do it as long as you make an effort to show politeness and respect. (Note that Alexander the Great dealt with this exact issue 2300 years ago.) Some people feel very uncomfortable with physical touching. It is common in martial arts classes that instructors touch their students in order to move parts of their body into correct positions. It is not meant to be sexual. However, if you feel uncomfortable at anytime, extricate youself from the situation and discuss with Sensei privately at an appropriate time so that he can address the situation. If you are a particularly sensitive person, please discuss with Sensei prior to joining class to see if accommodations can be made. Do you teach private lessons? Yes, but they are very expensive. Private lessons will not speed your progress. Quite the opposite. When you join Calgary Rakushinkan you add to it by giving other students the benefit of another unique body and personality and get to experience working with a variety of partners. I would like to join/try class. How should I go about that? If you're reading this FAQ, that's a good start. Next, email us expressing your interest and inquire about whether Sensei can take on another student. Ask whatever questions you have about class. Sensei would probably like to know why you are interested in learning Japanese sword and what prior martial arts experience you have if any. What should I bring to my first class? Bring yourself. That's the most important thing. Wear some loose clothing - something to exercise in. If you have a martial arts uniform of some sort - a karate/tae kwan do/judo/etc uniform with a belt, that would be a bonus. If you have a bokuto or a jo (if you do then you know what that means) then bring it. Sensei usually has extra swords that you can use, so don't worry about it. I already have my own sword. Can I bring it? Wooden weapons, yes. Others, NO. If you want to bring your sword, ask Sensei before hand and answer his questions. He may ask you to bring it to class for his inspection. DO NOT BRING A SWORD TO CLASS WITH OUT PRIOR CONSENT. Sensei needs to be aware of all potential risks in the dojo for the safety of everyone there. If Sensei asks you to bring your sword, he will inspect it to determine if it is safe and suitable for use. Iaijutsu? Is that like Iaido? What's the difference? Basically, they are the same thing. For some there is a different connotation associated with those two terms. Some use the term "iaido" implying that training in the art has the ultimate purpose of training the mind or reaching enlightenment, whereas "iaijutsu" implies training in the art with the ultimate purpose of mastering the techniques for technique's sake. It is the view of Calgary Rakushinkan that each of us may take what they like from it. For more on iai see "Iaido/Iaijutsu." |