Dojo Rules

The following have been translated from Japanese and are found in all Uechi-Ryu Dojo’s on Okinawa (reprinted here from prior Uechi publications).

Directions for Dojo Activity

  1. The martial arts begin and end with respect.
  2. Bow on entering and leaving the Dojo indicating your respect for that place.
  3. Diligently follow the instructions given by your instructor and your seniors.
  4. Thoughtless and careless actions such as whistling, singing, and social conversation have no place in the Dojo.
  5. Smoking is prohibited in the Dojo.
  6. Refrain from engaging another student in idle talking and make the best use of the time given for your class.
  7. Practice in a business-like manner, if you need to rest, do so in an area where you will not interfere with other’s workout.
  8. Person to person relationship in the Dojo must be reinforced by courtesy and affection.
  9. Keep your body and gi always clean.
  10. You are responsible for keeping your conduct under control inside and outside the Dojo.
  11. Kicking to the head, groin, or spine is prohibited during free style sparring.
  12. Protective equipment (mouth guard, groin cup, head gear) must be worn when free style sparring (foot gear and hand gear are recommended but not mandatory).

Instructions for Students

  1. The purpose of studying Uechi-Ryu is to develop the karate devotee into a healthy well coordinated person, both physically and mentally, and to
  2. train the person so that the person may master the weaponless defensive art.
  3. The karate devotee must always be on one’s best behavior, taking a modest attitude toward others, setting great value on courtesy among people,
  4. tidying up one’s dress, being careful of one’s speech and actions, and being diligent in one’s study.
  5. The karate devotee must not be a nuisance to others by using harsh language and committing violence toward others even if one is under the influence of unnatural substances.
  6. The karate devotee must not bring disgrace even in a slight degree on one’s own school (Uechi-Ryu) and one’s self by making tasteless and shameful utterances and actions
  7. The karate devotee must not be self-centered and must not run to the easy and idle life.
  8. One must make a constant effort to continue hard work enabling one to fill one’s mind with the vigor of life.