At Samurai Karate, we teach more than just karate and self-defence. Our training is built around important values that support every student’s personal growth, and one of the most important is respect in martial arts. For younger students, we also encourage parents to support this learning at home to help reinforce these values.
The first step in developing respect is learning to respect oneself. This begins with how students care for their own body, their Gi, and their behaviour. Students are expected to come to class with a clean Gi, maintain personal hygiene, keep nails short, and avoid wearing jewellery. Boys should wear only the Gi, while girls should wear a plain white T-shirt underneath
Phase 2 is respect for others and their environment. Hence, bowing when leaving and entering the dojo, bowing to other students and their senseis, and respecting the environment, looking after the equipment, not putting their hands on glass and mirrors, putting their bags and shoes neatly in the change room, no running in the halls( also safety), leaving the toilets clean after they use them. We clean the toilets often and we are finding Urine over the seat and floor, so probably a boy, sometimes not flushed. Can parents please talk to children about this habit to make sure they understand they need to leave the toilets clean for their fellow students?
Phase 3 comes naturally if the first two phases have consolidated, that is, being respected by others and life itself. For once you respect yourself, others, and your environment, through your actions, then respect will be returned in kind.
Thank you for your support in this area.