Jujitsu as practiced by the Jitsu Foundation recognises its origins in Japan, and as a result of this there are some practices which may seem arcane at first to new jitsuka.
- You should not eat or drink while in the dojo, and you should never train after drinking alcohol.
- You should maintain your gi in a good state of repair at all times, and keep it clean.
- When you enter the dojo, you should rei, signalling that you are ready to train. Similarly, when you leave, you should rei.
- When you come onto the mat, you should rei to the highest grade already there. This is more a safety consideration than anything else.
- Before practicing a technique, you should rei to your partner, signalling that you are about to begin training. Similarly, you should rei when the practice is over or when the instructor shouts "yamae".
- When performing a technique in the middle at the request of the instructor, you should rei to the highest grade on the mat (this will generally be the instructor, but not always). Then rei to your partner, perform the technique, rei to your partner to finish, and rei again to the highest grade to finish the demonstration.
- The instructor (and anyone in hakama) is referred to as "sensei". Any non-instructor of a higher grade is "sempai", and any grades lower are "kohai".
Everything you do in a gi reflects on the Foundation. The Foundation therefore expects that when you are in a gi, you comport yourself with relative decorum. You should not smoke while in a gi, or do anything that might damage the standing of the Foundation.
(This has been taken from the Jitsu Foundation's website)
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