Reshiki

A normal Goju-Ryu class begins on time with the senior student calling the beginning of class by ordering everyone to line up. The students form one line quickly, and stand at attention. At this time one of the senior students is given the privilege of reciting the virtues, which everyone must repeat.

Everyone is silent awaiting the command to kneel. Once the command is given everyone kneels and the next command is to close eyes, at this point there is a few minutes of meditation. After the meditation everyone opens their eyes and bows, by placing their hands in front of them on the floor and bringing their head to their hands. Next is the command is to stand and then the senior students will lead the class in warm up exercises (Jumbi Undo).

The DOJO should be considered your own personal sacred home.  Its positive atmosphere is created from the beginning of class during the Dojo Reishiki. It’s where you see your brothers and sisters (in Karate-do) on a regular basis to help you improve on your way of life on a physical and ultimately a spiritual level.  Karate is but a part of your education received in the Dojo.  In the DOJO you will learn the principals of many other styles, so much that many times when speaking to Martial Artists of other schools you may know more of their history and forms similar to and of their style than they do!  But this is not the point for your Learning, you will learn basics (Kihon), self defense, how to respect yourself and others, how to earn your peers friendship, your own internal balance, physical techniques and levels of stamina one might have never thought possible of ones self, and principals to live the rest of your life by.  Keep in mind that defense, fighting and pushing yourself physically are only the beginning of Karate and remember that Enlightenment could be around the corner at any given time!  Not saying it is unhealthy but, try not to think in the way of the Western World for at times it is empty of the final dream that Eastern World Martial Arts have so long aspired for.

So what does Reishiki Mean?  Reishiki is the order of Bowing (bowing Ceremonies) That open and close class. This is where Deshi (students) line up according to their particular rank and pay their respect and thanks for what they are about to learn or have learned.

Receiving a new Belt and or rank is done in another Reishiki ceremony, which differs, from Dojo to Dojo.  Generally students are called to the front of class.  They kneel before their Instructor in Seiza, bow, and under whatever ceremonial circumstance receive their award.  In some Dojo they turn around and remove their current Belt, turn back around and are told to never wear our previous rank again, and are given a new rank to put on before Going to be seated and bow again after placing it on.