Precepts/Reishiki
Rules of Conduct
Always say “Oussu” (Ōsu) loud and clear with a Genwakai bow when meeting another Genwakai member in public regardless of location.
Do not wear jewelry during training. It is a distraction.
Women should wear a T-shirt under their gi top.
The Genwakai America dōgi will be a white karate uniform with single ½ inch wide blue satin ribbon ¼ inch from edge of sleeves and legs, Hawk Tokon patch over left pectoral muscle and parallel to floor. Students wear black silkscreened patch, Sensei wear black embroidered patch and Shihan wear embroidered gold hawk patch.
Keep your fingernails and toenails cut short. They can damage another student.
When you enter or leave the dōjō and before stepping onto or off the dōjō floor, loudly and clearly shout, “Oussu” with a Genwakai bow even if no one else is there.
When someone steps on the dōjō floor and shouts, “Oussu!” Everyone in the dōjō will respond with their “Oussu!”
If a student’s “Oussu!” is weak, Seniors may tell them to go back and do it again. This may be repeated until a strong, loud and impressive “Oussu!” is produced.
Always sit in seiza or with legs crossed. Never have your legs sticking out so someone can trip over them.
Never bend over at the waist to pick something up off the floor (except during shoji – cleaning the floor with wet rags).
Always squat down. Bending over is unbecoming of a Budō Warrior.
Always bow and say Oussu! To Shihan first, then to other senior black belts.
Never be late. If unavoidable, change clothing quickly and upon entering the dōjō keep your eye on the most senior person until they give you permission to step onto the floor. Upon stepping onto the dōjō floor immediately do at least 10 pushups as restitution for being late unless Sensei was forewarned. Apologize to Shihan and Sensei.
Always refer to Yondan and above as Shihan, licensed instructors as Sensei and non-licensed instructors as Senpai.
Unless told otherwise, always allow Shihan a special place to change clothing or clear out the dressing room while he or she changes.
Always offer Shihan to lead class. However, if Shihan does not want to lead class always ask permission to start class.
Shihan, Sensei and higher ranking Senpai are always on your right.
When doing seiza always allow Shihan or Sensei to kneel first, rise first and do everything first.
When you make a reishiki or mental mistake, whether seen or unseen, drop and do at least 10 pushups and explain to Sensei or Shihan why. When you make a mistake in doing anything in the dōjō, drop and do 10 pushups immediately or at a time that is not disruptive to ongoing class.
Yawning, crossing your arms or placing your hands on your hips on the dōjō floor are examples of unacceptable behaviors and results in doing 10 pushups either voluntarily or at the direction of Sensei, Shihan or Senpai.
At Shodan level and beyond, always perform your techniques full speed and full power unless you are teaching and doing it half-speed or slow motion for the benefit of the student. However, after teaching, return to full speed and power. That is the best demonstration for students to see and emulate.
Never engage in free sparring without bōgu, unless Sensei has you do it in class as a teaching module. It waters down your technique.
Do not visit other karate dōjō. You will feel pressure to imitate their techniques and unprotected sparring. This only dilutes your techniques. If for some reason, out of politeness for example, you have to attend another style dōjō, always perform your techniques and kumite as you would in any Genwakai dōjō.
Never teach Genwakai techniques to others outside of Genwakai. They will not understand. If they insist, invite them to train at your dōjō. They must make a commitment to train before you teach them our techniques.
Politics and Western religions are symptoms of the mundane world and never to be discussed in the dōjō or at Genwakai America gasshuku or get-togethers, sanctioned events and/or communications.
At gasshuku and other Genwakai America events, eat with your non-dominate hand (left hand or your right hand if you are left handed).
A student’s priorities should be Family first, then work or school, then Genwakai. Nothing should stand in the way of these three priorities.
Do not wear jewelry during training. It is a distraction.
Women should wear a T-shirt under their gi top.
The Genwakai America dōgi will be a white karate uniform with single ½ inch wide blue satin ribbon ¼ inch from edge of sleeves and legs, Hawk Tokon patch over left pectoral muscle and parallel to floor. Students wear black silkscreened patch, Sensei wear black embroidered patch and Shihan wear embroidered gold hawk patch.
Keep your fingernails and toenails cut short. They can damage another student.
When you enter or leave the dōjō and before stepping onto or off the dōjō floor, loudly and clearly shout, “Oussu” with a Genwakai bow even if no one else is there.
When someone steps on the dōjō floor and shouts, “Oussu!” Everyone in the dōjō will respond with their “Oussu!”
If a student’s “Oussu!” is weak, Seniors may tell them to go back and do it again. This may be repeated until a strong, loud and impressive “Oussu!” is produced.
Always sit in seiza or with legs crossed. Never have your legs sticking out so someone can trip over them.
Never bend over at the waist to pick something up off the floor (except during shoji – cleaning the floor with wet rags).
Always squat down. Bending over is unbecoming of a Budō Warrior.
Always bow and say Oussu! To Shihan first, then to other senior black belts.
Never be late. If unavoidable, change clothing quickly and upon entering the dōjō keep your eye on the most senior person until they give you permission to step onto the floor. Upon stepping onto the dōjō floor immediately do at least 10 pushups as restitution for being late unless Sensei was forewarned. Apologize to Shihan and Sensei.
Always refer to Yondan and above as Shihan, licensed instructors as Sensei and non-licensed instructors as Senpai.
Unless told otherwise, always allow Shihan a special place to change clothing or clear out the dressing room while he or she changes.
Always offer Shihan to lead class. However, if Shihan does not want to lead class always ask permission to start class.
Shihan, Sensei and higher ranking Senpai are always on your right.
When doing seiza always allow Shihan or Sensei to kneel first, rise first and do everything first.
When you make a reishiki or mental mistake, whether seen or unseen, drop and do at least 10 pushups and explain to Sensei or Shihan why. When you make a mistake in doing anything in the dōjō, drop and do 10 pushups immediately or at a time that is not disruptive to ongoing class.
Yawning, crossing your arms or placing your hands on your hips on the dōjō floor are examples of unacceptable behaviors and results in doing 10 pushups either voluntarily or at the direction of Sensei, Shihan or Senpai.
At Shodan level and beyond, always perform your techniques full speed and full power unless you are teaching and doing it half-speed or slow motion for the benefit of the student. However, after teaching, return to full speed and power. That is the best demonstration for students to see and emulate.
Never engage in free sparring without bōgu, unless Sensei has you do it in class as a teaching module. It waters down your technique.
Do not visit other karate dōjō. You will feel pressure to imitate their techniques and unprotected sparring. This only dilutes your techniques. If for some reason, out of politeness for example, you have to attend another style dōjō, always perform your techniques and kumite as you would in any Genwakai dōjō.
Never teach Genwakai techniques to others outside of Genwakai. They will not understand. If they insist, invite them to train at your dōjō. They must make a commitment to train before you teach them our techniques.
Politics and Western religions are symptoms of the mundane world and never to be discussed in the dōjō or at Genwakai America gasshuku or get-togethers, sanctioned events and/or communications.
At gasshuku and other Genwakai America events, eat with your non-dominate hand (left hand or your right hand if you are left handed).
A student’s priorities should be Family first, then work or school, then Genwakai. Nothing should stand in the way of these three priorities.