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MM · 01-09-2008, 06:56 AM

Wow, between the original post and this one, there's about a million etiquettes out there. So, really, what's the guiding reference? IMO, it goes like this: Dojo, school, organization.

Each dojo will have its own version. And this will most likely be based off of the school that they are in. Which, in turn, is based off the organization. Every dojo can be/might be/will be different, even within an organization.

And really, even in the dojo, what drives the etiquette? Certainly not "absolutes", as you can tell by reading the posts (Just because a dojo has a rule not to turn one's back on the shomen, doesn't mean it is enforced 100% of the time). No, it's driven by "intent".

For a loosely based example. Say you have a cook who is making dinner for a guest. Cook serves meal. Guest doesn't like the food that is prepared. "Doesn't like" in this instance means that the guest has a general dislike of the type of food, like say some people don't like green beans or spinach or what not. So, there the two sit at the table, right before starting to eat. Who breaches etiquette? The cook for preparing food that the guest doesn't like? Or the guest for not eating the food that the cook worked hard to prepare?

It was explained to me awhile back that if the cook did not know about the guest's dislike, then the guest would be rude to not eat the food, or at the very least, sample it. If the cook did know, then the cook is rude for fixing something known to be disliked by the guest.

So, to try to force that square peg into a round hole. If you have a student who doesn't know a rule, then there shouldn't be any rudeness when the instructor explains it. However, if the student knows the rule, who is rude when the instructor has to explain it again? (Barring the occasional forgetfulness that we all have.) And rude doesn't mean the manner in which the etiquette is conveyed, but rather the intent. The manner, or demeanor, in conveying is a different topic.

Budo begins and ends with rei. We are respectful, not only to another but also from another.

01-09-2008, 06:56 AM	#15
MM Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,996 Offline	Re: Dojo etiquette (explanation) ? Wow, between the original post and this one, there's about a million etiquettes out there. So, really, what's the guiding reference? IMO, it goes like this: Dojo, school, organization. Each dojo will have its own version. And this will most likely be based off of the school that they are in. Which, in turn, is based off the organization. Every dojo can be/might be/will be different, even within an organization. And really, even in the dojo, what drives the etiquette? Certainly not "absolutes", as you can tell by reading the posts (Just because a dojo has a rule not to turn one's back on the shomen, doesn't mean it is enforced 100% of the time). No, it's driven by "intent". For a loosely based example. Say you have a cook who is making dinner for a guest. Cook serves meal. Guest doesn't like the food that is prepared. "Doesn't like" in this instance means that the guest has a general dislike of the type of food, like say some people don't like green beans or spinach or what not. So, there the two sit at the table, right before starting to eat. Who breaches etiquette? The cook for preparing food that the guest doesn't like? Or the guest for not eating the food that the cook worked hard to prepare? It was explained to me awhile back that if the cook did not know about the guest's dislike, then the guest would be rude to not eat the food, or at the very least, sample it. If the cook did know, then the cook is rude for fixing something known to be disliked by the guest. So, to try to force that square peg into a round hole. If you have a student who doesn't know a rule, then there shouldn't be any rudeness when the instructor explains it. However, if the student knows the rule, who is rude when the instructor has to explain it again? (Barring the occasional forgetfulness that we all have.) And rude doesn't mean the manner in which the etiquette is conveyed, but rather the intent. The manner, or demeanor, in conveying is a different topic. Budo begins and ends with rei. We are respectful, not only to another but also from another.
MM Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,996 Offline