General Rules

1. No foods are allowed in the dojo.

2. Please arrive 10–15 minutes before session to allow time to change.

3. Shoes are never to be worn inside the dojo. Please remove them before
you enter.

4. Always bow before entering and leaving the dojo.

5. Do not step over shinai or bokuto; go around.

6. If possible always walk behind other kendoka (kendo practitioner) who are lined up, standing or seated, adjusting their gear. If this is not possible, please make a small
bow as you walk in front of them with your right hand extended slightly.

7. When the command is given to line up (seiretsu), please do so quickly. 

Students line up in descending order according to Dan ranks. If equal rank, then according to bogu, uniform, non-uniform, and age.

8. After line up, when the command to sit (seiza) is given, students sit from most to least senior. 

e.g., like a domino effect, one performs seiza following the more senior person beside them.

10. A series of commands will be given in the opening and closing formalities of the session.


*In this context, dojo specifically refers to the practice area.