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Taikai Rules and Regulations

These guides are for students and instructors at the Konjaku Kioi dojo and any competitors in taikai sponsored by the dojo.  All competitors and seminar participants are required to read and understand these rules. Failure to follow these rules may result in your expulsion from the seminars and tournament.

Dojo Rules - Etiquette

• Arrive at the dojo with enough time to dress, hang your swords and help out with pre-class preparation in order to be ready to train at the time class is to start.
• Always remove your shoes upon entering the training area.
• Always bow to the shinza upon entering and leaving the training area.
• Always wear the proper uniform to train. Make sure your keiko gi and hakama are mended and clean.
• If you need extra stretching or warm-ups, do them before class begins.
• Keep talking on the training floor to a minimum.
• Do not talk to someone who is not in class or who is just watching.
• Respect your fellow students experience in other arts. As well, do not expound upon your experience to others during class, regardless of how it may relate to the techniques being taught.
• Pay attention and flow with the class.
• Do not call out to get your instructor's attention. Raise you hand in a subtle manner. If they are instructing someone else, wait patiently until they look your way.
• Do not stand around idle in class. This is your time to train.
• If asked to watch a technique, remove your sword from your belt, sit in seiza, with your sword on your right side, blade edge towards you, tsuba forward. The tsuba should be inline with your knee.
• Always place your sword on the rack edge up, with the handle facing to the left as you face the rack. The upper spaces are reserved for Sendei's swords.
• Juniors should never walk in front of seated seniors without bowing and saying "SUMI MA SEM".
• No eating, drinking, smoking or gum chewing on or off the floor during class.

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Dojo Rules - Safety

The handling of swords in any capacity is potentially dangerous. Therefore, for the general safety and well being of the participants, certain rules must be in effect at all times during training class. It is the direct responsibility of every student to know and abide by these rules.

• When the instructor says "FREEZE" do exactly that, FREEZE. Don't move to where you think he wants you to be, don't make any kind of adjustments, simply stop all movement and stand there until he tells you to move.
• NEVER walk behind someone training with a sword. They can not see you.
• If your sword starts to slip out of its sheath, DO NOT attempt to catch it. Step back and let it fall to the floor.
• Check your sword's general condition before every class, pay special attention to the mekugi pin in the handle. If you have any doubts, ask your instructor immediately.
• Always be aware of where you are and where everyone else is while training. Develop this awareness and keep your distance.
• Control your sword at all times, keep your thumb on the Tsuba when bowing and moving about.
• Never make wild or careless motions with an unsheathed or sheathed sword at any time.
• Never place an unsheathed sword on the floor or on the rack, an unsheathed sword belongs only in your hands.
• When handing a sword out of its sheath to another person, hold the bottom of the handle with your little finger at the butt. The blade's cutting edge should face you.
• When accepting a sword out of its sheath, grasp the handle firmly at the guard with your left hand.
• Wear your obi and hakama properly snug. Hakamas should never be overly long or short. They should just touch the tops of your feet.
• Before cutting check the mekugi peg in your sword's handle. If it is missing or loose, inform the instructor immediately.
• When cutting, be aware of whether or not you have bent your sword's blade. Allow your instructor to straighten it if needed. Never attempt to sheath a bent sword.
• During cleaning, keep sword blade pointed away from other students.

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