Dojo reminders
o For the well-being and consideration of others, follow these rules.
o Address all Black Belts as Sensei. It is a earned title, like a doctor, pastor, rabbi.
o For our Juniors, when you reply to a Sensei, it is either YES! or Hai! Sensei!. We do not accept “yeah,” “uh-huh,” “yep,” “OK,” “alright,” “you bet,” “sure,” “totally,” “definitely,” “nodding your head,” or “winking your eye.” Otherwise, we will find creative ways to ensure you reply “YES! Or Hai! Sensei!”
o Women must wear white T-shirts under their Judogi jacket, Uwagi.
o For our Juniors, you can get extra credit for making your bed daily and addressing your parents as “Yes, Mother” or “Yes, Father.”
o If you arrive late to class, before joining the rest of the class, take a good warm-up and ukemi to prepare, and then proceed to technical work or randori.
o Keeping the mat clean
o Do not walk barefoot on the mat, in the lobby, the changing area, or the bathroom. We want to prevent skin infections, especially highly contagious staph infections.
o We vacuum the mat each night, spray it with disinfectant, and wet mop it after our last practice.
o The mats are steam cleaned weekly to remove embedded dirt and kill germs.
o To prevent any injuries
o Remove all jewelry, including rings, watches, necklaces, bracelets, and piercings.
Clip and file your toe and fingernails short to prevent peeling your nails off or cutting your partner with them.
o Keep long hair off your collar. Tie long hair in a top knot bun. Otherwise, you might get your hair and head pulled when someone reaches around your neck.
o Don’t go home sweaty and in wet clothes on a cold night. Keep your muscles warm after an intense workout to prevent stiffness, soreness, injury, and illness.
o Keep hydrated throughout the day and after Judo practice.
o Bring your tape. We use our tape only for wrapping wounds. We do not provide it for personal use, such as finger tape or taping feet or ankles.
o To prevent staph or other skin infections
o If you’re bleeding, wipe the excess blood off the skin, apply pressure, cover the wound with antiseptic cream and a band-aid or bandage, and secure it in place with tape to prevent it from rolling off during practice.
o If blood is on your Judogi, spray it with hydrogen peroxide to break up the blood stain.
o If there is blood on the mat, wipe the area with an antiseptic wipe.
o We require a doctor's release if you have had a staph infection.
o Wash the Judogi as soon as possible to remove the stain.
o Judogi maintenance
o Wash and dry your Judogi after each practice. This prevents skin irritations and eliminates unpleasant body odors that can be noticeable to your training partners.
o Wash your Judogi in cold water only. Hot water will accelerate its rapid shrinkage. Hang it dry. Drying your Judogi in a gas or electric dryer will also shrink it by one or two sizes, noticeably and quickly.
o Do not wash your Judo belt. If you do, it will soon resemble a “bow tie,” and you will be asked if you have gained weight.
o Wear slippers off the mat. We do not want to track dirt and bacteria onto the mat.
o Never walk into the bathroom barefoot, or you will go home immediately.
o While showering, clean your feet when you get home.
o Get warm as you leave the practice. Cold weather does not serve your lungs or muscles well.
o Write down your goals. Here is proof that doing so gives you a path to an extraordinarily satisfying life.
o Being hurried, sloppy, and not following directions will appear in your Judo. We are creatures of habits, and your results will show.
o Keep our restroom cleaner than when you enter. Just like Judo, there’s technique involved; perform Tai Sabaki, take a grip, position yourself at the top of the triangle, and relax. If anything is missing in your technique, you will make a mess of things.