Etiquette is basically there for two reasons; safety and respect. It is not necessary to rei (bow) into and out of a room in which a dojo is situated. The Japanese bow to each other so when they enter a building they're bowing to the people inside it. If it's empty they don't bow.

The first thing all Japanese do is take their shoes off when entering someone's house, a temple or a dojo, etc. Our dojo is no different, so if you don't want Scott pushing you back towards the door, take your shoes off as you step up onto the wooden floor. This enables us to keep all the dirt from outside, well outside. Put your shoes into the rack by the door.

Once you're changed, feel free to get straight onto the mat and begin warming up, unless there's another class on, in which case wait quietly at the side. Before you enter the mat space, give a standing bow.

The instructor will call the beginning of the class and will sit facing the shomen (front of the dojo with an image of the Shodokan founder Tomiki Kenji). Everyone lines up behind him, highest grade to the left. The highest ranking samurai always sat to the left so he could draw his sword and behead the person next to him should he feel threatened. We're a little more laid back than that!

We bow to the founder and then to each other. During the class, we bow to our training partner at the beginning and end of each practice. When the teacher is explaining something members kneel down so that everyone can see. There are only two acceptable ways to sit in a dojo, in seiza with your legs folded underneath you, or with your legs crossed. Don't sit with your back against the wall or you'll probably end up doing pres-ups!

At the end of the class the process is reversed and the mats are swept from top to bottom. If you're a low grade and you don't have a brush in your hand, go and take one from a higher grade! Never leave or enter the mat without the teacher's acknowledgement.