Making The Connection Soke Haisan Kaleak&Shihan Farouk Gibbs

“MARTIAL ARTS ETIQUETTE & PROTOCOL”

Greetings & welcome to “Making the Connection Martial Arts Radio Talk Show”.

Governing one’s own behavior is a central concept  in many cultures, and especially in the martial arts. The root Japanese character, shu (or osa), means to conduct one’s self well, or to govern one’s behavior. It can also mean to order one’s life, or to study and master a subject. In combination with various second characters it makes important two-character words along these same lines, for example Shushi (Master of Arts), shugyo (training, practice, discipline, pursuit of knowledge), shushin (morals, ethics), shukai (personal reformation), shuren (drilling, practicing, training) and shutoku (learning). In the martial arts, however, shu refers to the etiquette of the martial way.

Proper dojo etiquette is one of the essential aspects of martial arts training. Etiquette is the way of showing respect to fellow students, to the dojo, to the Chief Instructor, and to all of those throughout martial arts history whose dedication and skills have come down to us as the art we now study. And yet, demonstrating proper etiquette is really for ourselves, a small symbol of our efforts at self-mastery and our pride in being an active participant in something as fascinating and enjoyable as the world of martial arts.

Please join Soke Haisan Kaleak & Farouk Shihan this Friday for another intriguing martial arts conversation. Osu!!!