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(frequently asked questions) All your questions answered... |
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What we wear |
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| What we wear Uniform The traditional uniform, referred to as a gi, should be worn while on the mat. Uniforms should be clean and in good condition as this indicates the character and general attitude of the student. Furthermore, bodies are to be clean and fingernails trimmed. Shoes and socks OFF. When it is time for your class to begin, you should be dressed and ready to start. Be completely dressed with belt tied before stepping onto the mats, step off the mats or face outwards to fix belt hair if necessary. Children and young adults have the same uniforms - a poly cotton Gi and cotton t-shirt. You can buy them from your Instructor. Students should not arrive in class with their school shirt still on under their Gi top, as if they had gotten dressed in the car, and their belt falling off. This is an unacceptable way to arrive Arriving a couple of minutes early and dressing properly will save time in the long run, and shows respect for teacher as well as self. Hair If you have long hair, it is expected you will tie it back. This goes for boys as well as girls. Girls will wear their hair in a braid, with two plain bobby pins or clips holding hair out of their eyes. Boys with long hair will do the same and wear a bandanna tied over their hair to keep it out of their eyes. (Girls can wear a bandanna too if they wish) T-shirts for cardio All Hoshin classes start with a cardio workout. For the workout, a plain t-shirt or Hoshin t-shirt will be worn with gi pants. That's all. Not a jumper or sloppy Joe as well. After the workout, remove the t-shirt if it is sweaty, Have spare t shirt if needed and put on your Gi top. Use deodorant as well if necessary. All you should wear under your gi top is a cotton bonds singlet and/or plain black or white t-shirt. That's all. Children become overheated easily with too much on. If a student comes onto the mats without correct attire they will be unable to train. ALL students will get changed in the toilets or changing rooms if they are removing items of clothing - no one is to get changed in the training area, out of respect for others and themselves. ALL STUDENTS are to wear SHOES to and from the toilets.top |
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| What to bring with you Food and Water All CHILDREN under 12 are required to bring a bottle of water, and a piece of fruit to every class. Adults should bring a bottle of water. If a child is hypoglycaemic, it is recommended they consume half a banana at the start of class and the other half after cardio. Do not come to class with lollies and chips. Older students are required to bring a bottle of water, a small towel if they sweat a lot, and two t-shirts. No exceptions. Adult students should also bring footwear they can RUN in. Protective Attire Students at red belt and above are required to have a mouthguard and gloves. They will need to bring it to every class. If it is forgotten they will not be allowed to spar.top |
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| Bowing and behaviours Bowing Students bow when entering and leaving the dojo. That includes just popping out to the car or toilets for five minutes during training. Students also bow coming on and off the mats. Students bow to their instructors and each other. These might seem like silly things to do, but they are part of "Giri" as explained above, and show respect for everyone in the dojo, as well as the instructors, the traditions of the school etc. Children and Adults alike are expected to know this - in order to gain their belt they must know all of this as well as be able to recite their respective student creeds. Other Behaviour When you are on the mats, you are to STAND STILL unless the teacher tells you to do something. Punching and kicking other students, being silly or talking while the teacher is talking will have you sitting out the rest of class. You might not get asked back. Everyone is here to have a good time, to enjoy themselves, and most importantly to learn. It is very difficult to hear the instructor if the person next to you is talking, whispering, or fidgeting. Attention is the key to respect of self and others. Refrain from punching, kicking, and performing techniques that are not those being taught at the moment or before you have been instructed to practice the technique. Everyone's safety is a primary concern and your instructor will monitor the techniques as you practice; however, practicing a technique while it is being demonstrated or discussed is not only risky, it is rude. Health and safety rules If you are sick, you do not train! If you have an injury, tell the instructor. If you have a foot fungus, WEAR SOCKS. If you have cuts, wear bandaids over them. Same for warts! No one wants to share them with you : ALL STUDENTS are to wear SHOES to and from the toilets! Training with instructors When your instructor calls you to demonstrate a technique, you will bow and say "Yes Sensei/Sempai " and then walk onto the mats to wait for further instruction. After the technique is finished and the Instructor dismisses you, you will say "Thank you Sensei/Sempai" and BOW. Then return to your place. Training with other students After you have been given the command to practice a technique, you will usually join up with a partner. You will introduce yourself with a handshake. After you have finished training with them you will give them another handshake with a bow and say "Thanks for training" NO Exceptions!top |
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| Addressing instructors Instructors When addressing your instructor, you are never to call them by their first name, anywhere. It is "Sensei" or "Sensei Smith, for example if they are wearing a black belt, "Sempai" if they are wearing a blue or purple belt, and "Kohai" if they are a trainee instructor. Some dojos use the term "Instructor" instead of "Sensei" - same rules apply. There are no exceptions to these rules. Young Adults/ Adults: (13 - and above) A black belt may NOT be approached by anyone under the level of Green Stripe, unless requested to do so by the black belt. Children: (5 - 12) A black belt or senior student must be first asked, "excuse me Sensei/sempai " and then the student is to wait quietly without fidgeting until the black belt talks to them. When finished say "Thank you Sensei/Sempai" and BOW before returning to your place.top |
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| Your first class - what to expect For your first class - Arrive 15 min early to allow enough time to talk to an instructor about any questions you may have, and for the instructor to assess your level of fitness and health and to fill out the necessary forms. Under 18's please bring a parent or guardian. You can save time by downloading forms from the website to fill out and bring with you, ready. You will be shown around the dojo and have much of what is in this FAQ explained to you. You will be assigned a "buddy" who will look after you during your first class.top |
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| Respect for parents and seniors Addressing Your Parents We understand parents can be frustrating - it's hard living with people who are always right! However be aware that when standing in a Hoshin dojo, ignoring your mum or dad (particularly when they are calling you or asking you to do something, like put your shoes on), or saying "get that Mum" without a please or thank you, will go a very long way to seriously annoying your Instructor. (Likewise adult students to speak to/of their partners/friends disrespectfully. You are an example to the young students.) Parents are always to be addressed with respect and love. "Please and thank you" are beautiful words and you must use them when talking to Mum and Dad. Any student who disrespects their parents in the training hall or grounds, (or elsewhere) disrespects the dojo, think carefully The first line of the Junior Student creed is: "I will respect the law, my parents, teachers and seniors" The second line of the Adult student creed is: "I will honour my parents, teachers and seniors. Humbly I will respect their authority and never be obnoxious or angry" These should give you a clear understanding of the levels of respect we demand all students to accord their parents, and likewise, we expect parents to assist children by asking for and ensuring they receive that respect. Parents & families in the Dojo Parents are very welcome to stay and watch classes. Most Dojos have somewhere you can make a tea or coffee, so please don't be shy. We do request three things though:
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| Good Sports Why is being a good sport important? You will hear us saying a lot in Hoshin that being a good sport is more important that winning a game or being the best at something. That's because we value your good attitude more than your skill. Everyone starts off with a black belt on "the inside" but its how you behave that shows people it's really there. You'll notice we play games where we don't have lots of winners and losers - but we also have patches you can work towards (just like in the scouts or guides) and they get presented in front of everyone to show how hard you've tried. It might seem a little confusing at first, but it's all to do with rewarding a person who has tried hard, not rewarding someone just because they are the fastest or cleverest all the time. You will also note that we do not play competitive games in Hoshin. It doesn't help anyone - and it really isn't that important that a person can run faster than everyone else, or jump higher. It just means they can run fast or jump high. The focus is on bettering oneself and being a good sporttop |
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| Drug and alcohol policy Hoshin holds a strict policy of NO drugs or smoking. If you are under 18 this also applies to alcohol. Over 18 you are expected to drink in moderation only, students getting "wiped out" regularly will be put on notice, as this is totally against the principles and philosophies of the school. Hoshin works with the Salvation Army, young people who are disadvantaged, children who are trying to learn self-control. If we cannot set a good example for these people, who will? It is not our intention to force our beliefs or rules onto anyone - therefore people who do not wish to follow these rules are given advance warning about our expectations. If people wish to maintain unhealthy lifestyle choices, it is suggested there are other martial arts schools they can attend. Hoshin is held in high regard in the community, and we must ensure the continued respect of our good name, and the work we do in community.top |
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| What's with the red belt challenge? Is it true if you don't complete it you cannot continue in Hoshin? "The Red Belt Challenge" was created by one of Hoshin's founding instructors as a way of giving students who were at a serious disadvantage from drugs/alcohol or other addictive behaviours a way of cleaning up their act and being allowed to continue their training. It grew from a small program run a couple of times a year to being a large program imitated in many other organisations The challenge is one of mental and physical discipline - students abstain from anti-social and unhealthy behaviours for 12 weeks. After the 12 weeks are up most restrictions placed on them by the red belt challenge are lifted. Rules The rules of the challenge are as follows:
People often say "but no one is going to tell you if they break the rules". Surprisingly enough, people Do tell us if they break the rules. In doing so they open their hearts and learn from their experiences. Why? Because every time someone breaks the rules of the challenge, the whole group on the challenge gets punished. Punishment might be 100 push ups, a 2k run, extra exercise or a couple of weeks extended onto the challenge. If the break is a severe one, then the entire class or dojo, or ALL the dojos may participate in the punishment. If you are wondering why it is effective, its quite simple - no one wants to punish the school for their negative actions. We don't ever tell anyone who "broke" the rules by the way. It is always kept anonymous - another reason perhaps why people are so honest about it. What happens if someone keeps breaking their challenge If people are really struggling, they will be assigned peer support to help them through. This might range from people phoning up to say "hi" to extra training or social times with the supporters. Students will be reset their challenge - in serious cases it is not unusual for the challenge to last up to 12 - 18 months. At all times an instructor will keep up to date with the student. We have only had one case of a student being asked to leave because they did not want to do the challenge. After 8 years that's pretty good!top |
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| Gradings Gradings happen four times a year. March, June, September and December. In order to grade, students need to have completed a certain number of hours on each level and know all of the techniques they are going to be tested on. They will need to have paid all of their fees up to date, and be able to come to class on the day of the grading. During the grading it is advised they be aware of the grading etiquette as this is also important. During June we have our formal grading, which is performed in front of an audience.top |
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| What's with this MAIA stuff? I keep hearing about the MAIA. Who are they are what do they do? The MAIA is short for the Martial Arts Industry Association. It is the peak representative body for non-sportive martial arts in Australia. Hoshin is a member of the MAIA. That means our school has paid its dues to the MAIA, and have agreed to be bound by the Instructor Code of Conduct as set by the MAIA. The code of conduct ensures things like risk management, child safety and protection, proper business practices etc are adhered to. It also means we send our instructors, as they become eligible, to become accredited with the MAIA. To become accredited they must attend a one day training course with the MAIA and also complete a written assignment and a one hour video of themselves instructing a class. They must also complete their first aid certificate.top |
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| What about becoming an instructor? BEFORE an instructor has completed the MAIA qualifications, they must first complete the qualifications as laid out by Hoshin Australia. This means they will attend the 12 week program of counselling skills for working with Youth at Risk with the Salvation Army. They will also attend both levels of the CHISM certificates of Children's fitness, and the instructor training classes and assessments run by Hoshin. They may also be asked to complete a certain number of volunteer hours in instruction as well as volunteer work. After ALL of these have been signed off, the instructor will sign off on their paperwork for the MAIA. Black belts in other styles Sometimes people approach us from other styles who would like to instruct in Hoshin. They ask if they may have the same grade in Hoshin as they currently hold in their own style. Unfortunately, the years have taught us that the only way to have great instructors is to start them at the beginning. If you wish to teach Hoshin, you will need to go through the same processes as everyone else. White belt first.top |
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| Code of conduct The Martial arts industry association, as mentioned above, sets out the code of conduct. If you visit our website you will find the code of conduct in the downloads section of the website. Hoshin has added a few things to the code of conduct - for example our instructors must complete the 12-week Salvation Army counselling course, and also complete our own internal instructor training program.top |
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| Insurance - why do I have to pay extra? All insurance is very expensive. It needs to be in order to cover a business properly. Hoshin Australia, as a member of the MAIA, must be up to date with its insurance or cannot remain a member of the association. On top of the public liability and professional indemnity and event fees that we pay, the insurance company charges $20 per head for children and adults for personal accident cover. We pass this small yearly charge on to the students directly. What you are paying for is cover in case of an emergency and the need for an ambulance etc. top |
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| Payment - our obligations, your obligations We Provide
Initially, students under 12 can join for a period of three months. AFTER three months, if not notified in WRITING, by mail, Hoshin Jutsu Australia students automatically agree to continue their training for a further period of SIX months. When you join up, You are signing a contract with Hoshin Australia agreeing to train for a set period of time. It is a commitment. We honour our commitment to our students and provide quality lessons and instruction, and always turn up to our classes. We expect our students and their families to also honour their commitment to us by turning up to their lessons and completing their training. If for any reason a student or their family cannot afford to pay their training fees, immediately let the instructor know. We have never turned anyone away for lack of money. However if you simply do not turn up to class, and do not contact us, you cannot expect us to understand. It is expected you will pay your fees on the billing dates due, regardless of whether or not you are going away for a weekend or a month. If you contact us IN WRITING to inform us that you will be away, we will put your payments ON HOLD - however as soon as you return, normal billing procedures will start again. This is a lesson in courtesy, commitment and communication for all concerned. Remember: There are some variations to the above, for twice a week training, however the principle remains the same. Monthly billing rather than large upfront fees. ONE MONTHS NOTICE, IN WRITING, must be HANDED in to the instructor when a student wishes to finish training, or you will continue to be charged a monthly fee.top |
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| Giri - what is it? Most martial arts, be they Japanese, Chinese or Korean (or from elsewhere in the world) all run along the same basic ideals of Self - control, self-discipline, and lots of respect - you'll hear that word a lot. Sometimes you'll also hear about Giri. Giri is a hard concept to explain, but a short version would be that it's an "obligation" you have to your teacher, just because they teach you. It's a concept peculiar to Japan but can also be found in other martial arts. A good example of "Giri" is Daniel cleaning Mr Miyagis cars, and painting his fence, in the movie "The Karate Kid". In return for his work, he was taught how to do Karate - although he wasn't aware that this was what his teacher was doing. He just did as his instructor told him. Later his teacher saved him from bullies who hurt Daniel badly. The obligation goes two ways. By all making a small attempt to practice Giri in class you will find that classes run smoothly and everyone has a good time. Sometimes you have to use common sense to make it work - like noticing the floor is dirty and getting the broom and cleaning up unasked. Or making a cup of tea for the instructors, tying a students belt if they cannot do it, putting water in the kettle if there isn't any… the list is endless. All you have to do is use your commonsense. These small acts DO make a difference and I assure you will not go unnoticed by your Sensei, or other instructors.top |
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| Last word Conclusion Gradings happen four times a year; three small and one formal grading. If you cannot carry out the small etiquettes listed above, there is no way you will pass your grading, even if you know all of the techniques backwards! This should be enough incentive to make you practice! The rules above aren't to make life miserable - they are to instil discipline and good character in students. Even though you might not understand or see the sense in them, one day you will discover how much these simple rules of politeness have changed your behaviour for good. You will be a joy and pleasure to everyone who knows you. You will also be someone who is safe to train with, trustworthy to know and a good friend to have in the corner when things look bad. See you in class.top |
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© 1997 - 2007 Sensei Rose Smith. Not to be reproduced in any form without express permission from the author. |
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