No jewelry, watches, or accessories
They can injure you or your partner — removed before stepping on the mat.
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Your first class
Everything that happens, so nothing surprises you. The instructor walks you through all of it in person.
- 1
Arrive early
Time to change and settle. Punctuality is respect.
- 2
Get ready
Comfortable athletic clothes are fine for your first class — ideally a sleeved shirt and pants or shorts you can move in. No jewelry, nails short. Don't wear anything you'd mind damaging.
- 3
Speak up
Tell the instructor about any injury or limitation before practice begins.
- 4
Bow on entering
The mat is entered with a bow — a habit, not a performance.
- 5
Opening ceremony
A short formal opening: kneel if able, three bows, the class goal is announced.
- 6
Learn the day’s technique
Taught in steps, safety emphasized at each one.
- 7
Practice with partners
Bow to your partner, match their speed, tap if anything hurts — instantly.
- 8
Any clear signal means stop
A tap — physical or verbal — the word “stop” or “para”, any clear signal: practice stops immediately, everyone, no exceptions.
- 9
Closing ceremony
The opening in reverse. Then help keep the space as clean as you found it.
“A tap, “stop”, “para” — any clear signal stops practice. Safety is shared.”
— the one rule that stops everything
Intensity adapts to the exercise, the experience, the age, and the objective.
Before you step on the mat
The hygiene standard is part of training — we train close together.
- Clean body and feet
- Short, clean nails
- Hair tied back
- No jewelry or accessories
- No strong odors
- Clean, presentable clothes/gi
- Any wounds covered
- No shoes on the mat
What to wear: comfortable athletic clothes for your first class. The official cream gi comes after you join — details are handled in person.
The tatami rules, briefly
A short set of shared rules keeps training safe for everyone. The instructor reinforces them in person.
Short, clean nails
Fingers and toes. Close contact makes long nails a cut risk.
Clean clothes or gi
Fresh athletic wear for every class; the cream gi once you join.
Wounds covered
Any open cut or scrape gets taped or covered before practice.
No shoes on the mat
Street shoes never touch the tatami — bare feet or mat-safe footwear only.
No unnecessary objects
Bags, phones, and personal items stay off the training surface.
The language of the dojo
A beginner meets these terms in the first weeks. Nobody expects fluency on day one — the instructor explains everything.
Greetings & commands
| Japanese | Romanized | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 礼 | Rei | Bow — respect, entering, exiting, starting, ending |
| 止め | Yame | Stop — taught as vocabulary; signals are covered in the first class |
| 始め | Hajime | Begin |
| 待て | Mate | Pause / wait |
| 正座 | Seiza | Formal kneeling posture |
| 起立 | Kiritsu | Stand up |
| 先生に礼 | Sensei ni Rei | Bow to the instructor |
| お互いに礼 | Otagai ni Rei | Mutual bow between students |
| 正面に礼 | Shomen ni Rei | Bow to the front |
| 用意 | Yoi | Ready |
Technique categories
| Japanese | Romanized | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 受身 | Ukemi | Falling safely — learned before any throwing |
| 投げ技 | Nage Waza | Throwing techniques |
| 寝技 | Ne Waza | Ground techniques |
| 受け | Uke | Blocking / receiving |
| 当身 | Atemi | Strikes to vital points |
| 関節技 | Kansetsu Waza | Joint techniques / locks |
Dojo terms
| Japanese | Romanized | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 道場 | Dojo | Training hall |
| 先生 | Sensei | Instructor |
| 稽古着 | Gi | Practice uniform — cream at PRJJE |
| 帯 | Obi | Belt |
| 級 | Kyu | Grade before black belt |
| 段 | Dan | Black-belt grade |
| 形 | Kata | Formal sequence of techniques |
| 畳 | Tatami | The practice mat |
Ready to see it in person?
Ask about your free first class