Bowing, listening and respect
Ready when: nothing, this is the first card.
What you are learning
The manners of the dojo: kneeling in seiza, bowing at the start and end, a quiet moment with the eyes closed, and stopping the instant the word is called. In ju-jitsu, stopping on the word keeps everyone safe.
Words on this card Dojo, Mat, Bow, Seiza
- Dojo
- The training hall.
- Mat
- The padded floor where all practice happens.
- Bow
- Bending forward from the waist, standing or kneeling, to show respect at the start and end.
- Seiza
- Kneeling with the bottom on the heels, the big toes overlapped, hands on the thighs.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Kneel at the line in seiza: bottom on the heels, big toes overlapped, hands on the thighs, back straight.
- Bow: hands to the floor in front, lean forward slowly, then sit up.
- Close the eyes for a moment of calm, then open them.
- Stand, heels together, and give a standing bow.
Your part while they practise
Show a respectful bow; set the rules: stop on the word, no hitting.
Step by step
- Kneel in seiza at the line.
- Bow at the start and end.
- A moment of calm with the eyes closed.
- A standing bow, heels together.
- Stop when the word is called.
How much: 3 bows and 5 stops 5 min a session 2 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Freeze
Move round the room; on a clap, freeze on one leg, on one knee, or kneeling in seiza.
Who plays: 1 or 2 children; you clap and call.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Children walk or skip round the room
- Clap and call "one leg", "one knee" or "seiza"
- Everyone freezes in that position while you count to 5
- 10 claps; finish with a bow
- Fair play
- A grown-up freezes on one leg every time.
- Points
- 1 point for each freeze held still to 5; 1 bonus point for a correct seiza.
- Fouls
- No point for that clap
- Moving after the clap
- The wrong position
- Talking during the count
- Winning
- Beat your best from 10 claps.
- 6 points for 1 star
- 9 points for 2 stars
- 12 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
One rule.
Three rules.
What you will see, and what to say
- the child rushes
Slow and calm
The bow takes a slow count of 3. - they ignore the stop
Stop means stop
Every time, at once.
Self-check
The child stops on the word 5 times in a row.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains respect, self-control.
awiseathlete.com/sports/ju-jitsu/ju-jitsu-b1