## Dojo (6)

To practice Naginata, you need a dojo. A dojo refers to the training hall where Naginata is being practiced. A dojo always has a shomen. It actually means ‘the centre of the face or head’, but in Naginata, it refers to the altar or sacred place in the dojo. This place can have an altar, banner of the club, a picture of the sensei (teacher) or something else that represents that ‘sacredness’. The shomen is usually located as far as possible from the door, so that place remains safe for potential threats from outside. That is also why, for example, you put away and pick up your Naginata with the blade facing away from the shomen.