# Etiquette

If you already have participated at least at one Naginata practice, you may have noticed some ‘weird’ rituals: You have to bow all the time, you have to pick up your Naginata in a certain manner, you have to stand in a very specific spot just before and after practice, etcetera. These ‘odd’ practices are actually part of the etiquette of Naginata. Like in every budo sports, etiquette is an important matter, and happens before, during and after practice. By following proper etiquette, you’re not only showing respect to your fellow Naginata practitioners, but you will raise your own self-awareness. The practice will also run more smoothly and quickly and thus more efficiently.

For this chapter, etiquette is divided into four parts: dojo, roles, bowing and safety. After studying this chapter (or specific parts of this chapter), you will be able to answer these questions:

Dojo:

- What is a dojo?
- What is the the meaning of the shomen in the dojo?

Roles:

- What is a senpai?
- What is a kohai?
- What is the relation between a senpai and kohai?

Bowing:

- What does rei mean?
- What does otaga-ni-rei mean?
- What does sensei-ni-rei mean?
- What does mokuso mean?

Safety:

- What are the general terms of etiquette, safety, and respect in naginata?
- What are examples of how these concepts are put in practice?