How Life Goes in a Dojo

Dojo used to be a word that the Japanese use to describe the place where they practice their art, but in modern society, some people have taken to calling gyms "dojo," even if they are practicing a non-Japanese art. Irregardless of what art they are practicing, life in any dojo is similar to each other.

Practice always starts with warm up. Warm ups would consist mostly of stretching exercises in order to prepare the body for the movements that would be performed later on. Exercises that let the body build up energy would also be included like jumping jacks and a bit of jogging. In some arts, short meditation would also be done to clear the mind and help it focus on today's practice.

Next would be the actual practice itself. Practice usually lasts for about an hour or two, but some would extend to up to 4 hours. Sessions are usually led by the master of the dojo or, in his absence, the most senior practitioner present. Seniority is usually determined by belt rank, while in some arts it is determined by duration of experience and practice.

Practice usually ends with a sparring session usually between the more senior practitioners. It can also end with a promotion, where a practitioner is rewarded a higher rank in recognition of his progress and dedication to practice. The master would also wrap sessions up with a lecture in some cases.

Life in the dojo is very simple. At the end of the day, the practitioners leave with fresh new ideas and learning that they can apply the next time they step into the gym.