Obligations of the Student (GIRI)by Kim TaylorA lot of the problems and conflicts involved in the study of budo could be eliminated if everyone had a good idea of the responsibilities of both student and teacher. To that end, here is something to read and consider.
What Students Are Responsible For1. LearningThere's, no point being at class if you're not there to learn. Learning implies studying the curriculum of the school. Some students come to class with an agenda, they want to learn to defend themselves or "get fit". This is fine if they quickly learn the true purpose of budo. Keiko... learning, and practicing.PAY ATTENTION: Pay attention to the instructor, shut up and listen. Paying attention means trying to understand what is being shown and said, not thinking about the next meal. It means being quiet and listening when the instructor speaks, and refraining from telling everyone what "so and so" said or "how we do it in my club". NO HORSEPLAY: Most injuries are the result of horseplay, of not paying attention. Bumping into other students or a wall is simply lack of awareness and attention. CONCENTRATE: The first and only thing students should concentrate on is the curriculum. If you are thinking about the benefits of practice, (looking good, getting in shape etc.) you are not learning. NO OUTSIDE DISTRACTIONS: Keep the outside life outside the dojo. Budo is a lifelong practice, if you have a problem that will last less than a year, nobody wants to hear about it in class. A permenant problem such as the loss of an arm is a different thing, that affects your training, but your arguments with your spouse or your boss are simply not going to be important in six months. NO DISRUPTIONS: A rule of thumb is to create no distractions for the class. Complaining demands someone else pay attention and try to fix your problem. Fussing with equipment, standing and stretching, talking to yourself, practicing something else, or any of the other little things you might do, destroy the concentration of the class. Yours is already gone of course. REGULAR ATTENDANCE: Obviously missing a class means you don't learn, it also means you don't care. Missing class without good reason, (and telling your instructor first) is simply rude, especially if classes are small and there's a chance sensei will end up alone. It's bad discipline to decide not to go at the last moment, part of the lesson of budo is dragging your butt out there when you don't want to. NO LATE ARRIVALS: Being late for class may be worse than missing it. Coming in late disrupts the class, and implies you find your time more valuable than sensei's. If it is, consider another hobby. There's no excuse for being late, but if it's unavoidable, come in quietly. Wait for the teacher to admit you, warm up and join in. Coming late to avoid warm-ups is just not getting it. EXTRA PRACTICE: It is sensei's job to present the material; it's your job to learn it. Those who don't practice outside class when needed, keep the rest behind. Sensei must teach the whole class, if there's uneven effort, there's no progress. NO SLACKING OFF: At a certain point, students lose their fear of the instructor and begin to take it easy. Standing around thinking, talking or watching does not get the job done. SKEPTICISM: Faith vs. questioning: The most important learning tool may be skepticism. Blind faith doesn't assist learning. Copying a move with no idea of what it means is blind faith. This causes a search for the "true meaning" two generations down the road. Students must question why each movement is performed. Questioning vs doubting: On the other hand, it's not for students to doubt the movement. The kata are included in the school for a reason, find the reason, don't doubt the move. If you have a better move, found your own art. If you know a counter, congrats and so what? Trust vs. faith: Trust in your teachers and their teachers is not faith. Rely on the obligations of your instructors to keep them from lying or injuring you. Remember, trust is earned, faith given.
2. Personal HygieneStudents must maintain a level of cleanliness. This should be obvious, but look around in any class. Finger and toenails must be clean and short to avoid injury. Hair must be under control so as not to blind the eyes at the wrong instant. The uniform must be clean and repaired. Students should be clean in body; grimy hands or smelly arm pits are distracting and show lack of concern for others.NO DRINKING BEFORE CLASS: Students must never come to class after drinking. It's too dangerous for everyone. Sensei can't tell if you had one beer with your dinner, or sixteen with your buddies by the smell of your breath. Have none.
3. Dojo DutiesStudents should get to class early. Contrary to popular myth, class does not include the time spent sweeping the floor. Students should make each class flow as easily as possible. Have the room set up, swept, and repairs to equipment made before the scheduled start time. If this is impossible, due to other classes, all students should be ready to move in quickly and do what is needed. Because you always start 10 minutes late is no reason to show up 10 minutes late still tying your belt. If you arrive to see your instructor sweeping you should feel shame. Even if sensei wants to do it, you do it first, it's your job not his.
4. Relationship to the InstructorHERO WORSHIP: Refrain from indulging in hero worship. Sensei is not a god or even a superior human. Claiming your teacher has supernatural power does nobody any good. The highest praise for sensei is respect as a teacher. Worship of a "budo saint" simply means you are still a child. On the other hand, if sensei starts to believe the worship, progress in the art will surely be stalled.BE AN ADULT: Don't look for a parent or therapist. Putting sensei into either role makes teaching difficult and opens the way to complications on the personal level. Sensei's job is to teach budo, not straighten out your life, that is your job. Giving control of your life to someone else is simply asking to be abused. NO PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS: Don't get involved with the instructor. You can't learn budo from a lover. The teacher/student relationship is not equal, but a healthy personal relationship must have equality. Rarely can you be lovers at home, teacher and student in the dojo. NO PERSONAL FEES: It is not up to students to pay for the instructor's new roof. A new roof on the dojo is another matter. Instructors who make a living by teaching should include all the money they need in the monthly dues. Special charity dues rapidly become habit forming.
5. Relationships with Other StudentsBe careful getting involved with other students. Budo is for life, relationships often for a week. The end of a couple means tension and discord which, when brought into the dojo, disrupts the class. Broken relationships usually mean one or both partners leaving the dojo.NO EGO: Each class will have students whose personalities clash. Students must work to prevent this. Personality clashes mean ego. The ego has no place in the dojo.
6. Duty and LoyaltyBeyond these responsibilities, students have no inherent duty or loyalty to either the art or the instructor. A student must earn the privilege of being loyal to an art or a school through many years of hard work. In the old days a samurai (or a western knight for that matter) did not have the luxury of simply giving his loyalty to any daimyo he chose, that loyalty was requested, by the lord, after the samurai had proved himself worthy of the request. Paying money to an instructor does not entitle the student to the highly reciprocal duties, responsibilities and benefits of fealty.
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