At practice the other night we were finishing up when a new student stepped across the dojo floor with his shoes on. My immediate reaction was shock and the new student soon recognized the look on my face. I realized that the student had no previous experience in Karate or any modern budo for that matter and would have had no idea that this was not an appropriate thing to do. After politely chatting with the student about this I wondered if anyone has given any thought as to why we don't wear shoes in the dojo. Of course "tradition" will be one reason that springs to mind quickly, but there are other more practical reasons.
'Dosoku' （土足）loosely translates as "dirty or outside shoes". You can see signs all around Japan at schools, gyms, temples, and many other places. When I visited a friend's home, a school, or any other of place while living in Japan, I always took my shoes off. So where did the practice of removing your shoes before entering a place begin? I'm not entirely sure, but the custom has been around for centuries, and includes dojo.
So what do you do with your shoes when you visit a dojo for the first time or any other place for that matter in Japan? The first thing you have to do is to remove your shoes when your enter the genkan or entryway. At dojo there is usually some form of shelf to place your shoes on. If not , after you step into the dojo (shoeless of course!), you should place your shoes side by side facing the doorway. This makes it easier for you to slip them on when you leave.
That explains the "how", but what about the "why"? Part of the reason is the idea that a dojo is a place for studying not simply combative technique, but for training in a way of life. The "do" of "Karatedo" implies a path for us to follow and comes with a host of traditions and behaviours that we must observe. For that reason it requires a level of purity of intent both mentally and physically. This tradition of removing our shoes reminds us of the path we pursue, as does the simple white dogi (training uniform).
After living in Japan for eight years and returning to Canada, I still take my shoes off at the entrance when I come home, and would never think of walking through the house with them on - my wife wouldn't have it any other way!
'Dosoku' （土足）loosely translates as "dirty or outside shoes". You can see signs all around Japan at schools, gyms, temples, and many other places. When I visited a friend's home, a school, or any other of place while living in Japan, I always took my shoes off. So where did the practice of removing your shoes before entering a place begin? I'm not entirely sure, but the custom has been around for centuries, and includes dojo.
So what do you do with your shoes when you visit a dojo for the first time or any other place for that matter in Japan? The first thing you have to do is to remove your shoes when your enter the genkan or entryway. At dojo there is usually some form of shelf to place your shoes on. If not , after you step into the dojo (shoeless of course!), you should place your shoes side by side facing the doorway. This makes it easier for you to slip them on when you leave.
That explains the "how", but what about the "why"? Part of the reason is the idea that a dojo is a place for studying not simply combative technique, but for training in a way of life. The "do" of "Karatedo" implies a path for us to follow and comes with a host of traditions and behaviours that we must observe. For that reason it requires a level of purity of intent both mentally and physically. This tradition of removing our shoes reminds us of the path we pursue, as does the simple white dogi (training uniform).
After living in Japan for eight years and returning to Canada, I still take my shoes off at the entrance when I come home, and would never think of walking through the house with them on - my wife wouldn't have it any other way!
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