Opening and Closing Ceremonies

These are the opening and closing ceremonies for both kendo and iaido practice at OSUKC.

Opening Ceremony

(Seiretsu) “Line up.” Everyone should line up with the shômen on their right, in order of rank (highest rank nearest the shômen). This command should not be necessary. You should line up when it is time for class to start.

Seiza “Sit down.” Assume the formal kneeling posture, placing your shinai on your left or your bukoto on your right.

Mokuso “Meditate.” Form a circle with your hands in front of your abdomen and close your eyes. Breath silently in through your nose and out through your mouth.

(Mokuso o) yame “Stop (meditating).” Stop meditating and return your hands to your thighs.

Shomen ni rei “Bow to the shomen.” Turn about 45 degrees to your right, moving your shinai or bokuto with you, bow towards the shomen. Everyone should bow down simultaneously, but rise back up in order of rank. When done bowing turn back to your original position.

Sensei ni rei “Bow to the instructor(s).” Bow forwards, say, “(Keiko) onegaishimasu,” (Please, let’s practice) loudly, then rise following the same procedure as for bowing towards the shômen.

(Torei) "Bow to your sword." This is done only for iaido, and there is a specific procedure for doing so, which differs between the opening and closing ceremonies.

Kiritsu “Stand up.” Pick up your sword and stand up.

Closing Ceremony

The closing ceremony is very much like the opening ceremony but there are a few changes. If no explanation of a command is given, assume that you should do the same as when the command is given during the opening ceremony.

Seiretsu

Seiza

(Torei) "Bow to your sword." This is done only for iaido.

(Men to kote o tore) “Take off the men and kote.” For kendo only. Those students wearing kote and men should remove them place them to their front and right.

Mokuso

(Mokuso o) yame

Sensei ni rei This is the same as for the opening ceremony, but say, “Domo arigato gozaimashita,” (Thank you very much) instead of “Keiko onegaishimasu.”

Shomen ni rei

At this point, any closing remarks will be made by the instructors or senior students. Remain in seiza.

(Wakare) “Break.” Immediately and quickly stand up, proceed to in front of the highest ranked instructor, and sit in seiza. If the instructor if has any personal comments, he or she will make them now. The instructor will initiate a bow; bow lower and longer than the instructor (but not excessively so). If there is more than one instructor, go to the next highest ranked instructor and repeat the same procedure.