At the Beginning of Class
1. We begin each class with bowing towards the Shinzen and past sensei’s and mentors to show our respect and gratitude for the lessons they taught us.
2. The Class will line up facing the Shinzen with the senior most students on the right and in descending order of rank and time in the school.
3. Each student and sensei will raise their sheathed swords horizontally, with the sheathed blade facing themselves, their left thumbs on the Tsuba and Tsuka and their right hands on the opposite end of the Saya.
4. The Sempai (senior student) will say: “Shinzen Ni Rei” which means we bow to the Shinzen and the class and Sensei will bow in Unison.
5. The Sempai (senior student) will say: “Dov Nadel, Steve Anderson, Mylene Hazard, Phil Ortiz Sensei Ni Rei” which means we bow to the past sensei and mentors.
6. The sensei will then walk in front of the Shinzen and face the students in the class. The Sempai (senior student) will say: “Rei” which means we all bow..
7. The class and Sensei will then say “Ono Geishi Mas” which in dojo language means “I place myself in your hands”.
At the Conclusion of Class
1. We end each class with bowing towards the Shinzen and past sensei’s and mentors to show our respect and gratitude for the lessons they taught us.
2. The Class will line up facing the Shinzen with the senior most students on the right and in descending order of rank and time in the school.
3. Each student and sensei will raise their sheathed swords horizontally, with the sheathed blade facing themselves, their left thumbs on the Tsuba and Tsuka and their right hands on the opposite end of the Saya.
4. The Sempai (senior student) will say: “Shinzen Ni Rei” which means we bow to the Shinzen and the class and Sensei will bow in Unison.
5. The Sempai (senior student) will say: “Otagai Ni Rei”” which means we bow to each other.
6. The sensei will then walk in front of the Shinzen and face the students in the class. The Sempai (senior student) will say: “Sensei Ni Rei, Rei” which means we bow to the sensei.
7. The class and Sensei will then say “Domo Arigato Gozaimashita” which is a formal way of saying essentially “thank you very much”.
School of Sword and Staff 