Beginning students in Japanese martial arts such as karate, judo, aikidi, iaido, and kendo learn that when they are in the practice space, they must don their uniform with ritual precision, address their teacher and senior students in a specific way, and follow certain unwritten but deeply held codes of behavior-and they do it all by rote. But very soon they begin to wonder about the meaning behind the traditions, gear, and relationships in the dojo.

This is a collection of lively, detailed essays by Dave Lowry, one of the most well-known and respected swordsmen in the United States, that illuminates the history and significance of the rituals, training costumes, objects, and relationships that have such profound significance in Japanese martial arts, including:

the dojo space itself
the teacher-student relationship
the act of bowing
what to expect-and what will be expected of you -when you visit a dojo
the training weapons
the hakama (ceremonial skirt) and dogi (practice uniform)
the Shinto shrine

Authoritative, insightful, and packed with fascinating stories from his own experience, In the Dojo provides a wealth of information that beginning students will pore over, and advanced students will treasure.

Dave Lowry is an accomplished martial artist, callligrapher and writer. He is the restaurant critic for St.Louis Magazine and writes regularly for a number of magazines on a wide variety of subjects, many of them related to Japan and Japanese martial arts. He is the author of numerous books including Autumn Lightning: The Education of an American Samurai, Sword & Brush: The Spirit of the Martial Arts, Clouds in the West: Lessons from the Martial Arts of Japan, and The Connoisseur's Guide to Sushi.

Contents

Introduction
1 The dojo
2 Visitors (O-kyaku-san)
3 The uniform (Keikogi)
4 The hakama
5 Weapons (buki)
6 The Shinto shrine (kamidama)
7 Contemplation (mokuso)
8 Bowing (ojirei)
9 Martial language (heigo)
10 The teacher (sensei)
11 Money (okane)
12 The student (deshi)
13 The dojo year
Glossary