| THE TATAMI AND THE DOJO |
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The practice of the martial arts takes place in a dojo.
"Dojo" means "illumination place", "place of the Way". This place is especially arranged : the ground is covered with carpets called tatamis. The tatamis are used to absorb the impact of the falls. All is studied to avoid the wound.
In the martial arts, the tatami is a square or rectangular zone placed in the middle of the principal room. It is made of a support of broads out of wooden or concrete, which are installed carpets measuring approximately 2m x 1m x 0.05 m.
In Japan, these carpets can be covered with a stuffing in rice straw (Toko), out of grass and can also be doormats (I-omote). In all the cases, they are making up in order to offer a good elasticity for the falls ans a certain bracing stimulate for fast displacements of the practising.
It is a sacred place of the dojo, which explain the rules to respect at the time of the practice of martial arts on the tatami.
It is necessary to be barefoot, clean, and no put one's shoes on again outside the carpet, to adopt a correct attitude constantly, to listen to the Sensei (Master) who has an authority on the tatami. It is advisable to greet each time one goes up or one goes down from the tatami
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