Creating a dōjō is much more than just a question of material organization: it’s about giving life to a place imbued with spirituality and respect, dedicated to learning and mastering the martial arts. A veritable sanctuary of practice, the dōjō is a space where ancestral traditions and modern demands meet.
Whether you’re a passionate practitioner or a venue manager, creating a harmonious, functional environment is essential to honoring Budo values while guaranteeing comfort and safety. In this article, you’ll discover the keys to setting up a dōjō according to the rules of the art, from symbolic guidelines to essential equipment.
The origins of dōjō
The term dōjō (道場) is composed of two vocables: “dō” meaning “the way” and “jō” designating “the place”. At the time, it served as a hall for religious temples where spirituality was king. Discreet, out of sight and often modest, this haven of peace combined meditation and budo.
A veritable sacred place, here Sensei (masters) and Deshi (disciples) shared their virtues, developed their “inner self” and discovered not only the martial art, but also the art of living according to principles and values specific to the discipline. Sincerity, humility, determination, effort, respect… The 5 directives of the Dōjō-Kun are still recited at the end of each session:
Work to perfect your character.
The 5 guidelines of the Dōjō-Kun
Be faithful in seeking the true path.
Cultivate a spirit of effort and perseverance.
Always act with good manners.
Restrain violent and uncontrolled behavior.
It was during the Heïan era (794-1185) that the first dōjō is said to have been founded. It took shape in the
Heïan Jingu Imperial Palace Park (Kyoto) to honor the victorious return of Sakanoue Tamuramaro, a military commander.
Designing your dōjō to perfection
Today, dōjō welcome many students on the martial arts path. The venues are more regulated in terms of equipment, layout and surface area. The objective? Ensuring safety, hygiene, respect for the environment and others, as well as more effective teaching.
Symbolisms in the orientation of your dōjō
To set up a dōjō in the traditional way, you need to obey certain rules in terms of orientation.
The honorary side, called Kamiza, is the symbolic center of the place. It faces the entrance (and therefore generally north) and represents the places of honor for the instructors. The teacher sits with his back to the Kamiza, facing south. He therefore receives the sunlight that symbolizes the knowledge to be passed on to his students.
Behind the seats, the Shomen (wall) is decorated with symbolic objects such as the school master’s portrait, swords and calligraphy.
The side opposite the Kamiza is the Shimoza (entrance to the dōjō). This is where students sit to bow, thus facing the Kamiza. Practitioners can only glimpse sunlight (knowledge) through the master’s reflection of it. As for bowing, this is carried out according to an order: the oldest students are to the left of the master (to the east), while beginners are to the west.
To the east is the Joseki, reserved for the most senior members, the highest ranks and assistants. Located on the Rising Sun side, they include the essential principles of the art of Budo.
Opposite, in the “shadow”, we find the Shimoseki, where the students, the less senior members and even the non-ranking members are housed. It is also to the west that any visitors are placed.
The tatami: a carpet like no other…
Tatami mats are the centerpiece of every dōjō. Judo, karate, jujitsu, Taekwondo… They must be adapted to the combat sport practiced. These floor coverings are always laid out in squares or rectangles and generally measure 1x2m. Make sure they comply with standard F EN 12503-3. Be careful! For judo practice, mats for other disciplines such as gymnastics are not accepted for safety reasons.
Fighting area and tatami safety area
The rooms are surrounded by a circulation and combat area. In judo, the combat area must measure :
- 4 m sides minimum for benjamins and younger children
- 6 m from cadets for national competitions
- 8 m for international competitions
The safety area is a minimum of 1 m or 2 m for benjamins and younger riders, and 3 m for cadets and older riders.
Note: it is also advisable to leave a minimum width of 2 metres between combat zones, and even 4 metres for international competitions.
Tatami material
You can choose between cotton and vinyl tatami mats. The former is the “traditional” tatami material, but the latter is becoming increasingly popular thanks to its ease of maintenance. Apart from the material used, you’ll also need to ensure that your mat doesn’t slip on the floor of your dōjō. So opt for non-slip tatami mats or, if necessary, hold them in place with a wooden frame.
How thick should a tatami mat be?
If you want to organize competitions in your hall, you’ll need 5cm thick tatamis. For introductory school classes, 4cm will suffice.
Tatami mats can be installed on any type of floor, but it’s advisable to opt for a floating floor for the sake of comfort. The advantage? This type of flooring has a shock-absorbing effect, reducing the risk of injury in the event of a fall. Floating wood flooring can be mounted on foam, spring or rubber.
Equip your dojo with high-quality equipment
Martial arts training equipment adapted to the level of each disciple is necessary to ensure proper learning.
The Daisho online store offers a variety of value-for-money products such as coaching sticks, break boards, rubber bands, targets and bear paws.
In addition to these accessories, it’s essential toinstall top-quality punching bags to perfect your workouts and avoid the risk of injury. Suspended, free-standing, specialized… Different types of mounting exist. For a boxing gym, for example, we’d opt more for the last solution to work on very precise techniques such as uppercuts or powerful blows to the head. Size is another factor to be taken into consideration, depending on the discipline being worked on, as are training intensity, location and the characteristics of the disciples (morphology, age range…).
We stock a wide range of bags. If you are interested, please do not hesitate to contact us.
The “competition” aspect is not left out, as sports equipment such as table gongs, judge’s flags and medals are available from Daisho.be.
Equipment, delivery, advice, sponsorship… Daisho is with you every step of the way to create your dōjō. It’s time to create not only a training space, but above all a true sanctuary for personal and spiritual growth.
