To anticipate it, etiquette is a learning process that never ends.

For most people who come to the trial training, Budo means sport and self-defense, no matter in which form. Maybe someone has heard something about etiquette, but it remains something abstract.
The first contact is the greeting and bowing, this strange way of starting and ending training. The longer you are there, the more the etiquette seems to open up.
A piece of paper with a dojo label is pressed into one's hand, one reads it and then thinks, "All right!".

But is that so?

I said at the beginning, it's a learning process. Bows, greetings etc. are all external manifestations of the label, but that's just the surface. This is what the student learns most quickly at the beginning. The actual meaning goes deeper.

How does the understanding of etiquette evolve? Can it be measured?
Budo is based on a hierarchical system, the students, the teachers, the masters and grandmasters. In this system everyone has his place and associated rights and duties.
With the day you begin to walk the path (Do), you make a commitment.
The teacher agrees to pass on his knowledge. The student commits himself to absorb this knowledge to the best of his ability and conscience and to follow the path of the teacher.

This is connected with the attainment of the ethical backgrounds of Budo. This distinguishes Budo from other sports.
Everyone can be confident that they will be helped on their way.
There are many pitfalls in etiquette for the beginning student. If he makes mistakes, which is quite normal, it is first and foremost the task of the higher graduated students to show him their mistakes and to show him the right way. On the other hand, the beginning student has to turn to the higher graduated student for questions. Only if the student cannot answer his question does he address his question to the teacher. This is how the student's understanding of etiquette develops over time. The further one goes along the path, the higher one's graduation, the greater the teacher's demands on the student's etiquette. The teacher's assessment of whether someone meets the etiquette requirements is always subjective.
The student's progress in learning the martial art is also reflected in the execution of the etiquette.
The basis of a correct etiquette is above all regular participation in training. And here I have to say, unfortunately, that this part of the etiquette leaves something to be desired with some. Teachers provide their time and knowledge and one is always surprised who makes one happy with the honour of his presence in the training. I have already mentioned that budo and etiquette are a matter of trust.
For me the first breach of trust. Of course many students study and work. But in times of mobile radio and other electronic media, nobody has to tell me that they cannot unsubscribe. What would the student say when the hall is closed, the teacher is not in the mood and does not come to the training?  Trust always goes in two directions.

Answers to frequently asked questions.

Is it a law or broad recommendations for behaviour?
Etiquette in Budo is an unwritten law. The traditional basis is formed by centuries-old rules of coexistence in the countries of origin of the respective martial arts. This is also the reason for the small differences in the execution of the etiquette (e.g. salutation, forms of deference).  If the etiquette is correctly observed, a peaceful coexistence of different martial arts is possible.

Is the teacher always right?
In class, yes. The student does not have the right to discuss exercise content and techniques. It is the student's duty to practice and appropriate what the teacher has demonstrated.
In return, he can rely on the teacher to teach the student according to his level. If questions and problems arise during practice, it is always possible to ask respectfully.

Who can I ask for help and advice?
Here the hierarchy always comes into force.
For questions outside of practice, the first person to turn to is a student with a higher degree. Often the problems are already solved here. The next contact person would then be the teacher. If the teacher has no answer to the problem, even a teacher himself is in the learning process, he will turn to his master and then pass on his answer.
If a teacher does not fulfil his responsibility or his duties towards his students or violates the etiquette himself, then a student is also entitled to turn to the master and ask for a solution to the problem.

Why do these hierarchies exist?
In many countries the learning of martial arts took place in family structures. These were divided into generations. The eldest was the head of the family. In Budo it is still so similar today. However, it is not structured according to age but according to the state of knowledge.
The level of the graduation is an expression of the duration of the practice and the level achieved in the respective martial art.  There is a teacher-student relationship between each generation.
Master - Teacher
Teachers - Students
The aim should be for the student to develop into a teacher and later into a master, thus creating new generational relationships. Traditionally, a teacher-student relationship lasts a lifetime, even if the student later overtakes the teacher in graduation.
This hierarchical structure ensured the survival of the martial arts against all external influences.
The understanding of this hierarchy, the knowledge of one's own place with all its rights and duties in this system is the basis for understanding and living etiquette in Budo.

May one criticize?
Of course. But everyone asks himself the question, how do I express criticism in daily life?
A respectful criticism to problems, whose solution helps us to learn the martial art, is always appropriate.
Only as much as in the old German proverb, "As one calls into the forest, so it echoes out".

This all sounds so serious, can you have fun learning a martial art?
Martial arts are a serious thing. If you are careless, you can seriously injure your partner while practicing. Concentrated work is absolutely necessary, especially when dealing with weapons.
Nevertheless, I personally always had fun and laughed a lot, but always in the right moments.

To summarize in the end, for me etiquette means respectful contact with other people, no matter if they are students, my masters, masters or students of other martial arts. This etiquette should also be reflected in everyday behaviour in family, school and job.

I wish you every success in learning the martial arts.