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Take under tsuru, pull up to top of leather “v,” compressing it by winding string around and continue to do so, so that it is covered.

Pull end through taught tsuru and tie in a knot, cutting surplus string and pushing the end under the wound string.

Reigi

“Kendo begins and ends with rei.”

The above statement works on two levels; we begin and finish each practice with a bow and kendo is built on the ethos of respect and courtesy.

You will hear the term reigi continually throughout your kendo career, but to clarify terminology, reigi refers to the spirit of respect and courtesy and reiho or reigi saho, its physical expression. Reigi does not just apply to our behavior in the dojo, but should be part of our day to day interaction with others. I, like many other kendo students, was taught that washing the dojo floor and packing and carrying sensei’s equipment are an integral part of learning kendo.

In order to understand kendo etiquette, it is necessary to acknowledge two principles: first is the concept of sempai and kohai (senior and junior). Sempai is responsible for the safety and well being of kohai and kohai defers to sempai by sitting in a lower position in the dojo. The relationship is one of mutual respect that must be earned.