Dojo Yaburi

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Dojo Yaburi, more commonly known as "Dojo challenge" is a largely outdated practice of one person challenging the sensei, and typically any students present, to kumite. The reasons for such a challenge vary, but typically range from attempting to humiliate the sensei and steal students to ascertaining if the school has anything to teach the challenger.

In practice the challenger would enter the dojo and request to fight the head instructor. Most frequently the offer would be accepted on the basis of the challenger fighting and defeating the two highest ranked, and oldest students. If the challenger succeeds he would be allowed to challenge the headmaster.

Karateka that issue a dojo challenge are commonly considered to be hoodlums of one sort or another and it was common to bar such individuals from entering a dojo. While it makes good entertainment for martial arts movies, in reality the practice is almost unheard of in modern times.

More subtle means of Dojo Yaburi have been used in the US in recent decades. Most commonly during a karate tournament one or more of the attending black belts would ask for an "exhibition match" between head instructors from competing schools. This is generally considered to be a breach of protocol and inappropriate.

[edit] Popular culture

• Dojo Yaburi is often found in martial arts anime and manga, and when the challenger wins, he often takes the sign of the dojo building with him.

[edit] See Also

• Miyamoto Musashi
• Fighter in the Wind