VISITING OTHER DOJOS
1. If you desire to visit and participate in another school, ask permission from the teacher of that school before attending. If allowed to participate, pay for the class or leave some kind of tribute in appreciation, regardless if the teacher says it is not necessary. Also, do not wear your gi or rank in a dojo of different style karate unless given permission to do so. Wear something neat and comfortable to workout in.
2. Always bow when entering and leaving another dojo. Using the bow you are familiar with is acceptable until you observe how the other style's bow is done.
3. When inviting a teacher or senior from another dojo or system to dinner, open doors for them, offer them a seat first, wait for them to begin eating before you do, and offer to pay for their meal. Be attentive to see their cup is always full. The cup of the most senior is checked first followed by the cup of the second most senior and so forth down the levels of seniority. Serving your honored guest properly is considered good code. Tipping well is also a good sign of ethics and demonstrates your genuine gratitude and respect for the occasion. These acts reflect your organizational training and gives "face" to you, your dojo, and the organization. Undoubtedly, seniors will analyze your actions and decide in their minds what level of training you have attained.
Although the foregoing rules may seem overly proper, the fact is they are rules of ethics many systems and societies consider to be an art and a major factor of proper attitude towards one another. Remember, most systems originated in the Orient and carry Oriental traditions. There exist many more rules that are more subtle than what has been discussed so far, and much could be learned from them if one has the desire to do so. There are those who tend to shun the traditional values of other countries as being impractical; but, by understanding their values as a way of life and grasping their true inner meaning as internal arts, one can determine the difference between an art and a sport.