Cleanliness: Respect Starts at Your Feet
From alligator feet to fossil tracks, why hygiene matters in the dojo
When I started teaching every single day, I noticed something I had been ignoring for too long: my own feet. To put it bluntly, they were not looking good at all. And when you are barefoot on the mats every day, there is no hiding it. Karate-Do is about respect, and part of that respect is how we carry ourselves, right down to the soles of our feet.
It is hard to take someone seriously if they walk into the dojo with feet that look like they belong on an alligator. Cracked, dry, neglected. And it is not just about looks. Poor grooming in Karate is unsafe. Long toenails can cut through skin, and it happens faster than you would think. Step the wrong way in partner training or brush against someone during kumite and suddenly your toenail has left a mark. Not to mention, I have seen the nail marks left on my mat. It makes me feel like a fossil researcher, trying to figure out what kind of dinosaur walked across the dojo floor.
It sounds small, but it is really about responsibility. If you take the time to clip your nails, wash your feet, and keep yourself clean, you are showing respect for everyone around you. If you do not, you are basically telling your partners, “My comfort is more important than your safety.” That is the opposite of Karate-Do.
And believe me, I had to learn this the hard way. I finally went out and got one of those cheese grater-looking tools, and now I use it after every shower. I follow it up by moisturizing my feet before putting on socks. The feeling is awesome. I no longer go to bed feeling like I am being dragged behind a horse and carriage over a gravel road. Taking care of myself this way does not just help me, it makes training cleaner, safer, and less embarrassing for everyone around me.
And it is not just kids. I have met plenty of adults, especially husbands, who treat their feet like they are something to be hidden, ignored, or apologized for. You know the type: toenails that can leave a Zorro-type mark on any surface. Maybe they need a martial arts journey more than anyone else, because the dojo has a way of shining a light on habits we never thought about. Once you are training barefoot in a group, the message is clear. Take care of yourself, because other people have to live with the results.
At Nakata Dojo we are big on hygiene. Your gi should be clean. Your breath should be okay. And yes, deodorant is always encouraged. Nobody wants to spend an hour learning kata next to someone who smells like freshly-split onion x10. It is disrespectful to everyone in the room. Cleanliness is not about being fancy, it is about consideration. You do not have to buy the best body spray or the most expensive soap. Just show up clean, with your uniform washed, and your nails trimmed.
When we bow into the dojo, we are promising to respect the space, our partners, and ourselves. Cleanliness is part of that promise. It might sound simple, but it is no small thing. Respect is not just in how you speak, or how you train, but in the details of how you show up. Feet, nails, gi, breath, body. These details speak loudly.
Karate-Do teaches us to polish more than just our technique. It teaches us to polish our habits, our presentation, and the way we care for one another. Respect starts at your feet, but it does not end there.