Kamidana

It has been a habit of mine for a number of years now.

Second nature, not taken for granted, and reflective in its reason.

An acknowledgment, a focus, and a promise should I find myself at that day.

The kamidana in the dojo is over in the far corner, away from the door and across from the windows as that was the safest place for it given they layout of the room.

Small.

Discreet.

And after a few weeks of classes it could easily become part of the background noise in the room.

But it was always there.

New students received an introduction as to what it was, and what it represented in the dojo, and they were taken through the steps of a formal bow-in just in case they every found themselves in that particular situation, but otherwise the dojo was pretty informal regarding it.

For me it was always a point of reflection before class.

A thank you to the people who lived and passed these movements to us.

Nameless, faceless, forgotten, but still present in the movement, what would be their reaction to some American studying the art in 2026?

I hope they would approve.

Second to the thank you, as it was always first, was the understanding that in every training session there is a chance for learning, a chance for a breakthrough, if I could just keep that beginner's mindset and keep going.

The kamidana for my home dojo is in the living room, as that corner serves as the dojo, and is also visible from the main door.

Those dojo reflections are there before I practice, but there is a secondary layer to it.

When I leave for the day, a pause at the door, a turn to the kamidana, no words, just a bow.

If today is the day I am required to use the movement of the dojo, please do not let me embarrass those who came before me.