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SOMA Room
The Dojo is on the 3rd Floor of the Alumni Gym.
It is the first door on your right. The door has the SOMA logo on it.
Email any of the officers for any questions.
The Dojo
The Dojo (or the SOMA Room) is the place were most of the members will end up during there SOMA classes. Sometimes when the weather is good, students are taken outside to practice.
In its most basic and functional definition, a dojo is a training hall. Simply, a facility wherein one may practice some sort of physical endeavor such as a martial art or gymnastics. Because the word is Japanese, it is appropriate to mention that it was originally a place devoted to the practice of Zen, which was eventually adopted by practitioners of Budo. Then as now, it had four walls: Kamiza with its Shomen in front opposed by the Shimoza wall in the rear, a Joseki and Shimoseki for side walls, and sometimes a Tokonoma for display of revered artifacts. Occasionally, a seating area for royalty was provided in the Kamiza. Certain arts still utilize the original woven grass tatami (or similar) mat for practice, but we have adopted the more forgiving foam type. Often there can be found auxiliary rooms adjacent to the mat area which function as dressing rooms or showers. These rooms then also become part of the structure termed a dojo.
A dojo is basically a place.
Because of its original usage, a dojo became known as a place of "enlightenment"; the ultimate goal of Zen Buddhism. When practitioners of Budo, such as the Samurai, adopted it for use, it became known as a place where the "Do", or the Way of "Bu", could be practiced. From earliest times, we can see that a dojo was never merely a gymnasium. It was always a place of very special learning and remains so today.
A dojo is a place of learning.
People from near and far come to gather for a common purpose in a dojo. Even at a glance one can see that there is no ethnocentric division. All people there are interacting together in friendship and harmony; a rare enough but much to be admired situation in todays world. Of course, this is especially true in a mixed society like our own. Still, this coming together creates a lasting feeling of commonality, tolerance and cooperation that these people carry into their daily lives.
A dojo is a place of community.
Obviously, this definition is not sufficient, for a dojo like any structure, cannot exist by itself. Even viewed simply as a building, it is clear that a dojo must be supported in terms of time, money, and good management lest it fall into disrepair from neglect or incompetence. After all, an operating dojo is a place of business and must be treated as one at all times. Even from its inception, a great deal of investment risk is required. True, a dojo can be just a space rented from a disinterested landlord, but without ongoing support it will certainly fail. Moreover, a well-trained, devoted, and professional instructor is essential. And of equal importance are enthusiastic, motivated students committed to practice; willing to give of their time and money. These ingredients give the dojo a purpose. They give it life. And so we delve deeper into the meaning of the word.
A dojo is a place of commitment.
Like all living things, a dojo must be nurtured and loved in order to thrive, and must have definite goals as well. Primarily, it must persevere and grow, but ultimately it must have a loftier aim. Its spirit must be carried beyond the constraints of its four walls and into the world outside. If this latter goal is achieved, the dojo will have meaning. Perhaps an old Zen saying puts it best: "Hobo kore dojo". Your life is your dojo. It follows, therefore, that your dojo is your life.
A dojo is alive.
It is obvious then that a dojo is not so easily defined. Far more than a "training hall" of traditional design, it offers learning, it is community, it is total commitment, it has life. With good reason indeed do we bow when entering and leaving this "place of the Way". Like enlightenment itself, only with time will the fullest meaning of the word become clear.
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