Onegaishimas

[Mr. Arieson]

Question: doesn't this word mean "Please instruct me" as in a request? Can anyone explain why we say it before Kumite, and after as well?

I can understand bowing to the sensei at the beginning of class and saying it, but I have trouble understanding why you would say "Please instruct me" after already receiving the instruction!

[The_Judo_Jibboo]

good question, i'd be curious too, in the aikido class i take we say (warning, mangled phonetical spelling coming) domo origato gozaimashita at the end

[Mr. Arieson]

Yes, but that makes sense, because it means "Thank you (formally)" !!!

[The_Judo_Jibboo]

yea i know, that's why i am curious about your question as well

[robertlee]

Please work with me. Is what I was taught it meens. At the beginging of a class And doing bunki or any time you are about to work with others you ask this. As you both are training togethere. working together. Formal aspect of traditrional training.

[aseepish]

It's a formal word for please.

http://japanese.about.com/blqow15.htm

I find it a bit strange to say it AFTER sparring though.

Even in super infromal BJJ, in Japan we said onegaishimasu and arigatou gozaimashita before and after training.