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When entering the dojo, take off
your hat and shoes, put out any cigarettes, dispose of chewing gum, turn off radios, and
stop any other distracting practices that might interfere with Aikido training. Visitors
are also expected to observe these guidelines for conduct.
At the dojo, change from your street
clothes and put on a training uniform (a dogi if possible). This will help you
shed outside concerns and focus on the current task - Aikido training.
When you greet a fellow student or
an instructor, greet them by bowing and saying "Osu!" This is customary
in the practice of Japanese Budo.
When coming onto or leaving the
practice mat, bow to the front of the dojo. This expresses your intent to concentrate
fully on Aikido training, and provides an opportunity to remind yourself to be grateful
for the chance to train in Aikido.
When the class is ready to begin,
before the teacher sits, all students should line up sitting in seiza in a
straight line. The person sitting to your right should be of equal or higher rank; the
person to your left, equal or lower rank.
The highest ranking student will
command "Moku so." This means to close your eyes and prepare yourself
mentally for class. The same student will then say "Moku so yame" (open
your eyes) and "Shomen ni rei" (bow to the front), and then "Sensei
ni rei" (bow to Sensei).
If you arrive for class late (a
practice that is not encouraged), it is proper etiquette to wait standing just outside the
mat quietly, until Sensei invites you to join in. Once you enter onto the mat, you should
kneel at the back of class, close your eyes and meditate for a few moments to calm your
mind to prepare for class. Then, do 30 push-ups before joining in the warm-up. This is an
excellent way of warming up quickly, and helps you to remind yourself to be on time in the
future.
If you arrive late for line-up, but
before Sensei has come onto the mat, you should take your place in line after the white
belts so as not to disturb the class.
When Sensei is instructing the
class, or if you wish to listen to an explanation given to another student in practice,
you should kneel politely in seiza. When corrected by Sensei or another senior student,
bow and say "Osu!"
During the class, any student
wishing to leave the mat or to practice something other than what the class is practising,
must first ask the permission of the instructor.
Always begin and end your training
with your partner by bowing to each other.
Never shout, curse, or become angry
on the mat.
Talking on the mat during class is
impolite and interferes with the concentration of other students. When discussion is
necessary, keep it brief and quiet.
It is very poor etiquette to
question a teacher's or senior's authority or technical knowledge, and especially so
during a class. If you are confused about something, ask respectfully. Don't insist on
your point of view.
When the class is ending, you should
quickly line up and kneel before the instructor sits. Remain kneeling until the instructor
has left the mat.
After the class is over, you should
find your partners and bow to each of them, thanking them for training with you.
Other important aspects of etiquette
deal with more commonplace concerns. Please remember to pay your dues on time.
It is easy in our enjoyment of Aikido to sometimes forget our responsibilities to Aikido,
and to our instructors.
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