Dojo Etiquette

1. Upon entering and leaving the practise area of the dojo, make a standing bow.
2. Always bow when stepping on or off the mat in the direction of the shomen and the picture of the Founder.
3. Respect your training tools. Gi should be clean and mended. Weapons should be in good condition and in their proper place when not in use.
4. Never use someone else’s practise gi or weapons.
5. A few minutes before time for practise to begin, you should be warmed up, seated formally in order of rank, and in quiet meditation. These few minutes are to rid your mind of the day’s problems and prepare for study.
6. The class is opened and closed with a formal ceremony. It is important to be on time and participate in this ceremony, but if you are unavoidably late, you should wait, formally seated beside the mat, until Sensei signals permission for you to join the class. Perform a formal seated bow as you get on the mat. It is most important that you do not disrupt the class in doing so.
7. The proper way to sit on the mat is in seiza (formal sitting position). If you have a knee injury, you may sit cross legged, but you must never sit with legs outstretched and never lean against walls or posts. You must be alert at all times.
8. Do not leave the mat during practise except in the case of injury or illness.
9. During class, when Sensei demonstrates a technique for practise, you should sit quietly and attentively in seiza. After the demonstration, bow to Sensei and then to a partner and begin to practise.
10. When the end of a technique is signalled, stop immediately. Bow to your partner and quickly line up with the other students.
11. Never stand around idly on the mat. You should be practising or, if necessary, seated formally, awaiting your turn.
12. If for some reason it is absolutely necessary to ask a question of Sensei, go to him (never call him over), bow respectfully, and wait for his acknowledgement. (A standing bow is appropriate)
13. When receiving personal instruction during class, sit in seiza and watch intently. Bow formally to Sensei when he has finished. When he is instructing another, you may stop your practise to watch. Sit formally and bow to him when he has finished.
14. Respect those who are more experienced. Never argue about a technique.
15. You are here for practise. Do not force your ideas on others.
16. If you know the movement being studied and are working with someone who does not, you may lead the person through it. But do not attempt to correct or instruct your training partner if you are not of senior yudansha level.
17. Keep talking on the mat to an absolute minimum. Aikido is experience.
18. Do not lounge around on the mat before or after the class. The space is for students who wish to train. There are other areas in the other dojo for socializing.
19. It is everybody’s responsibility to keep the dojo clean.
20. No eating, drinking, smoking, or gum chewing on or off the mat during practise, nor on the mat at any time.
21. No jewellery should be worn during practise.
22. Never drink alcoholic beverages while still wearing practise gi.

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