THE LABEL

 

1. The dojo should be felt as a place where the Body, Mind and Spirit are exercised.

2. Never call a SENSEI, Instructor or senior graduate by his first name, as it is an insult in Japanese to call him by his last name without the rank.

3. Every time you enter or leave the DOJO you must greet the kamiza out of respect for the creator of Aikido.

4. If the class started, authorization must be requested to enter the practice.

5. When entering the tatami you must always greet the kamiza first, and then the SENSEI or Instructor. In the same way when the class is over.

6. If a Senpai enters my class for the practice started, I must approach him, wait for him to finish his greeting to the Kamiza, greet him and offer him the class, if he does not take it, thank him and continue with the class.

7. The Sempai of the class should sit at the far right of the row at the time of greetings, at the beginning of the class and at the end of it.

8. The formation line to start the class is determined by the sempai of the class.

9. If as an Instructor or in charge of the class I have the privilege of having a Sempai in the training line, I must offer him the class. If you refuse to give the class, I ask your permission to start it and at the end of the class thank you.

10. In case of having assigned a class, I greet Senpai in gratitude for his presence before beginning and at the end.

11. In the greeting towards the Instructor I must lower my head in greeting before him and go up after him.

12. A DAN MUST ARRIVE ON TIME FOR CLASS.

13. In the event that the instructor does not attend, the Senpai of the group will begin the class.

14. Upon entering the tatami, I must arrange the sandals in an orderly manner. I must wear flip-flops or other footwear to avoid getting dirt on the tatami that I can bring from the floor when walking barefoot.

15. When entering late or out of hours, I must go to the place where the SENSEI or Instructor is, greet him and ask him with whom I should do my practice.

16. At all times I must have an attitude of attention, towards the SENSEI or Instructor and with my partner.

17. I must always look for a Senpai to practice, in case I am chosen by a Dohai or a Kohai I will accept it with great pleasure.

18. If in the middle of the practice I have doubts about the technique that the SENSEI or Instructor showed at that moment and I want to ask him, I ask permission, if I am Senpai in the couple, I stay practicing until the SENSEI or Instructor approaches and when he nearby, I greet you, thanking you for your courtesy and future explanation.

19. At the time of the explanation, I must stay in a seiza position until the explanation ends, unless the SENSEI or Instructor suggests otherwise.

20. I am grateful for any explanation or recommendation on the technique.

21. I must not speak during the class, much less explain the practiced technique or another without the authorization of the SENSEI or Instructor (especially the Danes, much less if I am KYU).

22. If as an Instructor, a Senpai takes my class, I should NOT correct him, nor the person who is practicing with him.

23. At the end of the class I must clean the tatami, set an example, as a symbol of spiritual and material cleanliness of everything that was left on it, so that the next class starts "clean".

24. I need to get my gear ready before settling in for the class closing greeting.

25. At the end of the class closing greetings I must wait for the SENSEI or Instructor to leave the tatami (if he does not, he will say what we should do).

26. I must be the first to ask the SENSEI or Instructor for the Hakama to fold it, he will give it to whomever he sees fit.

27. Wait out of respect for the SENSEI or Instructor to leave the tatami, to fold the Hakama.

 

 

 

 

 

 

House Rules

Practitioner Principles

• All members of the Dojo are members of the worldwide family of Aikido. There should be no disagreements within the Dojo. Aikido is harmony. It is the duty of all its members to honor and follow the teachings of the founder of Aikido: O' Sensei Morihei Ueshiba.

• Competition with other students should be completely avoided. Aikido does not need muscular strength but the flexibility of our body, mind and spirit.

• It is the responsibility of the practitioner to protect himself and his companions without causing any damage.

• Any insolence towards Sensei, Instructors or fellow students is not tolerated. Corrections from those with higher rank and responsibility should be accepted without question.

• No practitioner may use Aikido techniques to harm or resolve personal issues, whether inside or outside the dojo. Aikido is an art for our personal growth and progress.

the dojo

• The Dojo is the place where Aikido teachings take place.

• All members as a whole must contribute to creating a positive atmosphere,   of respect and harmony within the Dojo. The founder, the responsible instructor,   all colleagues as well as a  the  work instruments that contribute to the practice and maintenance of the dojo.

• The Dojo is to be used only for the intended classes. The direct authorization of the instructor  responsible for its use for any other activity is necessary.

• Cleaning in every sense is an act of gratitude and respect. All members of the Dojo must participate in it as a contribution to the purification of their mind and spirit.

• The monthly fee enables a place of practice and must be paid promptly.

• The acceptance of the students is at the discretion of the Instructor Responsible for the Dojo.

 

• You cannot stay on the tatami without doing anything. If he is waiting his turn, he will assume the seiza position.

• When the Instructor shows a technique or makes corrections, you must listen with the greatest attention and respect  without talking on the tatami.

• When beginning and finishing practice with a partner, they greet and thank them, then line up with the rest of the students for the next technique or the end of the class.

• To leave the tatami during class due to an emergency, permission from the responsible instructor must be requested.

Safety and Hygiene

• If you are slightly scratched or bruised and bleeding, go immediately to the instructor to leave and clean the wound and eventually the mat.

• If you are injured, let your practice partner know so he can increase his care.

• Personal hygiene and practice clothing must be clean and in good condition.

• The nails of the hands and feet must be taken care of so as not to hurt any colleague.

• You may not wear hair clips, earrings, chains, bracelets or rings (except wedding rings) or   any accessory that could hurt others or yourself.

• The use of makeup or lipstick is not allowed. You should not eat gum.

Aikido is a contact martial art. Each and every one of the mentioned rules must be accepted and respected. The head of the dojo, instructor in charge and fellow seniors are authorized to point out any errors. Corrections will be made gently but firmly and should be accepted without question. If you have doubts about being able to comply with these rules or having understood them properly, contact the person in charge of the dojo, who will know how to clarify your doubts.

practice issues

Aikido practice begins the moment you enter the Dojo. Beginner practitioners should strive to observe proper etiquette at all times. It is appropriate, approximately 3-5 minutes before the official start of class, for students to sit (lined up) in seiza or cross-legged.

The only way to advance in Aikido is through regular and ongoing training. Attendance is not mandatory, but keep in mind that to improve in Aikido, you need to practice at least twice a week. To the extent that Aikido provides a way to cultivate self-discipline, it begins with regular attendance.

Training is your own responsibility. No one is going to take you by the hand and lead you to Aikido mastery. Part of your Aikido training is learning to observe effectively. Before asking for help you should first try to solve the technique by observing other practitioners, if you still cannot execute it, sit in seiza and the instructor will demonstrate the technique again.

Aikido training encompasses more than techniques. The practice includes observing and modifying physical and psychological patterns of thought and behavior. You must pay attention to how you react to various circumstances.

The next point is very important: Aikido training is cooperative, not competitive. Techniques are learned by practicing with a partner, not an enemy. You must always harmonize the speed and energy of your technique, according to the capabilities of your partner. He/She is lending you his/her body for you to practice, it is reasonable for him/her to take care of it.

Aikido practice can be very frustrating at times. Learning to deal with these frustrations is also a part of Aikido training. Practitioners need to observe themselves to determine the root of their frustration and discontent related to their progress. The cause is sometimes a tendency to compare yourself too much with other practitioners. Note that this is, in itself, a form of competition. It's okay to admire the talents of others and strive to emulate them, but these comparisons with others should not foster resentment or excessive self-criticism.

If during Aikido training you become too tired to continue, or if an injury prevents you from performing a certain movement or technique, it is permissible to leave the mat temporarily - after greeting - until you feel able to continue. If you must leave the mat, ask the instructor for permission.

Although the best way to learn Aikido is through practice with a partner and under the supervision of a competent instructor, one can train alone.

First of all, the forms (suburi/kata) can be practiced with a jo or bokken. Second, you can perform the movements of Aikido techniques with an imaginary partner.

Even purely mental rehearsal and visualization of Aikido techniques can serve as an effective form of solo training.