Dojo Etiquette
Class Format
Warm Up
Kyu Requirements
Testing Procedures
Terminology
When you are Late

---

 

Dojo Etiquette

• Punctuality is encouraged. Try to be ready and on the mats 5 minutes prior to the start of class.
• Never attend class if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol or suffering from any sickness. Your ability to be completely focused on training at all times is imperative.
• 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.
• Upon arrival at the dojo, remove your shoes and place them in the shoe rack.
• All jewellery must be removed. Jewellery may cause injury to yourself or your fellow students.
• Once you have changed into your training uniform or dogi, enter onto the mats by kneeling on the mats and bowing to the front of the dojo. 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 to your right should be of equal or higher rank; the person to your left, equal or lower rank.
• If you arrive for class late (a practice that is not encouraged), do not act in any way that would be disruptive to the sensei or to the class. Bow onto the mats and stay kneeling in seiza until instructed to join the class by the sensei. (Lateness)
• If you arrive while the class previous to yours is still in progress, do not act in any way that would be disruptive to either the sensei or the class. Go quietly to the changeroom. If the class is still in progress after you have changed, chairs are available at the side of the dojo for quiet observation. Note: If you are sitting on the side while a class is ending, stand up during the ritual bowing that ends the class and bow with the class - this enables you to show respect along with the rest of the class.
• When the sensei is instructing the class, or if you wish to listen to an explanation given to another student during the practice, you should kneel politely in seiza. When corrected or instructed by the sensei or a senior student, bow and say "Osu!".
  
• Always begin training with a partner by bowing to each other.
• During class, focus your attention on the sensei's instruction. Listen to the sensei and the senior students, and move quickly and with spirit when instructed to do so.
• Talking on the mats during class is impolite and interferes with the concentration of other students. When discussion is necessary, keep it brief and quiet. Never shout, curse, or become angry on the mats.
• It is very poor etiquette to question a teacher's or senior's authority or technical knowledge, especially during a class. If you are confused about something, ask respectfully by raising your hand and/or asking the sensei. Do not interrupt the sensei or the senior students. Do not insist on your point of view.
• During the class, if you wish to leave the mats or practice something other than the techniques the class is practicing you must first ask the permission of the sensei.
• Always be aware and pay attention to where you and your fellow students are when you are training. When doing a technique, ensure that neither you nor your partner will collide or hit other students while practicing. The senior student is always responsible for the junior student during training.
• When the class is ending, line up quickly and kneel before the sensei goes into seiza. After the class is over, bow to the sensei and to your partners.
• If you are unable to train and are observing , please be aware that during the course of the class you should not ask or answer questions nor exchange comments with the students who are training. If you are present during the opening bow or closing bow, a standing bow to the shinden and the sensei is appropriate.
• 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 the dojo.

---

 

Class Format

While each class at Renseikan Dojo is a unique experience, every class follows a basic pattern or format. Students should be familiar with the etiquette of the dojo (dojo rules)

When arriving at the dojo students should announce themselves with a strong "Osu!", all students and visitors remove their shoes and hats when entering the building. Students should let the sensei (teacher) know they have arrived by greeting him or her with a bow (rei) and saying "Osu!". Students should also check the bulletin boards, which will carry notices about new events and other dojo-related information.

After changing into their dogi (uniform), students bow onto the mats and warm up and practice their aikido until the start of class. The first student on the mats is responsible for sweeping the mats in preparation for class. Getting to the dojo early is encouraged - lateness is not a quality in keeping with the practice of aikido.

At the start of class, students are called to line up ("seiretsu") and take their positions at the back of the dojo, seated in seiza (kneeling/zazen position). The most senior student (sempai) - or one instructed by the most senior student, instructs the others to begin their zazen/meditation ("Mokuso" - still the mind). The sensei bows onto the mats and takes his or her place at the front of the dojo, facing the shinden (front) and joins the students in zazen. Zazen usually lasts 5 - 15 minutes and the senior student signals the end either with verbal instruction ("Mokuso yame" - stop).

Immediately following the end of the zazen, the sensei and the class participate in ritual bowing, both to the shinden(representing the past abd origin of Aikido) and to the sensei. The senior student begins the bowing by saying "Shinden ni rei", which means show respect to the shinden with a bow. The sensei then turns to face the class, and the senior student calls out "Sensei ni rei", which instructs the class to bow to the sensei to show their respect. After this bow, the sensei says "Osu!", indicating that the class will being, and the students respond by saying "Osu!".

All students take their places in rows facing the shinden, with the senior students (sempai) mixed in with junior students (kohai) so they can help them.
(Late students).

The class begins with the standard warm-up, followed by the Basic Ukemi (break falls) and then kihon dosa (basic solo movements). There may be slight variations, depending on the level of the students in the class and the specific lesson for that class.

The students then practice Kihon Waza (basic techniques) with their partners and kakari geko (group practice).

At the end of the class, students are then instructed to line up (seiretsu) for a short period of zazen (the command is given - "Mokuso") which ends when the sensei says, "Mokuso yame". Ritual bowing also ends every class. As at the start of class, the senior student instructs everyone to show respect to the shinden ("hinden ni rei"), then the sensei turns to face the class. The senior student instructs everyone to show respect to the sensei ("Sensei ni rei"). After this bow the sensei says "Osu!", meaning, the class is over, to which the students reply "Osu!".

The sensei leaves the mats, bows and thanks the students ("Osu! Arigato gozaimashita"). The students reply with "Osu!" The senior student then says, "Keiko Shuryo" (the class is over), at which point the students take the time to bow to each other and say thank you for the training they did together. One of the sempai will let the students know if there are any important dojo-related matters which may require their attention. The students then usually do a quick 5 minute clean up of the dojo and other rooms (this often includes cleaning the mats). This after-class group effort keeps the dojo clean for everyone's mutual benefit.

---

 

Warm Up

The warm up exercises that follow make up the usual routine, however there are always exceptions.

• Standing stretch up
• Jumping side to side, front to back
• Jumping jacks
• Opposite toe touches
• Reaching back and up
• Large trunk rotations
• Leg stretches - foot flat & Toes up
• Knee bends and knee circles
• Arm circles forward & backward
• Reaching forward
• Neck exercises (three)
• Nikajo, Sankajo, Kotegaeshi
• Side Stretches
• Leg Stretches
• Strikes, Punches and kicks
• Back breakfalls
• Side breakfalls

---

 

Kyu Requirements

8th Kyu - Yellow Belt

7th Kyu - Yellow Belt

6th Kyu - Orange Belt

5th Kyu - Orange Belt

4th Kyu - Green Belt

3rd Kyu - Brown Belt

2nd Kyu - Brown Belt

1st Kyu - Brown Belt

Shodan - Black Belt

---

                 

---

 

Late Students

(1) If you arrive after class has started: Change and warm up quickly in the changeroom, then proceed to the entry point of the mats. Bow onto the mats and sit in seiza. Wait for the sensei to invite you into the class. Once invited, take a position at the back of the class (regardless of your rank) and join the class.
(2) If you arrive after everyone has lined up but before the class has started: Change quickly. If the sensei is not seated on the mats, bow onto the mats and take a vacant position in the line up of students, walking behind the other students, who will have already begun their zazen. If the sensei is already on the mats, bow onto the mats and sit in seiza at the end of the row. This way you will not disturb the formal zazen/meditation by trying to find a spot in the line.

---

Top of Page