Affiliation with Aikido Association of America (AAA)

Dojo's Etiquette

• Upon entering and leaving the practice area of the dojo make a standing bow.
• Always bow when stepping on or off the mat in the direction of the shomen.
• 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.
• Never use someone else's practice gi or weapons.
• A few minutes before class time you should be warmed up and formally seated in quiet meditation to rid your mind of the day's problems and prepare for study.
• It is important to be on time for practice and participate in the opening ceremony. If you are unavoidably late you should wait, formally seated beside the mat until the instructor signals his or her permission for you to join the class. Quietly perform a simple seated bow as you get on the mat.
• The only 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 never with legs outstretched, never reclining, and never leaning against walls or posts.
• Do not leave the mat during class except in the case of injury or illness or with permission of the instructor.
• During class when the instructor demonstrates a technique for practice, sit quietly and attentively in seiza. After the demonstration bow to the instructor, then to a partner and immediately begin to practice.
• When the end of a technique is signaled, stop immediately, bow to your partner and quickly line up with the other students.
• Never stand around idly on the mat. You should be practicing or, if necessary, seated in seiza awaiting your turn.
• If it is necessary to ask a question of the instructor you should go to him or her and bow respectfully (standing bow). Never call the instructor over to you.
• When receiving personal instruction, sit in seiza and watch intently. Bow formally when the instructor has finished. When another near by is being instructed you may stop your practice to watch. Sit formally and bow as before.
• Respect those more experienced. Never argue about technique.
• Respect those less experienced. Do not pressure your ideas on others.
• If you understand the movement and are working with someone who does not, you may lead that person through it. Do not attempt to correct or instruct your training partner unless you are authorized to do so.
• Keep talking on the mat to an absolute minimum. Aikido is experience.
• Fingernails and toenails must be short. Feet must be clean. Shoes or sandals are never allowed on the mat.
• No eating, drinking, smoking or gum chewing on or off the mat during practice.
• No jewelry should be worn during practice, including rings and pierced earrings.
• Never drink alcoholic beverages while still wearing practice gi.
• You are welcome to sit and watch a class at any time, but the following rules of etiquette must be followed.
• Sit respectfully, never with legs propped up on the furniture or in a reclining position.
• Do not talk to anyone while they are on the mat and class is in progress.
• Do not talk or walk around while the instructor is demonstrating or during the opening and closing ceremony.