Common Aikido Dojo Etiquette

Common Aikido Dojo Etiquette

These are common Aikido Dojo Etiquette that I have gathered from different sources. Hopefully we could implement all of these in our dojo very soon. 

Rei 

1. Upon entering and leaving the dojo, make a standing bow (ritsurei) .
2. When stepping onto or off of the mat, always bow in the direction of the Shomen and  the picture of the founder.

During Class

1. Always be on time. The class is opened and closed with a formal ceremony. If you are unavoidably late, you should wait, formally seated beside the mat, until the instructor signals permission for you to join the class. Perform a formal seated bow (zarei) as you get on the mat. It is most important that you do not disrupt the class in doing so
2. Remove all jewelries during practice.
3. Warm up before the formal practice starts. Proper warm up will reduce the risk of getting injured during practice
4. The proper way to sit on the mat is in seiza. If you have a knee injury, you may sit cross-legged, but never sit with legs outstretched and never lean against the walls or anything else. You must be alert at all times.
5. Never use someone else's practice gi or weapons without permission.
6. Do not leave the mat during practice except in the case of injury or illness. If you must leave the mat for personal reasons, request permission before doing so. Although it is important to push your body to discover your limits, it is permissible to rest if necessary. Do so by moving to the edge of the mat and sitting seiza until able to rejoin the class.
7. During class, when the instructor demonstrates a technique for practice, you should sit quietly and attentively in seiza. After the demonstration, bow to the instructor and then to a partner and begin practicing the technique.
8. During class, practicing of techniques is normally done in pairs, with sempai taking four turns as nage and then four as uke. If there is an odd number of students in the class, a group of three may be formed, with practice proceeding by twos instead of by fours.
9. When the end of a technique is signaled, stop immediately. Bow to your partner and quickly line up with the other students.
10. If for some reason it is absolutely necessary to ask a question of the instructor, go to him or her (never call out), bow respectfully, and wait for acknowledgement. A standing bow is acceptable.
11. When receiving personal instruction during class, sit in seiza and watch intently. Bow formally to the instructor when the personal instruction is finished. When the instructor is instructing another, you may stop your practice to watch. Sit formally and bow when he or she has finished.
12. Keep talking on the mat to an absolute minimum. Aikido is experience.

On Cleanliness

1. The mat should be swept before class each day and after practice is over. It is everyone's responsibility to keep the dojo clean.
2. No eating, drinking, smoking, or gum chewing on the mat at any time.
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.