Dojo Etiquette

• Before entering the dojo, remove your hat and street shoes, take out chewing gum, and avoid any disruptive behavior toward others.
• When entering and leaving the training room and the mats, we bow. Likewise, bow to your training partner. This is a gesture of trust and gratitude.
• During the class, we devote all our attention exclusively to Aikido. Private conversations are distracting and should be avoided.
• Clean and complete traditional training clothing (gi: jacket, pants, belt) is absolutely necessary. The belt must be properly tied before the start of training and especially before entering the mat.
• A training partner or teacher is greeted with a traditional bow. This is customary in all Japanese martial arts and expresses your respect for training partners and teachers.
• Jewelry and watches must be removed before training. Fingernails and toenails should be cut short to avoid injury to yourself and others.
• In consideration for others training with you, kindly refrain from wearing perfume or other strong scents.
• 5 minutes before the start of practice, line up quietly in a straight line in seiza. Make sure no one of higher rank is sitting to your left.
• Make an effort to be punctual. Traditionally, it is considered impolite to be late for a class. If you are late: do not step onto the mats until Sensei acknowledges your arrival and invites you in. Do 30 push-ups and join the class.
• When a technique is explained, please sit down quickly in seiza and focus on the points being explained.
• If you want to leave the mats during the training, first ask the teacher for permission.
• If you do not want to participate in the regular training (e.g. you want to prepare for a test) ask the teacher for permission first.
• At the end of class, be sure to find your spot in the line before the instructor sits down in seiza.

Every participant is expected to abide by these rules.

Thank you!