The dojo can be an unfamiliar place for those outside the world of Martial Arts and can be a dangerous place for those that don’t know what is going on.  Use these pages as a guide and always remember Follow your teacher's instructions carefully, and always be aware of your and your partner's levels of ability.

Shoes

 Remove your shoes and socks before stepping onto the mats.  Slide on shoes for off the mat can be very useful.  We work closely together in Aikido and closely with the mat.

Opening and closing class

There are brief opening and closing ceremonies to each class. Before class begins, you may stretch talk with your friends, practice rolling, and so on. When the teacher sits in the seiza position, either on the right-hand edge of the mat or at the front, you should stop what you are doing and sit seiza in a line with the other students.  Everyone will bow to the front. Then the teacher will turn around and bow to the class. (You should bow too, of course!) Then the teacher will begin warm-ups.

At the end of the class, the teacher will ask everyone to sit. Again, everyone will bow to the front. Then the teacher will turn and bow to the class and say “Thank you very much.” Students bow and say “Thank you.”  After that, you should go around and bow to the others you practised with that day and thank them.

Bowing

Bowing is used to begin or end activities. Bow when you enter the dojo, when you step onto the mats, and when you begin working with a partner. Similarly, bow when finishing with a partner, stepping off the mats, or leaving the dojo.  It is a show of good manners.

Also bow to thank your teacher or practice partner. If someone bows to you, always bow back!