Abertillery Aikido Club. Bushinkai.

All new students to Aikido find Dojo etiquette very quirky. Sometimes they see no benefit of having such strange customs. All Dojo etiquette rules are there for many reasons. I hope to point out some of the most obvious ones, and delve a little deeper on the not so obvious.

The two main area's cover tradition and safety. The Dojo etiquette page only covers the main topics, which everyone must familiarise themselves with. Other non published ones are normally common sense, but nevertheless important. The Aikido lesson is steeped in tradition, and students from other branches of the martial arts, notice this from day one. Some other arts have very little or no Dojo etiquette at all! To come in to a structured class, can seem very strange to them. Dojo etiquette builds character, and serves as a club reference, when travelling to course's or other clubs. When you watch individual people, if they are observing correct Dojo etiquette, they stand out a mile, and is very refreshing to see.

So, how can Dojo Etiquette help with safety? Practicing with a calm mind, and observing the grade of the person you are training with is paramount for every student. More accidents and injuries occur with students training like a bull in a china shop, and not remembering the grade of the student they are with. You must always be mindful of the a persons ability, and not over step the mark on any occasion. Bringing outside pressures of work and family problems in to the Dojo are not wise. Most students forget the role of the instructor. If you are having problems, then seek advice from the instructor. You don't have to give details. Just advise you are experiencing problems, and they should be able to offer help. It is better to see the instructor, than to have complaints from other students about someone's behaviour.

Using common sense or lack of it on the Tatami (mat) again can create problems. If there is a large amount of people training, don't wait for the instructor to divide you up, form larger groups, which creates more space. Be very careful where you are throwing your opponent. If you see an opening then use it. If not, don't throw your partner. It is Tori's responsibility to take care of their Uke. If Uke has an accident, it is Tori's fault! Injuries from one person break falling in to another can be very nasty, and should be avoided at all costs.

Using another persons weapons without permission can cause friction. Always make sure you have asked the owner before moving or using. As a rule of thumb, never touch anyone else's equipment or property within the Dojo.

Never take the Dojo for granted. When you enter the doorway, always bow. When you step up to the Tatami (Mat) bow. Basically you are saying, thank you for being there, or I would be training on the hard floor. I have come across many people in the past, who for religious reasons, find it difficult bowing towards the photograph of O'Sensei. I would like to briefly explain. At no point are we bowing to the photograph, for any religious connotation. We are only making a gesture of respect to the memory of the founder of Aikido. The bow is not forming any type of prayer, just a mark of respect.

The Tatami. The mat is very important to all students. Keeping it clean, tidy, and being mindful of potential dangers, must be paramount in every student and instructors mind. If the mats are starting to part, they must be put back in to place. Gaps cause injuries. Litter and foreign objects, can cause harm to health. Any blood, must be removed immediately. If anyone is aware they are bleeding, they must ask permission and leave the Tatami at once! Having clean feet, and using Zori (flip flops) are paramount for the Tatami. Do not walk around the Dojo in bare feet. If you know you have a verruca, then advise the instructor. You would be advised to place a plaster over the verruca, and wear a sock on that foot. This will stop other students catching it. Finally, when taking off your Zori at the side of the mat, please make sure they are lined up on the correct side of the Tatami. If you are thrown towards the edge of the tatami, and disturb the line of Zori, then place them back in an orderly line.

It is custom to show great respect to guests. If the guest arrives once the class is in session, the class should be called to a halt and all students should turn towards the Dojo entrance, and bow towards the honoured guest. Everyone needs to be mindful of this part of Dojo etiquette, and should not continue to train and ignore the guests entrance. If the guest is asked to take the class, all students must follow the techniques shown. It is very bad manners to ignore the guests instruction and continue with what you know!

Arriving Late for class. Students and teachers must be on time for classes. To be late could be construed as having a lack of enthusiasm. It's the teachers job to show and encourage enthusiasm in all classes. This reflects on the students training and ideals. Punctuality is the key to many of life's circumstances. We must all understand that being punctual with appointments, attending class, is training of the mind.

There is never going to be a full Dojo etiquette list available for all events that can happen. As stated above, a great deal of common sense is needed. If you are unsure, or feel you are doing something wrong, then ask your instructor. They should be more than willing to answer any concerns you may have.