At the Aiki Arts Center, we observe formal rules of dojo etiquette in order to cultivate mindfulness, safety, respect, dignity, and harmony. Practice of good dojo etiquette is an essential aspect of Aikido training.
The five major rules of etiquette in our dojo are:
- Receive instruction respectfully.
- Arrive 30 minutes before class.
- Remember to bow.
- Stay put when Sensei is demonstrating.
- Practice emotional responsibility.
The rules are explained in detail below. When you enter the dojo, you are agreeing to abide by these rules. Please study the rules carefully before attending your first Aikido class.
Rule #1: Receive Instruction Respectfully
When given an instruction by any of the Sensei (teachers), respond with “Hai, Sensei” or “Thank you, Sensei.”
Rule #2: Arrive 30 Minutes Before Class
Arrive at the dojo 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. The start time on the schedule is when we bow in and begin our class. Before class starts, we need to set up the training mats together, change into gi (training uniforms), and take a bit of time to make the mental transition from the rhythms of the outside world to the rhythms of the dojo.
Our arrival time policy is about respect (don’t leave your fellow students to set up the mats without you), community (have a bit of time before class to get to know people), and, above all, safety (we’ve learned through many years of teaching that safe training requires a high degree of mindfulness, and that one key to mindful training is having time to settle into the dojo space beforehand).
The practice of arriving 30 minutes before the start of class is part of your Aikido training. If this means developing a whole new set of time-management skills, then that’s also part of your Aikido training.
If you arrive less than 15 minutes before the scheduled class time, you will be asked to sit and watch class instead of joining the training. If you are asked to sit and watch class due to lateness, or for any other reason, receive it like any other instruction: bow and say “Hai, Sensei.” Please remember that this sort of request is never punitive; it’s about cultivating a safe and mindful training environment.
Rule #3: Remember to Bow
Face the front of the room and give a good bow when you are entering or exiting the dojo, or when you are stepping onto or off of the mat. When it’s time to practice in partners, bow to your partner before you begin training with them, and again when that round of partnered practice is over. Bow to thank the Sensei after receiving instruction, and bow when someone bows to you.
Bowing is a mindfulness practice, and also a way of communicating to your Sensei and your fellow students that you’re fully present and paying deep attention to your work with them.
Rule #4: Stay Put When Sensei Is Demonstrating
There are a number of brief periods during each class where the students sit in a row to watch the Sensei demonstrate whatever exercise everyone is about to practice. During these demonstrations, sit silently and give the Sensei your full attention––not only so that you can learn from the demonstration, but also so that you don’t distract anyone else.
If you’re on the mat when the students are called to line up and watch a demonstration, remain on the mat and line up with the other students. If you’re not on the mat at the time, sit down and watch from wherever you happen to be. Avoid getting on or off the mat during a demonstration, except in an emergency.
If you need to bow off of the mat to get a drink of water or use the restroom, the best time to do it is right after a demonstration ends; you can also bow off of the mat during any period of solo or partnered practice.
Rule #5: Practice Emotional Responsibility
Aikido is difficult to learn, and continually challenging. Sooner or later, Aikido training brings us face-to-face with any long-standing issues we might have around physicality, conflict, connection, boundaries, learning, and self-image. Because of this, intense emotions often arise in the course of training.
Emotional responsibility means continuing to conduct oneself with calm dignity, and continuing to treat others with civility, respect, and care, even when one is experiencing intense feelings such as frustration, anger, or anxiety.
Emotional responsibility means refusing to allow one’s personal conduct to be governed by emotional reactivity. It demands a commitment to mindfulness, humility, and honest self-reflection.
The diligent practice of emotional responsibility is central to Aikido training, and developing greater capacity for emotional responsiblity is one of Aikido’s most valuable long-term benefits.
Thank you for taking the time to learn our rules of dojo etiquette. If you’re a student or prospective student at the Aiki Arts Center, we look forward to training with you. If not, we hope that reading this sparks some thoughts that will be useful to you in whatever sort of training you do.