Aikido Etiquette and General Information
What to wear
Wear loose comfortable clothing suitable for exercising and, especially for judo, clothing that can withstand some tugging and pulling. Do not wear shoes, socks, metal objects (such as barrettes or watches) or jewelry. Keep good personal hygiene.
If, after about a month of practice, you may wish to acquire a more formal outfit for training which is called a Gi. In Aikido, we use the traditional padded Judo Gi. You may purchase a Gi for about $40-50 and is available on line at Century Martial Arts or at the Vero Beach Karate on Wilbur St. Be sure not to buy a Karate/Taekwondo Gi as these are often less sturdy than Judo Gis and may be prone to tear.
Practice time
Classes are held at the City of Vero Beach 16th St. Recreation Center – Leisure Square at 6:00 to 7:30 on Tuesdays and Thursday nights.
We warm up at the beginning of class; if you come late, you should warm yourself up prior to participating. Do not begin practice without consent from the instructor. If you need to quit practice for any reason, quietly notify instructor. If you have any injury during or prior to practice, please notify me of that as well.
Always work within your own limits. Obviously, different people have different limits, but the same person can have various limits depending on the day. Do your best but do not over-exert yourself.
Safety is primary in consideration. If you notice any unsafe condition or behavior, alert the instructor immediately.
Etiquette
Bowing
In all Japanese martial arts, bowing is used to show respect. Bowing is a mental pause that reminds you that you are practicing with another human being who deserves to he treated with respect and not as a rag doll. Bowing can also be a sign of thanks or appreciation, especially when bowing to a higher ranked person. Bowing to a place, such as the dojo (training place) or on a mat, serves as a reminder to yourself to leave the day’s problems behind you and to focus on the current training.
When to bow?
When entering or leaving the dojo
When entering or leaving the mat area
At the beginning and end of class
Whenever you change partners
At the beginning and end of each exercise
If in doubt! You can never be too polite.
Asking questions
If you need to ask someone a question and they are working at the time, do not disturb their practice. This breaks their concentration and could lead to a dangerous situation. Wait patiently nearby and you will be recognized at an appropriate time.
Rank System (Kohei / Sempei)
If a dispute arises over how a technique should be executed, the lower rank should always defer to the opinion of a higher rank in the matter. If the higher rank is uncertain about the technique or cannot properly answer the question, then the next higher rank should be consulted.
This is called the Kohei /Sempei system. Kohei are all lower ranked students. Sempei are all senior students.
Uniform
When you obtain a Gi, you will need to keep it clean and neat and in good repair.
When fixing your Gi, turn away from your partner in aikido; in judo, you may remain facing your partner. Be careful to try not to turn your back to the instructor when turning from your partner (unless your partner is your instructor).
Food and Health
Do not chew gum in class. Do not come to class intoxicated. Do not wear jewelry or hard objects on the matt. Be careful of what and how much you eat prior to class.
Submitting (Tapping Out)
Submitting to a technique is done by “tapping out.” This involves slapping the mat, the side of your leg or body, or your partner’s body lightly but firmly twice. Submission occurs when tori has gained a superior position from which uke cannot recover. For example, when an arm or wristlock has been applied to uke and the arm or wrist is “locked.” Uke should learn to realize when a joint is locked (at its maximum extension) and not wait to feel pain. Uke also learns to need when he/she has been defeated, since with our method of slow and careful practice we do not always take techniques to their ultimate end and slowness sometimes presents the illusion that techniques can be escaped, when, if practiced at “normal” speed, they would not be.
Some kata techniques involve a definite end to them where uke must signal his/her submission by tapping out. Not submitting under these circumstances is disrespectful and signals to tori that uke remains aggressive.
If both hands are bound and you cannot tap or slap, then you may tap the mat with your foot or shout niaitta, (ny-ate-a) which means “I surrender.”
How to Sit in Class
The most respectful ways to sit are seiza (folded legs) and ansza (cross legged). In seiza the legs are folded under the body with the right big toe slightly touching the left big toe. The back should be straight and hands should be rested on the thighs or in a folded position between the legs.
In ansza, the legs are crossed “lndian style” with the back straight and the hands resting in a similar manner as with seiza.
Admittedly, the legs get tired in both these positions until they have been practiced numerous times. In this case, sit comfortably but politely in another position, but do not sprawl or lie down on the mat since this is extremely disrespectful. Again, seiza and ansza are the most respectful positions, and you are encouraged to practice them often, especially seiza.
Ranking
Qualification for a rank includes both ability and attendance. Rank is not automatic. It is a privilege and carries with it responsibility. Ranking is not done according to minimum expectations met. Minimum requirements are there for a guideline / a marker of progress and do not guarantee promotion.
The instructor will notify students when they are approaching the time to rank. It is disrespectful to ask for promotion. If a student feels he/she has been grossly overlooked for rank, then the student should privately approach the instructor.
Demonstrations
When you are doing a rank (or other) demonstration, you are performing a kata. This requires that you follow a set series of procedures performed in an exact manner. Your instructor will provide you with specific details on demonstrating your techniques, but there are some common rules that must be followed at all times. These are:
1. When you enter the mat, your partner becomes your enemy. When demonstrating your kata, never take your eyes off your opponent.
2. Maintain good stances throughout your demonstration. Always be aware of the distance between you and your opponent.
3. Remember and mind good aikido principles. Even if you forget a technique or do not perform it as prescribed, you should still show good aikido skill.
Guidelines for Practice
The following guidelines were adapted from a set of principles defined by the founder of Aikido, Morehei Ueshiba. They are intended to promote safe, enjoyable, and respectful practice and they are valid in any martial arts environment, not just Aikido. If you keep them in the forefront of your mind, you can’t go too wrong.
1. Aikido can decide between life and death with a single strike, therefore students must carefully follow the teacher’s instructions and must not compete to see who is strongest.
2. Aikido teaches how to deal with multiple attackers. Students must train themselves to be alert, not just to the front but to all sides and the back. You must also maintain a healthy level of tension.
3. Training should always be conducted in a pleasant and joyful atmosphere.
4. The instructor teaches only one small aspect of the art and gives hints to guide you. The versatile applications of the art must be discovered by each student through incessant practice and training. Do not be satisfied with what has been taught at the dojo. Digest, experiment with, and develop what has been learned. Improve the art. Do not engage in futile efforts to learn a great number of techniques but rather study the techniques one by one and make each one your own.
5. In daily practice first begin with sufficient warm-up exercises and then progress to more intense practice. Never force anything unnaturally or unreasonably; work within your limits. If this rule is followed, then anyone can train in a pleasant and joyful atmosphere and not be injured.
6. The purpose of Aikido is to train the mind and body and to produce sincere, honest people who will improve the world. Do not randomly reveal techniques to others, for this might lead to techniques being misused.
Terminology
The words below are not meant to be definitive definitions, but rather approximations. I do not speak Japanese, but know a few terms and these are the definitions I have generally found ascribed to them. As I learn more, I hope to update and correct this list.
1 Ichi (ee-chee)
2 Ni (nee)
3 San (sahn)
4 Shi (shee)
5 Go (goh)
6 Roku (roh-koo)
7 Shichi (shee-chee)
8 Hachi (hah-chee)
9 Ku (koo)
10 Ju (joo)
Aikidoka Ashi Ayumi Ashi Gari Gatame Goshi Guruma Hajime Hakama Hidari Hiji Jime Kiai Ko Kuzushi Kyotsoke Maitta Matte Migi Nage | Aikido Practitioner Foot Normal walking Reap Hold Hip Wheel Begin Pleated ornamental skirt Left Elbow Strangle / choke (Spirit) Shout Minor Disturbing balance Attention I Surrender Stop Immediately Right Throw (sometimes Thrower) | O Obi Otoshi Randori Rei Seiza Soto Tai Te Tekubi Tori Tsugi Ashi Uchi Uke Ukemi Ushiro Waza Yame Yosh Zanshen | Maj or Belt Drop Free Practice Bow Kneel Outer Body Hand Wrist Person doing technique Sliding footstep Inner Partner (receiving technique) Break falling / Being a like Reverse Technique Stop / Halt Continue Finishing a technique |
Parts of a throw:
Kuzushi — off balance;
Tsukuri — fitting to the throw;
Kake — the moment of throw;
Zanshen — the finish of the technique
