Orientation

• Safety. Each student is responsible for their safety and the safety of others on the mat. Aikido is a martial art and therefore presents physical risks to its practioners. You should be conscious of where you are rolling and throwing your partner. Generally you should throw to the outside not into the center of the mat. You should have the same level of awareness and loving protection when you are either being pinned or pinning your partner.

• Uniforms (Dogi and Hakamas). Students should wear comfortable clothing including long pants. Uniforms are not required, but are preferred and will improve your comfort on the mat. Uniforms (dogis) are available through the dojo at a reduced cost.

• Class begins with everyone lined up on the mat closest to the front door, facing the Shomen (picture of O’Sensei) sitting in seiza (see glossary for a definition.). To be formal, the knees when sitting in seiza should be in a straight line with your hands on your knees. The sensei (teacher) will lead the class in bowing in together when we say “onegai shimasu” (see the glossary). We are bowing in as an expression of our desire to train in the art with loving protection of one another. See the section on Etiquette below.

• Selecting a training partner. Bow into your training partner and say “onegai shimasu,” (see glossary.) Hint: the same technique or attack can feel different from different people. Training with different partners gives you the opportunity to experience to learn different aspects of the same technique or attack. You always have the right to ask your partner to go slower, softer, or for anything that has to do with your training and in particular your safety.

• Uke is the person attacking Nage. The attack should be a gift that allows Nage to practice the technique. It is easy to get caught up in challenging Nage, by using excessive force, stiffening up/locking down or moving quickly. But this does not help either of you to learn the technique or otherwise develop yourself. On the other hand, it is negative training if as Uke you break off your attack (“tank”) immediately. You miss the opportunity to train by doing this or worse yet you train avoidance. In addition, Nage is deprived of your gift.

Uke is training too. You could use this opportunity to learn what type of attack fits the technique best – it is an opportunity to see the technique from the other side, to hone your awareness for inconsistencies in Nage’s application of the technique or openings, and to be aware of yourself and habits. Your attack should be appropriate for Nage’s level.

You should be conscious of where and how you are rolling. Generally you try to roll to the outside not into the center of the mat. You should have the same level of awareness when you are being pinned. Use your free hand(s) to protect yourself, in particular your head and neck.

Being Uke (Ukemi) is difficult. It depends upon you feeling what is appropriate to give as an attack. Please be patient with yourself.

• Tapping Out. Tapping out is when you tap the mat several times in a row to communicate to your partner that you want them to stop. If you cannot reach the mat you can tap on yourself, e.g. your leg, or your partner, e.g. their shoulder. If your hands are not available to tap your can use your feet to tap on the mat.

• Rolling. Rolling forward or back is one of the primary ways that Uke can protect themselves. It represents your conscious decision to step, or this case roll, out of a situation where and when continuing would be fruitless. The two basic rolls are forward and back. It takes practice to become proficient. You’ll receive instruction on how to roll during class. In addition, feel free to ask any of the senior students to help you either before or after class. They will generally be glad to help if they have the time.

• Nage. Is the person receiving the attack from Uke.

Generally you should move in accordance with the speed of Uke’s, your partner’s, attack. Relying upon speed to complete the technique only reinforces a dependence upon moving faster than your attacker, which may not always be possible. You will naturally develop more speed as you progress through your training. Do not rush your practice because you may miss the learning and only reinforce what you don’t know. Most people train too quickly.

Aikido should not depend upon strength. Do not force techniques or otherwise apply undue force. The techniques should feel irresistible for other reasons such as your connection to your partner (Uke) and the confluence of your two energies.

You should be conscious of where you are throwing your partner. Generally you should throw to the outside not into the center of the mat. You should have the same level of awareness and loving protection when you are pinning your partner. Be capable of protecting them from another person stepping, rolling or falling on to them – be aware, connected, feeling and grounded.

• Two People Training. This is the most common situation. If you adhere to more formal etiquette, the more senior person should be Nage first. The idea behind this is that the more junior student has another opportunity to see and feel the technique before attempting it themselves. Each partner will receive four attacks, two on each side (left and right).

• Three People Training. Sometime there will be an odd number of students training and so there will be one group of three people training together. The same rule of etiquette applies, where the most senior student is the first Nage, person to receive the attack. When three people are training the sets are reduced to two attacks each (one on each side) to give all three people the opportunity to train with the other two. After the first set is finished the third student takes their turn as Uke, person attacking, with the more senor student who is still the Nage. When this set is finished the roles will change and the senior student will be Uke.

• Instructor demonstrating. When the instructor demonstrates or otherwise is speaking to the class, move to the edge of the mat and sit in seiza or cross-legged – unless instructed otherwise. Do not sit or stand between the Instructor and the Shomen (see glossary.) Give the instructor your attention.

• Students demonstrating. When demonstrating the junior student goes first and most senior student last.

• At the end of class everyone lines up on the mat sitting in seiza. The sensei (teacher) will lead the class in bowing in together when we say “domo arigatou gozaimashita” (see glossary.) It is also proper to thank the instructor and those with whom you've trained in the same manner.