Etitquette

The word “dojo” literally means “place of the Way”. In other words, it is a space specially set aside for the practice of a particular path or Way. It is not merely a gym or health club and should not be treated as such. The dojo represents a place where aikido technique is practiced, but more importantly the dojo is a place where aikido principle and philosophy are cultivated and displayed. Similar to physical technique and movements of the body, awareness of intent, emotion, and intellect are extremely important to training.

In order to maintain an atmosphere in the dojo that incourages students to consider mental training as well as physical training, proper behavior, decorum and etiquette are essential. Sincerely following proper dojo etiquette is an important part of your practice. Your outward demeanor is a reflection of your state of mind and inner being. If your demeanor is sloppy, inattentive or overly casual, you are not in the proper frame of mind to benefit from practice.

While the rules governing proper etiquette may vary slightly from one dojo to the next, the underlying principles of sincerity, respect and humility are universal and immutable. The dojo is more than just a space; it is a community of like minded individuals and also the repository of many years of sincere effort on the part of all the aikidoka who came before you.

Be Courteous

Students must always be courteous to one another. The aikido mat is not a place for egos or taking personal problems out on others. While there can be much said for throwing ourselves into practice as a method of relieving tension, more important is how we treat one another and the respect that we have and display for others. Courtesy on the mat includes bowing with sincerity, making sure that we work at both students' levels of comfort and proficiency, and that students pay attention to their surroundings in order to reduce the chance for accidents.