New York Aikikai Etiquette

At New York Aikikai there are many rules of etiquette. They vary in importance and level of ‘enforcement.’

1. The first and most obvious rule in any martial arts dojo is bowing. To simplify things you should bow upon entering and leaving the dojo, getting on and off the training area, and any time other people are bowing.

Some dojos require a certain type of bow, how deep you bow, how long you stay down, where you look, et cetera. New York Aikikai doesn’t really give specifics on such things. Most people don’t really care, but because Aikido is peaceful, we don’t usually maintain eye contact with someone when we bow (except during randori).

There are some people whose religious stipulations forbid bowing.  They need only give a simple explanation to the teacher of the class and there is no issue.

2. Another rule is to enter and leave the mat through the doorway near the kamiza. This promotes order, so the teacher can clearly see if someone is leaving the mat. Also the side entrance leads to a clean carpeted area where we are free to walk around barefoot or with indoor slippers. The viewing area at the back has a wood floor where people with outdoor shoes walk around. Beginners sometimes leave the mat the wrong way. It isn’t a big deal when this happens, but someone must explain the rules to them so they don’t keep doing it.

The exception is if someone is injured and has to leave the mat the other way, the windows need to be opened, or the phone answered.

3. Another rule commonly broken by beginners is leaving the mat for a drink of water, often without asking the sensei. First of all, we are expected to stay on the mat without water unless we are feeling sick.  Secondly, if you do need the water you must ask the teacher permission to get it.

4. If you are late to class, you must wait at the edge of the mat for the teacher to acknowledge you before jumping in and training.

5. ALWAYS, ALWAYS greet the instructor of the class when you see them. Not acknowledging their presence is a guaranteed way of offending a shihan, especially Yamada Sensei. It doesn’t matter if you are shy, distracted, or intimidated by him. If he has his eyes closed and head down or is doing breathing exercises, greet him anyway. Don’t think he won’t notice. He may not say something the first time, but he’ll remember. This is doubly important for more senior students to remember. Remember though, it is forgivable for a beginner to make such mistakes as they don’t understand the etiquette.

6. When someone corrects you, especially the teacher of the class, you should listen to what they say and try your best to do it. It doesn’t matter if you think what they said is stupid or completely useless. The fact that they are teaching means that you need to listen.

7. If you are visiting and staying at New York Aikikai, you should offer to help the regular deshi with chores. They are usually very tired and hungry. If you are a kyu rank and visiting, you should ask to fold Yamada sensei’s hakama. He is flattered when several people ambush him all wanting to fold it. This is not a requirement of course, but it certainly is polite and makes everyone like you.

8. Do not trash anyone on the mat. Going fast is okay. Beating up someone who is a beginner is not okay. There are always a few people who are like that and they earn themselves a bad reputation. If you trash the wrong person, then every black belt on the mat will take turns doing the same thing to you. If there is a mutual agreement to beat the snot out of each other, fine, just please don’t get blood on the mat.

If someone is being too rough with you, tell them. If they don’t ease up, you are free to refuse to train with them (politely, of course).

9. Visitors staying at the dojo should give Sensei a gift before they leave. They should also visit him at intervals afterward to show their respect.

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64 comments

  3. Does the greeting apply outside of the dojo? If you worked at Starbuck’s and saw them sipping a coffee for instance…

  6. Okay, I don’t want this to become too frivolous.

    There are two issues here. First is the strict expectation of etiquette on the mat. This is not just a formality–since we are giving ourselves to our partner whenever we train, we rely on their better nature to take care of us during the technique. Thus the etiquette. It is a tangible reminder to respect each other, and to treat practice with the seriousness it deserves.

    Second, all of us owe a great deal to the shihans, especially Yamada Sensei. What you don’t understand, grassHopper, is that his students want to accord him the level of respect Tonya refers to. Without him, Aikido would probably not exist in the form it does today, at least in North and South America.

    Sensei is really an amazing person. When Dee first took me to NYA, I was, quite frankly, overwhelmed. There I was, a lowly white belt at the time, in Sensei’s office after class, while he, a student of the Founder, made us dinner.

    So no more jokes. I take this seriously.

  7. I wasn’t joking…. I am not trying to make fun of any person to whom this kind of etiquette is due.

    It’s because this etiquette is so bewildering for me, I ask. Seriously. I ask without a smile, without a laugh, and without humor.

    I guess a more appropriate question to ask would be, “Is there a time where a greeting would not be appropriate?”

    Edited by Admin (Jerry)

  8. Our dojo should post No. 6 on the wall. Trust that the technique you are practicing was developed a long time ago, by people more skilled than you, and is being taught for a reason. If you don’t agree with the teacher or teaching, take it up after class, never during. This applies tenfold when visiting another dojo.

    There are now two small books on aikido sitting out in the dojo that give good, succinct guidance on ediquette. Look at them.

  9. Yes, too often I hear “this is wrong” in class. I catch myself sometimes commenting on how I do not like a technique especially if I feel that it is not practical, or if my prior experience might say “this doesn’t feel right.”

    We must remember that there are many intrepretations of what we are learning what your style is may be different from others, that does not mean they are wrong.

    In Tang Soo Do when ever a blackbelt entered the Dojo class was stopped, everyone faced the blackbelt, addressed their rank, and bowed.

  11. You did well today, grassHopper. Good luck tomorrow!

    Regarding your etiquette question, my advice is the same advice I’d give to a new student: observe the more senior students, and follow their lead.

  15. grasshopper tested for 4th kyu? wow congrats

    I leaving the following here because this is probably the easiest way for me to get the word out. I will probably be taking an undetermined hiatus from aikido. My mom was involved in an auto accident weds while she was going to work. She made it out with only some bruising and soreness but her truck was totalled. We have a lawyer working our case. Dad has been suffering from pnemonia for the past week, last night we admitted him into the hospital. His oxygen levels were down to 60%. So he is being treated there with oxygen and antibiotics. His treatment is being taken one day at a time, so there really is no telling how long his stay will be.

    Resulting from this I am taking a leave of aikido. With everything going on at home I need to switch my priorities. I feel as I have not been able to progress any further in my aikido (do not take this wrong, this is of my own fault, I feel I am not progressing because of myself not because I feel that I am held down). And I know with everything that is going on I am unable to commit to a regular training schedule and I am unable to attend crucial things like open mat and seminars. And also I am not able to committ to my duties as an officer of the aikido club. Which is not fair to Sensei, the officers, and members. Also it would not be fair to recieve the discounted rate if I cannot attend the meetings, and frankly without the meetings it would be a strain for me to afford the regular adult rate.

    Now, all of this could become void come later this week or next, it all depends on how things pan out. But for now as it stands this is the course of action I feel that I need to take. I am not quitting the school, just taking a break. Also I am not resigning from office as president, I will do what I can to make sure things get signed, and any descision making I will try to weigh in on..however if another canidate comes along that can do better, or if anyone objects to my inactivity I will resign without any issue.

    I hope what I said here will become invalid and that monday I will be right back in class, but if it shouldnt…each of you continue on your paths as martial artists and I promise I will return when I am able to.

    -Carl

  16. I’m sorry to hear that, The Dark Knight. Take as much time as you need, I’ll take care of the club stuff while you’re gone. There will always be a place in the dojo for you.

  19. By the way, last night’s movie night was AWESOME! We had a great turnout, and the pizza (and popcorn, and cupcakes, and candy….) were delicious. Thanks to everyone who participated.

    It was such a success that Dee and I have decided to schedule a children’s movie night on a monthly basis. Details to follow….

  23. Dad is diagnosed with a Lung Infection. He is now been given meds to counter-act the effects. Tonight he looked so much better than he did even when I saw him this morning. He isnt out of the woods yet, he still needs the mask to help him take in oxygen, but this is (hopefully) a step in the right direction.

  24. DK, I’m relieved your dad is doing better. Is he in ICU?

    If you do make it back to the dojo, Dee (I think) will be testing on a semi-regular basis. I’m not sure how many hours you have, but I’m available to fine tune your 4th kyu techniques. Frankly, I don’t think you need much.

  25. glad to hear your dad is improving. I pray that things start falling back in line for you guys soon.

    Much love!
    keep us updated!

    MM

  27. I’ll pray for you Dark Knight. I hope everything works out. Its a scary thing when a parent is sick.

    I have a great response to all of you with questions about etiquette at NYA. Come here and train then you will know what you’re talking about.

    An even better idea, come here and train five hours a day and then you will certainly get a feeling for how things are run here.

    I would also like to say that while many aikidoists are very intelligent people, none of us are telepathic. I have never had to inhale tear gas in my stay at this dojo. Secondly the uchi deshi program here is slightly militaristic, but normal members need not go out into the street to hop on one leg. I signed up for this, meaning I must adhere to stricter standards of etiquette than the rest. I am not here just to train. There is more to it than that.

    When a teacher is on the mat instructing I should do the technique the way they demonstrate it. If they correct me I should listen and attempt to do as they say (as a sign of respect) even if I don’t see the point. I am only a kyu rank, the instructor is a ‘something’ dan, therefore they have more experience. I should give them the benefit of the doubt.

    Anyway, I’m flattered by the response this post is getting.

  28. Tonya,

    I see you met my buddy Drew lol
    And I happen to be very telepathic thank you very much. 😛
    I never inhaled tear gas either… but I have been forced to inhale the fumes that emanate off of incogneto’s gi!!!

  30. The gi smell is an atemi that can not be stoped >:~)

    I wash it every 2 weeks, it isn’t as bad as all that. Should I donate some fabreeze to the dojo now?

  34. grassHopper, don’t forget your chess set….Ana played for ten years and still plays Alex. I’m trying to find a worthy foe.

    BTW, Alex may be returning.

  35. I’ve only washed my gi 4 times that I recall in my entire training career…. and I only ever washed it because it was getting a dingy color…..not everyone can smell as sweet as me I guess. :p

    I used to be on the chess team… >_< bad memories!

  39. if your gi is not soaking wet from sweat after every practice…you didnt train hard enough.

    update: dropped Dad down to 90% oxygen, seeing how he takes it. Its a small baby step but its somewhere. Still no change in his lungs however, Breathing slightly better but not out of the woods yet. far from it

  40. Yes another rule is to keep your gi clean. Its really embarrassing to have to tell someone they stink. Usually most people will suffer in silence rather than tell someone. Its sad because there are some people who are great to train with that I avoid particularly because they stink and I don’t want to smell like them. This is mostly in the summer. Winter thankfully reduces most peoples’ smell.

    Once someone complained that I smelled. (this was because I had trained with a smelly person one class and then with a different person the next) I was so angry especially because they didn’t say it to me, they said it to the head deshi and he told me. This was completely unfair to little innocent me, especially because at the time I didn’t have an extra clean gi to change into. Thankfully now I am more fortunate. I have about 6 gi’s to choose from.

  41. I have been told that females do not sweat, they “glissen”, the Dark Knight. They are also always 20 and nothing makes them look fat. Remember this and you will go far.

  42. … I really don’t sweat much… regardless of how much I exercise. I die of over heating someday!

    Tonya, your gi always had a weird onion smell when I trained with you… never bad, sort of delicious!

  45. I can do stretches and sweat…I wear a shirt under my gi and still mop the floorm therefore i must wash my gi..frequently

  47. DK

    Sorry to hear about your parents and our prayers go out to you and your family. On your aikido, don’t fret about improvement. I recommend a book (to all) called “Mastery” by the late George Leonard, a good and frequent writer on Aikido. The book explores the benefits of learning to live “on the plateau” where real long term improvement takes place, but doesn’t seem so. This applies to anything you want to get better at, not just Aikido.

    Also, people tend to cycle in and out of Aikido for various reasons: injury, life situations, other interests. It seems to be part of the program, so don’t sweat it. If you love it, you can’t help but come back.

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