DOJO ETIQUETTE

1) Remove shoes at the top of the stairs. Never enter the dojo with shoes on and never carry shoes inside. 2) Feet must be clean and toenails and  fingernails kept short.  Remove jewelry.  Uncut nails and certain types of jewelry can cause lacerations.

3) Always bow lightly when entering or leaving the dojo, as well as when entering or leaving the mat area.  Keep to the rear of the dojo when crossing the mat.

4) Kneel and bow formal to the shomen when beginning and ending practice (the formal bow varies from dojo to dojo, so observe custom when visiting other places). Never sit with your back to the shomen. 

5) Maintain a straight,  alert position when the teacher is demonstrating to the class. Although this may be difficult for long periods of time, view it as part of  your training. 

6) Respect your partner regardless of rank. Remember that you are practicing for mutual self‑improvement and, in a sense, all partners are your teachers. Always thank, your partner(s) after training and after class. 

7) Address the teacher as “sensei,” accompanied by a light bow when requesting assistance.  Always thank the teacher when ever you receive personal instruction 

8) Keep talking during practice to a minimum. Aikido requires the emergence of new sensory capabilities, and talking interferes with this process. It is permitted to discus points of technique, but it is usually possible to communicate these points nonverbally. 

9) Always  inform the teacher  if you have to leave practice early. 

10) Take personal interest in the cleaning and maintenance of the dojo (except the. shomen) ** 

11) Practice with care. Assume responsibility for the safety of your partner when  training. 

12) Pay dues promptly. 

Please be aware that, although Aikido practice is a positive and interesting time, it is a serious study of budo (martial art). Practice should always be approached with seriousness, as one blow in Aikido is capable of killing or seriously injuring your partner. Kicking or punching are forbidden except when part of a demonstrated technique. You should practice as if you are facing a live blade. 

 **Sweeping the mat before and after class are important. Keep the dressing rooms and bathrooms clean and orderly.  The mat should be cleaned no less than once a week. This is a definite part of training.  Please join in!

Aikido: Ai = Harmony; Ki = Spirit/Energy; Do = The way or path. The way of harmony with the spirit of the Universe. 

Aikibojitsu: Art of the staff (bo), as developed by the founder of Northcoast Aikido, Tom Read Sensei. 

Ai‑hanmi: Mutual stance.   Partners stand facing one another with the same foot  forward, i.e., right/right. 

Atemi: A strike directed toward an attacker meant to unbalance rather than injure. 

Bo: Wooden staff. 

Bokken: Wooden sword. 

Budo: Warrior way. The group of disciplines that simultaneously teach martial technique and guide mental and spiritual development. 

Bushido: Warrior’s code. The traditional rules of the samurai. 

Dan: Black belt rank. 

Deshi:  Student, pupil, disciple. 

Dojo: Training hall. 

Dojo Cho: Chief instructor of a dojo. 

Dosa: An exercise. 

Doshu: ‘Grandmaster.’  Following the traditional Japanese custom, the position of Doshu has been made hereditary. The current Doshu, Ueshiba Moriteru, is the founder's grandson. 

Gaeshi: (gah‑ee‑shi) To reverse. 

Gi: Training uniform. (also called dogi) 

Gyaku‑hanmi:  (gee‑yah‑koo‑hahn‑mee) Opposite stance. Partners stand with their opposite feet forward, i.e.,  right/left (mirror image). 

Hakama: A divided, pant‑like skirt (worn by yudansha in many dojos). 

Hanmi: Triangular stance. Literally means ‘half‑body.’

Hanmi Handachi: Nage (thrower) is kneeling and uke (attacker) approaches from a standing position.  

Hara: Lower abdomen, physical and spiritual center. 

Irimi: To enter; entering an attacker’s space. 

Jiyu Waza: Free style practice. 

Jo: Wooden staff, usually shorter than a bo. 

Kaiten: To revolve or rotate. 

Kamae: Ready stance. 

Kata (1): Shoulder 

Kata (2): Prearranged exercise that teaches basic forms and principles. 

Keiko: Practice session; training. 

Ken:  Japanese sword. 

Ki: Spirit; the vital force of the body; Universal Energy. 

Kiai: A focused vocalization that unifies all parts of the body and spirit. 

Kihon: Basic form of a technique. 

Kokyu: Breath; energy/ki flow and the motions of the body unified by control of the breath. 

Kumi‑tachi: Sword practices done with a partner. 

Kumi-jo: Jo practices done with a partner. 

Kyu: Ranks below black belt. 

Ma‑ai: The appropriate distance between uke and nage.  Means ‘harmony of space.’ 

Men: Face, head.

Misogi: ‘Purification.’ With purification of body and mind, we can remove and restore, our true selves ‑‑ O'Sensei considered all Aikido techniques to be form of misogi.

Mudansha: Students of kyu grade (not yet black belt rank).

Musubi:  Uniting, bonding. 

Nage: Throw.  Also the person who throws. 

Obi:  Belt. 

O’Sensei: “The Great Teacher.’ Morihei Ueshiba, founder of aikido. 

Randori: Multiple person attack. 

Rei: (ray) Salutation, bow.   

Sempai: Senior student 

Sensei: Teacher/instructor. 

Seiza: Formal sitting posture. 

Shihan: Master instructor. 

Shiho:  Four, directions. 

Shikko: Knee walking.

Shomen (1): Front of a dojo.  Often there is a photo of the Founder. 

Shomen (2): Front or top of a person's head. 

Suburi:  A single movement using the ken or jo; done as a solo practice. 

Suwari Waza: Techniques done from a kneeling position. 

Tachi‑dori: Techniques of taking an opponent's sword. 

Tai-jutsu: Body arts. The techniques of Aikido done without weapons. 

Take‑musu‑aiki: Term used by the Founder describing the advanced levels of aikido. The creation of aiki techniques from a thorough understanding of aiki principles.

Tanto: Knife.

Tao:  Chinese; ‘Do,’ the path, discipline, way. This is the same as “do” in the word Aikido. 

Te: Hand. 

Tegatana: Hand blade. Sword edge of the hand, located between the little finger and the wrist. 

Tsuki: Thrust, punch. 

Uchi: To strike. 

Ueshiba Morihei:  (Oo‑ahy‑shee‑ba, Mor‑ee‑hay) Founder of Aikido. O'Sensei. In Japan it is traditional for the family name to precede the given name. 

Uke: ‘To Receive.’  A person who receives a technique. Generally, ‘Uke’ refers to the person attacking and being thrown. 

Ukemi: (oo‑kem‑ee). The art of falling. ‘To receive through the body.’ 

Ushiro:  Back, behind, rear. 

Waza:   Technique. 

Yokomen: Side of‑the head. 

Yudansha: Person holding black belt rank. 

Zanshin: Unbroken spirit. The concentrated. connection that remains with one's partner even after the throw has been completed.

Ai-dori: Cross hand grab, i.e. right to right 

Hiji-dori: Elbow grab. 

Kata‑dori: Shoulder grab. 

Katate-dori: Wrist grab (same side)   

Men‑uchi: Strike to the head. 

Morote‑dori: One of nage's wrists is held with both of uke's hands. 

Mune‑tsuki: Chest or stomach strike. 

Muna‑dori: Lapel grab.   

Ryote‑dori:  Both of nage's wrists are held. 

Shomen‑uchi: Strike to the top of the head. 

Ushiro eri‑dori: Collar grab from behind. 

Ushiro hiji‑dori: Elbows grabbed from the rear.                                

Ushiro kubi shimi: Choke grab from behind; with one arm around the neck, the other hand takes the partner's wrist. 

Ushiro ryo‑kata‑dori‑ Both shoulders grabbed from behind. 

Ushiro ryote‑dori: Both wrists grabbed from behind. 

Ushiro kubi‑shimi: Choking with one hand around the neck from the rear. 

Ushiro dori: Rear bear hug, 

Yokomen‑uchi:  Strike to the side of the head.

Ikkyo: First pinning technique. 

Nikyo: Second pinning technique. 

Sankyo: Third pinning technique. 

Yonkyo: Fourth pinning technique. 

Gokkyo: Fifth pinning technique. 

Irimi-nage: Entering technique. 

Juji-nage: Crossed-arm throw. 

Kaeshi waza: Reversal techniques. 

Kaiten‑nage: Rotary throw. 

Kokyu‑ho: Kokyu exercise.  

Kokyu‑nage: Breath throw. Sometimes used for techniques that don’t have a specific name. 

Koshi‑nage: Hip throw. 

Kote‑gaeshi: Wrist‑twisting technique. 

Shiho‑nage: Four direction throw. 

Sumi‑otoshi: Corner drop throw. 

Suwari-waza: seated techniques

Tai‑no‑henko: Basic blending practice. 

Tenchi‑nage: Heaven‑and‑Earth throw.