The martial art
Aikido
A complete system of self-defence
The martial art
A complete system of self-defence
Aikido is a modern martial art (gendai budō) developed in the early 20th century by Morihei Ueshiba, known as Ō-Sensei meaning “great teacher”. The art that uses throws, locks and pins as its principal movements.
Ai, meaning “joining” or “harmonising”
Ki, meaning “breath”, or “energy”
Dō, meaning “way” or “path”
Many students have been moved by their experience in Aikido and at Ei Mei Kan over the many years of the dojo's existence, and have produced articles to share their understanding and experience. Please click here if you would like to read them.
The classes start with warm up using various stretching and conditioning exercises. We strength the core so that the body can be ready to recieve a technqique as well as deliver one efficently. Our focus is in promoting good health and ensuring enjoyable lifelong practice.
Bokken - Many Aikido movements come from the use of the Japanese sword. The bokken is a wooden sword of the same shape as a katana, and solo and partner practice with the bokken is an integral part of the Aikido curriculum.
Jo - Another part of the currculum is training in the use of the jo, a 4-foot long wooden staff. As with the bokken, jo movements are present within Aikido body art. Jo movements are practiced both solo and as partner exercises.
Shoden literally means “first transmission” or “first teaching”; in many schools of Iaidō and Iai Battō Hō around the world, Shoden is the first and most fundamental form taught to students. All forms are performed from a seated position (seiza), with the exception of Korantō, which is performed standing.
Chūden literally means “middle transmission” or “middle teaching”. With the exception of Battō, the forms in Chūden are performed from the seated position tate hiza (knee shield).
The forms of Shindō Munen Ryū are performed standing.
Etiquette in Aikido is on one level an expression of the Japanese roots of the art, but on another level it is simply an expression of universal common sense and courtesy. The remarks on the following pages are not a comprehensive list of “rules” for practice: ultimately, it is better simply to digest them and obey the “spirit of the law”. While there are many “rules” and “conventions”, the best advice is simply to observe and copy the senior students in the dojo. If you have questions, ask the seniors and they will be happy to answer them.
In an Aikido dojo, the teacher of the class is always referred to and addressed on the mat as sensei – literally, “teacher”. The Chief Instructor of the dojo should be referred to and addressed as sensei at all times, on or off the mat. More junior instructors may prefer to be addressed informally if not actually leading a class. If more than one instructor is present, then use the instructor's surname and title, as in “Smith-sensei”.
Students who are senior to you are known in Japanese as your sempai; in the opposite direction, your juniors are known as your kohai. It is considered respectful to address your seniors as sempai, especially on the mats. If you need/wish to include the person's name, then either name is appropriate: “Smith-sempai” or “John-sempai”. If one of your seniors requests that you simply address them by first name, then it is perfectly all right to do so.
Do not directly address your juniors as kohai as this may seem condescending. If you wish to be formal, then use the Japanese term san, as in “Smith-san” or “John-san”. In most cases, however, there is no need to be so formal, and a first-name relationship is not inappropriate.
On occasion, senior teachers may be referred to using equivalent Western titles, as in “Master Chiba” or “Professor Chiba”. This is typically confined to Western texts written before the meanings of certain Japanese terms such as shihan (“master”, or “teacher of teachers”) were more widely known. Instructors holding shihan title are referred to as such in writing, but sensei is usually used when speaking.
At all times, one's behaviour on the mat should be governed by Aikido's basic principles of universal respect.
Never engage in contests of strength: the techniques of Aikido are capable of inflicting great damage and even death if used maliciously. If your partner is unable to perform any given movement through injury or any other reason, then do not force him/her to do so; reciprocally, if you have an injury or any relevant medical condition, then make your partner – and, most importantly, the instructor – aware of it before practice begins so that he/she can take account of it.
The instructor is the single authority on the tatami (the mats). Follow his/her instructions precisely and practice the movements as demonstrated.
Actively seek out your seniors on the mats; do not expect them to find you. Similarly, a visitor to the dojo is an honoured guest and should never have to look for a partner. In both cases, allow the other person to practice the technique first.
To Western sensibilities, the use of bowing in Japanese culture can seem odd at first. It is important to note that the bow itself carries no religious connotations whatsoever. The bow is simply a show of respect and openness and – like the handshake in Western culture – appears in many contexts: in greetings, partings, thanks, apologies and many others.
There are two main types of bow: the seated (kneeling) and the standing.
It is appropriate to bow on the following occasions:
Attend class in a clean and hygienic state. Remove all jewellery, as it can get caught on clothes or other people and cause serious injury. Similarly, keep finger- and toe-nails neatly trimmed. Keep your keiko-gi (practice suit) in good condition: wash it at least once a week and repair any rips.
If you have any open wounds or other potentially infectious sites such as verrucae, then make sure that they are securely covered before beginning practice. If you develop a cut or any other injury during practice, then stop practice immediately, inform the instructor, tend to the wound, and clean up any blood that has fallen on the mats.
Before class, help the other students to ready the dojo for practice. After practice, help the other students to clean the mats.
Please wear zori (sandals) between the changing areas and the edge of the mats. Ideally, you should step out of your zori and directly onto the mats: this helps to prevent dirt being tracked onto the mats.
Punctuality and good timekeeping are considered to reflect a calm and orderly state of mind.
Arrive at the dojo in good time so that you can help the other students to ready to dojo for practice and be on the mats, in keiko-gi and ready to practice, five minutes before the scheduled start of class. If you arrive late, then wait at the edge of the mat until the instructor indicates that you may join the class, and perform the usual bows. Warm up if you need to do so, but do not disrupt the class.
If you have good reason to be late (e.g. family/work commitments, caught in a road accident), then lateness is not considered rude provided that you explain the cause to the instructor at an appropriate moment. Otherwise, however, persistent lateness is considered disrespectful to the instructor and the rest of the class.
Similarly, all other things being equal, it is not considered good form to leave a class early. However, in the case of unavoidable commitments, it is entirely acceptable to leave early having informed the instructor in advance.
When picking up a weapon (bokken, jo, tanto, shinai, ...), hold it horizontally in front of you with both hands, palms upwards. If the weapon is a “bladed” one (e.g. a bokken), then the edge should face towards you as an indication of non-aggression. Except in the case of the jo, which has no hilt, the hilt of the weapon should be on your left. Bow to the weapon, raising it slightly above your eye level.
When exchanging weapons during practice (e.g. when changing rôles in a knife-taking exercise), do so with the same respect to the weapon as above. This is not necessary when returning the weapon to uke upon completion of technique: instead, simply place the weapon on the floor in such a way as you will be safe from an immediate attack by uke when they pick the weapon up.
When sitting in seiza with a weapon (either watching a demonstration or and the beginning and end of class), keep the weapon on the mats at your right-hand side. “Bladed” weapons should be laid down with the edge facing towards you and the tip pointing to your rear as an indication of non-aggression.
Weapons should always be transported to and from the dojo in a closed weapons case or another bag suitable for the purpose (e.g. hockey stick/fishing rod bag). Under no circumstances should weapons be carried openly outside the dojo, except in case of outdoor practice in fine weather.
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