• Information

General information

These sections are about information that does not fit anywhere else.

Etiquette on (and off) the mat

Overall, we tend to be quiet relax and friendly club but there are a few things worth keeping in mind.

• If you do not have a dogi (suit) wear comfortable clothes you can move in. We train bare foot.
• Please have finger and toe nails clipped, clean clothes and be generally presentable.

• Before practice, bow to your partner and say onegai shimasu (Let's practice).

• After practice, bow to your partner and say domo arigatou gozaimashita (thank you very much).

• If you need to leave the mat during class, please ask whoever is teaching for permission.
• Be mindful of break falling people and be mindful where you throw people.
• Come in at 19:00 and help put the mats out.
• After class end, help tidy the mats. There is half an hour of free mat space after the class.
• Train with a smile and have fun!

Grading dates

There is a grading on the last Tuesday of March, June, September and December. If you want to grade, let the dan grades know. Clearly, training during those months is grading oriented.

Costs of Aikido

Overall, practising Aikido is not expensive. But before you buy anything make sure that Aikido is for you and that you want to keep it up. For the first few sessions, just come in comfortable clothes and see if you like it.

The club has new training fees which are described in detail here.

We use the money gathered to invite instructors to come and teach at least twice a year.

The club does not endorse Nine Circles but we do get equipment from them.

Counting in Japanese

Here it is: ichi (1), ni (2), san (3), shi (4), go (5), roku (6), shichi (7) hachi (8), kyu (9), ju (10). Then it is ju-ichi (11), ju-ni (12), ju-san (13), ju-yon (14), ju-go (15), ju-roku (16), ju-nana (17), ju-hachi (18), ju-kyu (19), ni-ju (20), ni-ju-ichi (21) ... etc till hyaku (100).

Note that four can be pronounced shi or yon. The kanji for death and four are pronounced shi hence the change to yon. You can tell the difference either by context or if in writing by different kanji. Seven can be pronounced shichi or nana. The latter being used to differential between shichi and hachi which can sound very similar. After ten, use yon and nana.

What does the kanji on the banner say?

It says mu shin, mu gamae which means no mind, no posture. It is a calligraphy by Tomiki sensei. He felt that mu shin mu gamae reflected what an Aikidoka should be like. The Shodokan symbol is on the left and more info exists on the Shodokan Honbu site.

''Ukemi-waza'' or the art of break falling

Some beginners seem to have problems with ukemi so I thought I would help and provide some more information:

31 jo kata

Ki in Aikido