Starting Aikido

Welcome!

Welcome to the Umich Aikido club. We hope you will enjoy your time training with us.

You are welcome to watch any class, or you can jump right in and try one class for free.

Please arrive at the dojo 15 minutes before class begins so a senior student can show you the etiquette in training and answer any questions.

See the Safety & Clothing, Etiquette, and Vocabulary pages for more information to help you get started. We hope you can join us. See you in class soon!

Safety and Clothing

The most important aspect of Aikido training is safety. The techniques are designed to be as safe as possible, but classes can be physically demanding. Ultimately, you are the best judge of your physical state. We encourage you to push your limits in our classes, but if you feel ill or otherwise unable to continue, please feel free to sit out until you feel ready to rejoin the class. (Please alert the instructor if you need to sit out so they know whether you require assistance.) If you have an injury that makes certain movements painful or impossible, please alert the instructor and your partner so you can avoid injury. Likewise, pay attention to your partner and loosen pressure if they indicate that a grip or control has become painful.

Many movements involve kneeling or sliding on the mat. As such, we recommend wearing clothes that cover knees and elbows and do not restrict movement. Sweat pants and long-sleeve shirts are usually excellent clothes for training. Jeans or pants with lots of buttons or zippers are not recommended, or any materials that may stain the mat.

Though not required for beginners, a martial arts uniform (called a dogi) may also be worn. We use judo uniforms that have thicker padding, although any white or off-white uniform with a white belt may be worn. If you continue with Aikido training, you will eventually want to acquire a uniform. Dogi are available for purchase at martial arts supply stores, or through the AYANA – talk to an instructor or a senior student if you are interested.

Socks are not needed, as we train barefoot. You may wear socks if removing them would make you uncomfortable, but be aware that the canvas mat may be slippery.

Etiquette.

Etiquette is a very important part of Japanese society, and we incorporate some aspects into our training, particularly those pertaining to Samurai and martial arts culture. Proper dojo etiquette is important to maintaining our dojo and good spirit.

Vocabulary

Please see the vocabulary list (to be added).