v2016-8-12
VWA Guidelines for Basic Dojo Manners
The following lists (A, B, and C) are mostly common sense items which require no or liCle
explanaFon and provide the basis for VWA members’ understanding and pracFce of dojoeFqueCe.
These lists (A, B, and C) will be posted at the dojo, and may be read out to members
occasionally for the purpose of arFculaFng, reinforcing and maintaining members’ common
understanding of the dojo eFqueCe.
The instructor of each class, members of the instrucFonal commiCee, and all senior members
are expected to promote these manners among junior members and exemplify such manners intheir own conduct and way of engaging in Aikido training at the dojo.
A. Before Class
1. Make every eﬀort to be at the dojo before the class starts.
2. Do not change clothes in the hallway. Change clothes in the changing room.
3. Put your hakama on before the class starts. If you come late, do so before you step on
the mats.
4. Turn oﬀ your cellphone. (There are excepFonal cases when this direcFve does notapply.)
5. Sit in line ﬁve minutes before the class starts and adjust your posture and breathing.
Abstain from private conversaFons once you sit in line.
6. Start mediaFng in absolute silence three minutes before the class starts.
7. Line up according to rank.
8. If you step on the mats late while others have already lined up, sit in the second row.
9. A senior member must adjust the posiFon of the weapons on the rack in the alter(“shinza” or sacred place in Japanese) if needed.
10. If you are late for class and miss the warm-ups, do your own in the hall way ﬁrst. Get on
the mats and sit close to the end of the mats quietly and wait for the Sensei’s or a senior
member’s invitaFon to join the class.
11. Someone should ﬁll the bucket with water and a bit of vinegar for washing the matsa`er class.

B. During Class
1. Follow the appropriate bowing protocol. Junior students need to observe senior
students to learn the protocol.
2. Do warm-ups in unison; follow the instructor’s sequence and Fming and emulate themovements as closely as possible.
3. Should you have physical limitaFons or diﬃculFes, you are allowed to make necessary
adjustments to avoid re-injury or aggravaFon.
4. Although Aikido is a marFal art, pracFce must be kept safe for everyone in the dojo.
Robust pracFce should only be engaged by mutual consent of partners. CauFon must
reign. Senior members who observe overly robust pracFce or a partner looking
uncomfortable must intervene to stop the conFnuaFon or escalaFon of inappropriate or
unsafe pracFce. AlternaFvely, the senior member should request the instructor'saCenFon for immediate intervenFon.
5. If a member feels a partner’s pracFce is too harsh, they should ask the partner to lighten
up and be more careful. Aikido training should be safe and enjoyable. They may also
speak to the instructor, or wait out from the pracFce set, depending on what they feel isappropriate. Instructors are to remind members to be cauFous and respecful of others
and to stop any harsh or overly robust pracFce. Complaints may be addressed to Liz
McKinlay, Deputy Dojo-cho at any Fme.
6. Keep verbalizaFons to a minimum. Do not engage in conversaFons more than necessary.
PracFce should be done silently and intensely, except when you are making vocalizaFons(“kake-goe” in Japanese) while doing throws or delivering aCacks.
7. When you must stop your pracFce and step oﬀ the mats during class for any reason, let
your partner and the instructor know. If the instructor is occupied, let one of the senior
members know that you have to step of the mats temporarily.
8. If your partner or a junior member has to leave class or step oﬀ the mats for an
unknown reason, please let the instructor or a senior member know this. When judged
necessary, a senior member will follow up on such an incident to ensure the well-beingof the student.
9. Do a standing bow to the front when you are temporarily leaving and re-entering thedojo.
10. You are allowed to step oﬀ the mats during the class to put on a bandage, to get acleaning towel to wipe oﬀ stains on the mats, or have a quick drink of water whennecessary. Let your partner know this and bow oﬀ as you leave the mats. When
returning to pracFce, bow to the front and to the partner and join the pracFce.
11. The instructor in charge of any given class should be called “sensei” and not by his/herﬁrst name. Senior members must honour a fellow member teaching the class byfollowing this eFqueCe and adhering to his/her instrucFons. The instructor in charge has
the ulFmate responsibility for conducFng the class in all respects and correcFng
students in class. Senior members are expected to help him/her fulﬁll this responsibility.
Do not engage in extensive teaching if you are not the designated instructor.
12. Joking and laughing during the pracFce are considered inappropriate and should beavoided, as should conversaFons.
13. You must follow the proper bowing protocol throughout the class. Bowing must be done
sincerely with a clear intenFon to convey respect to the other person.
14. When your uniform or belt need adjusFng, do this at the rear of the dojo. Do this, ifpossible, in a kneeling or sijng posiFon facing the back. Then bow to the front and thepartner and join the pracFce.
15. Senior members working with junior members must oﬀer help but avoid prolong andloud talking. Whenever possible, use silent or quiet communicaFon modes. No one’s
voice should be heard across the dojo, except the instructor’s, during the class.
16. Junior members should not oﬀer suggesFons to senior members during pracFce; though
they may ask quesFons a`er pracFce.
17. When visitors or observers show up during the class, one of the senior members must
approach them and deal with the visitors regarding welcome, introducFons, paperwork,permission to watch or pracFce.
18. When you need to rest and stop pracFcing temporarily, you are free to do so. Let yourpartner and the instructor know this. Sit in the corner to avoid being in the way of other
pracFFoners and ﬁnd a safe place away from the “landing path.”
19. While resFng from physical pracFce, engage in observaFonal learning (“mitori-geiko” inJapanese).
20. Members must alternate the role of video-recording the Chief Instructor’s class rather
than one pracFFoner being responsible for this task throughout the class.
21. Chewing gum or eaFng food on the mats and during pracFce is prohibited, except whenthe dojo space is used for social events.

C. A`er Class
1. Consider that all acFviFes, interacFons, and personal conduct in the dojo even a`er
class is an extension of the class and the expression of your ajtude toward Aikido
training. This includes expressions of your respect toward senior dojo members.
2. Dojo cleaning is everyone’s responsibility. A`er class, members quickly assume diﬀerent
roles for dojo cleaning. Save private conversaFons and addiFonal pracFce unFl this isover. Senior members will act as role models in this regard even a`er class.
3. If you must leave the dojo immediately a`er class, you may do so. Let one of the senior
members know that you must leave.
4. Follow the appropriate cleaning protocol and the use of a diﬀerent cloth for cleaning theshrine and weapons. Do not mix the cleaning cloth used for wiping the dirty cement
ﬂoor or the dusty wooden ﬂoor with the cloth used for wiping the tatami mats (whereyour face may touch during pracFce).
5. Wiping the mats should be done thoroughly and eﬀecFvely for the purpose of removing
dirt and sweat of the surface and the space between the ridges of the mats. Light andsuperﬁcial wiping does not serve the purpose of cleaning the mats.
6. Do not undress or change in the dojo or hallway. Do so in the changing room.
7. Free pracFce a`er class is encouraged. A senior member must be around to ensure
safety and oﬀer instrucFonal help when requested.
8. A senior member or the instructor must lock up the dojo and ensure all lights and fans
are turned oﬀ.
9. A dojo oﬃcer is to remove cash and other payments before the dojo is closed.
10. Follow the appropriate bowing protocol when leaving the dojo, both in sijng andstanding posiFons. Bowing is considered a sacred act. Never bow while talking. Avoid
doing a shallow and superﬁcial bow. Do not bow and turn away at the same Fme; face
the other person and bow sincerely and wholeheartedly.
11. Do not pracFse forms of other marFal arts or related exercises unless you are given
permission by the instructor ﬁrst.
12. Go to the rear corner or near the end of the mats if you need to engage in a socialconversaFon, give or receive massage, or do stretching or relaxaFon exercise a`er class.
Do not do the above in the middle of the dojo. Do not talk loudly in the dojo.
13. Wash your keigogi at the end of every day’s pracFce so that you start the next day’s
pracFce with a clean keigogi.