The First Months

The first few months of aikido practice are often the most trying. Learning to roll and fall properly can produce minor aches and pains. In addition, aikido is a challenge to learn. Writing in Scientific American (July 1980), Jearl Walker concluded "I think it [aikido] is the most difficult of all the martial arts to learn. Its demands for skill, grace, and timing rival those of classical ballet." (Walker practiced aikido himself, although the extent of his experience in ballet is unclear).

As you take your first steps on this long and rewarding path, we offer the following observations and recommendations:

• Everyone improves with practice. People come to our dojo with a variety of backgrounds, experience, body types and physical skills, but there is one thing they have in common: They all get better with practice.

• Pain decreases with practice. People are most sore after their first few classes because rolls, falls and throws are new activities for the body. You will feel better as you continue to practice.

• Focus on the positive. Learning aikido, you will often fall on your face (sometimes literally). Learn from your mistakes and always note the positive results of your practice. They are just as real as the mistakes, though maybe less prominent.

• Do the exercises regularly. The breathing, stretching, warm-up and ki exercises that you learn in class can be practiced at home. It always helps to practice these exercises regularly.

• Attend class at least twice a week. Your abilities and your motivation will develop faster the more you practice. By attending more than one class you will get a chance to experience different instructors and work with different people.

• Attend the Ki Development (Shin Shin Toitsu Do) Class. Our style of Aikido puts a strong emphasis on ki development. Ki practice improves Aikido performance and also benefits other aspects of daily life. While ki development is part of every aikido class, we also offer a special class devoted solely to ki development. We recommend that class as part of your regular practice.

• Talk to the instructors. Let them know if you are experiencing any unusual aches or pains. They can then help you with aspects of your practice that might be causing you problems. There is nothing wrong with limiting participation in class while recovering from a minor injury.

Dojo Etiquette

"Dojo" literally means "the place of the Way", and part of starting the path of Ki-Aikido is learning the etiquette that reflects the respect for the place, for the Way, and for the people who practice there.

1. Bow toward the Ki symbol when entering or leaving the dojo.
2. Bow toward the Ki symbol when stepping on or off the mat.
3. Wear clean and untattered clothes when practicing.
4. Make sure feet and hands are clean.
5. If you are late to class, wait at the edge of the mat for the sensei’s permission to join the class. When you join the class, do what the group is doing.
6. During the formal opening and closing of class, bow in synchrony with the sensei and fellow students.
7. Bow to your partner at the beginning of practice. Continue practice until the sensei signals you to stop. Thank your partner by bowing.
8. Practice only those arts being taught.
9. While practicing an art, keep discussion to a minimum. If there is any disagreement between partners concerning an art, ask for the sensei’s instruction.
10. Whenever you receive help or instruction from the sensei or a fellow student, bow and thank them.
11. Do not sit idle on the mat. While on the mat sit seiza or cross-legged.
12. Except for personal matters, request permission of the sensei to leave the mat during practice. When you return to the mat, join directly into practice.

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