The following guidelines help create a positive and safe atmosphere for everyone.
On the mat and off the mat
- Please arrive on time and be ready before class begins.
- If you arrive late, wait quietly until the instructor invites you to join practice.
- If you need to leave the mat during class, please inform the instructor.
- Please remain focused on practice and avoid conversation during training.
- Slippers or sandals must be worn off the mat at all times.
- On the mat, you represent the art. The dojo is a place of practice, not a playground.
- Please help keep the dojo clean and tidy before and after practice.
- Remember that there is one instructor in the dojo.
- Address the instructor as Sensei (teacher) at all times.
- Always be kind with lower grades.
Safety & Personal Hygiene
- If you feel tired or unwell, please inform the instructor.
- Please do not attend training if you are unwell or may be contagious.
- Inform the instructor of any injuries or medical conditions that may affect your training.
- Training uniforms should be clean, in good condition, and free from strong odours.
- Fingernails and toenails must be kept short or securely covered for safety reasons.
- No jewellery may be worn during practice. All jewellery must be removed or covered.
- No makeup is permitted during training. Long hair must be tied back.
- When the instructor claps, stop immediately.
Inclusivity & Physical Practice
We aim to create a welcoming environment for everyone. However, Ki Aikido is a partner-based martial art where physical contact and partner rotation are fundamental parts of training.
As a Japanese art, Ki Aikido also includes formal greetings, including bows from standing or kneeling positions. Students are expected to train with a variety of partners regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religion, or background.
If, for personal, cultural, or religious reasons, someone is not comfortable with these aspects of training, we may unfortunately not be able to accommodate participation in regular practice.
Etiquette is not intended to be restrictive. Its purpose is to create a safe, respectful, and focused environment where everyone can learn and develop together through the practice.