Resources for the Aikido practitioner

• Dojo Etiquette
• Terminology
• Weapons
• Tying & Folding a Hakama
• Kneeling
• Miscellaneous Japanese words used in Aikido
• Grading syllabus
• Interactive syllabus
• Japanese name translation

Dojo Etiquette

Entering the Dojo. Have your keikogi on and obi(belt) tied properly. Just inside the door perform a bow towards the picture of O-Sensei (the Shomen). Go to the corner of the tatami and perform a kneeling bow, again towards the picture of O-Sensei.

The Bow. Remain seated on your heels (kneeling). Place the left hand then the right on the tatami in front of you so that the two thumbs and index fingers form a triangle.

When the Sensei or appointed instructor enters the dojo all members should line up in the kneeling position facing the picture of O-Sensei.

Starting the Class. All bow with Sensei towards the Shomen, then return Sensei's bow saying "Onegaishimasu". Follow his lead during warming-up exercises.

During Class. Perform a standing bow to your partner both before and at the end of a period of practise. If the Sensei should teach you and your partner individually it is proper to perform a bow afterwards. While the Sensei is working with your partner kneel on the tatami. Make sure your keikogi remains tied properly during practise and that you remain adequately covered.

Coming Late / Leaving Early Wait before entering or leaving the dojo until the Sensei is not demonstrating. Wait at the side of the tatami to ask Sensei's permission to come on the tatami. Perform the proper kneeling bow when coming onto or leaving the tatami. If leaving early, ask Sensei's permission first.

End of the Lesson Follow the lead as for 'starting the class' but when returning the Sensei's bow say "Domo Arigato Gozaimashita". Allow the Sensei to leave the mat first - and thank your partners.

Leaving the Dojo Perform kneeling and standing bows similar to the format for 'entering the dojo' but in reverse order.

Wear Zori (Sandals) to and from the tatami - always leave them neatly by the side of the tatami while you are practising.

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Terminology

Some humorous Aikido definitions courtesy of AikidoFAQ.

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Weapons

The handling and use of weapons - particularly the Bokken (wooden sword) and Jo (wooden staff) - forms an important adjunct and element of a student's understanding of the principles of aikido. Demonstration of the use of the bokken and jo (as used by tori) is an optional part of gradings instead of ninin-dori/futari-gaeki. The Kai Shin Kai has a number of Senseis who are able to teach (for example) :

Below are links to YouTube videos of Morihiro Saito Sensei demonstrating Jo & Bokken :

7 Ken Suburi pt1 (1st - 3rd)

7 Ken Suburi pt2 (4th - 7th)

20 jo suburi

13 jo kata

13 jo awase

31 jo kata

31 kumi jo pt1

31 kumi jo pt2

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Tying and Folding a Hakama

The following illustrate how to tie and fold a hakama :

     Tying a Hakama (option 1, gif image)

     Tying a Hakama (option 2, PDF)

     Folding a Hakama (PDF)

     Folding a Hakama

How to tie your belt

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Kneeling

Miscellaneous Japanese words used in Aikido

Counting

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Grading syllabus

What are Kai Shin Kai examiners and instructors looking for?

• Correctness of technique in the 4 postures of :
  Irimi (or Omote) from hidari and migi hanmi
  Tenkan (or Ura) from hidari and migi hanmi
• Effectiveness of technique and quality of tai-sabaki
• Posture - stability and good use of tanden (centre)
• Mai-ai - correct distance between partners, relative to speed and type of attack
• Flow and flexibility
• Zanshin (readiness and alertness)
• Ki (spirit)
• Manner, attitude and general Dojo etiquette (eg correct rei to the Shomen, examiners and training partners)

During gradings the examiners are not looking for perfection but, overall, will expect candidates to achieve a 70% rating in all aspects, with allowances made for age, sex and specific handicaps.

5th Kyu (Yellow belt) - minimum 30 hours training
Selection of exercises from:

Techniques from ai-katate-dori (irimi and tenkan) using the following defences:

Ninin-dori (from ai-katate-dori)

4th Kyu (Orange belt) - minimum 50 hours training from 5th Kyu
Selected techniques from 5th Kyu syllabus plus techniques from the following attacks:

Ninin-dori (using above attacks) or:

Weapons: Bokken suburi Nos 1-4 and Jo-suburi Nos 1-5

3rd Kyu (Green belt) - minimum 60 hours training from 4th Kyu
Selected techniques from 5th and 4th Kyu syllabus plus techniques involving the following additional attacks:

Ninin-dori (using above attacks) or:

Weapons: Bokken suburi and Jo-suburi

2nd Kyu (Blue belt) - minimum 70 hours training from 3rd Kyu
Selected techniques from 5th to 3rd Kyu syllabus plus techniques involving the following additional attacks:

Escape from being held by 2 attackers (morote-dori grip)

Ninin-dori (using above attacks) or:

Weapons: Bokken awase and Jo-suburi / kata

1st Kyu (Brown belt) - minimum 100 hours training from 2nd Kyu
Selected techniques from 5th to 2nd Kyu syllabus plus techniques involving the following additional attacks:

Tanto-dori (from named attacks/defences)

Ninin-dori (free attacks) or:

Weapons: Bokken (ki-musubi-no-ken) and Jo kata (13 or 31 count)

1st DAN - minimum 12 months from 1st Kyu + attendance at two courses in that year.
Selected techniques from 5th to 1st Kyu syllabus plus techniques involving the following additional attacks:

Defence against weapons - disarming techniques using 2 of the following : Bokken, Jo or Chain

Futari-gaeki (as spirited ninin-dori), or

Weapons: Bokken kumi-tachi/kumi-jo (content to be agreed with examiners before start of grading)

Click the image below for the interactive syllabus sheet :

Gyaku katate dori


Kata dori


Mune dori


Morote dori


Hiji dori


Ryote dori


Shomenuchi


Yokomenuchi


Chudan tsuki


Ushiro ryote dori


Ushiro ryo kata dori


Ushiro katate dori kubishime


Ushiro mune dakishime


Kata dori shomenuchi


Ikkyo


Nikyo


Sankyo


Yonkyo


Gokyo


Hiji shime


Iriminage


Sukumen


Kotegaeshi


Tenchinage


Shihonage


Sumiotoshi


Kata gatame


Ude garame


Kaitenage


Koshinage


Juji-garami


Aiki-otoshi