What to wear
Please wear loose fitting clothing if you decide to try a class. A t-shirt and sweatpants or yoga pants are fine. Remove your socks before stepping on the mats. You are welcome to wear a white dogi if you already have one. Please remove jewelry before stepping on the mats.
Dojo etiquette
Aikido Yoshinkai Ottawa follows the traditional rules of dojo etiquette. Please show up at least 15-20 minutes before class starts. Please bow when entering the training area. A member of the club will be on hand to greet you. You are welcome to observe a class. Please do not talk loudly during class. If you decide to try a class, someone will show you how to step on and off the mats. It is customary that students kneel (seiza) or sit cross-legged (anza) while the instructor is teaching. You may find yourself bowing several times during class. Bowing is a traditional Japanese way of showing respect and gratitude; it does not have any religious meaning.
Class structure
Class begins with a traditional short meditation and bow in. After bowing in, the instructor will lead the class in warm-up exercises. These are calisthenics and stretching exercises meant to warm up the body and prepare it for practice. The next phase of class involves repeated practice of foundational movements (kihon dosa). The main part of class is focused on paired practice of basic techniques (kihon waza). You will be paired with a more senior ranked student who will guide you through the techniques. Classes typically end with one or two so-called “after class” exercises, and the bow out.
Bukiwaza
Aikido is primarily considered an “empty handed” martial art: The majority of the time Aikido students practice unarmed self-defence techniques. Some authentic aikido dojos also include a small component of weapons practice (bukiwaza). The first 20 minutes of our Friday class are reserved for weapons training. Traditional (wooden) weapons are always on hand for beginners.
