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Student Guide

• Membership
• Aikido Terminology
• Preparing Yourself for Class
• Preparing and Restoring the Space
• Etiquette and Training Tips
• Ranking System and Testing
• Club Video Library
• Weapons

Welcome to the Northwestern Aikido Cub Student Guide. This guide is intended to help members find their footing and address the most common questions and concerns new students have. You can also always ask a club officer if you have questions. If you are not already a member or for general information on the aikido club, visit the About Club section. This guide will primarily deal with issues specific to our dojo.  For general information about aikido, visit the About Aikido section.

Membership - Top

• On your first practice you will be required to fill out a university waiver form.
• If you attend three or more nights of class in a quarter, you are considered to be a club member for that quarter.
• Members must pay dues of $25 per quarter. Give your dues to a club officer either in the form of cash or a check made out to Northwestern University. If you pay by check, please also put "NU Aikido Club Dues" on the For/Memo line. The club is need blind and can accommodate members that cannot afford the quarterly dues.
• All members should be on the NU Aikido Club listserv. All club announcements are sent by way of our listserv. An officer usually signs you up for the listserv when you join. You can also Join or Leave Our Listserv on Your Own. If you have any problems with the listserv email us at NUAikido@gmail.com.
• Members can attend as many or as few classes per week and per quarter as they wish.
• For each class you attend, sign in on the sheet on the locker by putting an X next to your name.

Aikido Terminology - Top

Preparing Yourself for Class - Top

• Arrive early enough to allow yourself to change so you can help start setting up mats at 5:45 PM. If you have a class right until 5:50 or 6:00, you may be late. But all other members should try to always be on time if not early.
• If you want to store your things while you're in class, there are lockers you are free to use in both the girls and boys restrooms. You may bring your own lock or may borrow a free lock from Blomquist by asking for one at the front desk and giving them your Wild Card. You can place your lock combination on top of the aikido locker. Do not pin your combination to yourself when in class.
• For safety, keep your finger and toe nails well trimmed.
• Bring zori (sandals) to wear when in the locker room so your feet do not get dirty before class.
• Remove all jewelry before practicing. Jewelry can be dangerous to you and others.
• If you do not have a dogi (training uniform), wear athletic and loose-fitting clothing. A t-shirt and sweat pants generally work well.
• If want to train regularly you should purchase a dogi (training uniform), or gi for short. Gi are very durable and designed for the rigorous movements of aikido. Further, some techniques (certain chokes and grabs) require that you have a gi. Gi are generally between $30 and $65 depending on your size. A gi will shrink quite a bit the first time you wash it, so make sure you wash it in cold water and dry it on low heat, to reduce shrinkage. A great place to buy a gi is E-Bogu.com. Be sure to purchase an aikido gi. Other types of gi, such as karate gi, may be too light or otherwise not suited for aikido. If you have questions about your size or other concerns about order a gi, ask a club officer.
• If you do not know how to tie your obi (belt), consult the following Guide to Tying an Obi.
• Always practice good Hygiene. Keep your body and gi clean.

Preparing and Restoring the Space - Top

• We start setting up mats for class at 5:45 PM.
• For a class we generally set up 55 mats. The first 5 rows each use 6 of the smaller and firmer mats. The last 5 rows each use 5 of the larger and softer mats. Sometimes, when attendance is low, we may set up fewer mats.
• Start the first row of mats by placing a mat at the intersection of the three-point and out of bounds line near the south wall of the studio. For all other rows, place the center mat first and then work outwards.
• If the basketball net is lowered, use the button on the west wall to raise it out of general view.
• Hang the framed calligraphy of "aikido" on the south wall mirror, aligned to the center of the mats. A few couple to its right hang the picture of O-Sensei.
• After class, re-stack the smaller and firmer mats along the north curtain of the studio spa and re-stack the larger and softer mats along the east curtain of the studio space.
• After class, return O-Sensei's portrait and the calligraphy to the locker.
• At least once per quarter we will disinfect the mats by scrubbing them with clorox. Please come to class if you can on these days as more people will help the process go faster.

Etiquette and Training Tips - Top

• Remove your socks and shoes before going onto the mat. Never wear shoes on the mat.
• Bow to the shomen (front) when entering and leaving the mat/dojo.
• The instructor is always addressed as sensei (teacher).
• Students should be sitting seiza, in a straight line, five minutes before class starts.
• At the beginning and end of class, a senior student will call "shomen ni rei." This signals everyone to bow to the front with sensei.
• At the beginning a senior student will call "sensei ni rei." This signals students to bow to sensei saying, "one gaishi mas u" (I beg of you).
• At the end a senior student will call "sensei ni rei." This signals students to bow to sensei saying, "domo arigato gozai masuta" (thank you very much).
• At the end of class, after sensei leaves the mat senior will say, "atage ni rei." This signals everyone bow to everyone with they have practiced saying, "Domo arigato gozai masuta" (Thank you very much).
• If you are late for class, sit seiza at the edge of the mat. Do not enter until sensei gives permission.
• Once class has started never leave the mat without sensei’s permission.
• If sensei calls upon a student to assist in demonstrating a technique, bow to sensei and then join sensei at the front of the class. When finished bow, stand up, and return to your original place in the line.
• Prior to practicing a technique with your partner, bow to each other saying, "one gaishi masu." Then begin practicing the technique that sensei has demonstrated. This condition is true when changing partners.
• Practice is an exchange. The purpose is to learn what sensei is teaching. Some cooperation between students is required.
• Practice is NOT constant talking and laughing. Have some consideration for your fellow students, as they are trying to learn.
• Do Not Talk while sensei is lecturing. If you do not understand something, raise your hand.
• During practice, if sensei begins to advise you and your partner regarding the technique, sit seiza and listen. There is no need to comment. When sensei is finished, bow and continue your practice.
• When Sensei claps, this is a signal for everyone to return to the seiza position, forming a straight line.
• At the end of class, repeat items 5 and 6 (Domo arigato gozi masuta in place of One gaishi masu). After Sensei leaves the mat Senior will say, Atage Ni Rei, bow to everyone with whom you have practiced saying, Domo arigato gozai masuta (Thank you very much).
• If, for some reason, you cannot train and are watching a class do not distract those on the mat during class.
• Above all, respect others as you would want others to respect you.

Ranking System and Testing - Top

Club Video Library - Top

Weapons - Top

Questions? Comments? Email us at NUaikido@gmail.com.