DOJO INFORMATION

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Mat Fees and Facilities

In order to help pay costs of hire of the place of Training (Dojo) and a little for general running the Dojo, a fee of £7.00 per session is charged. For those attending both Friday sessions in Norwich and Tuesday sessions in Wymondham a fee of £10 per week will be charged.

Fridays in Norwich

The Sports Centre has a large car park and reception staff at the Sports Centre are there to help you if you need it.

The Sports Centre contains changing rooms with showers (including toilet and showers for disabled people), a fully equipped Dojo for training and a lounge bar to socialise afterwards if you wish.

Tuesdays in Wymondham

The Wymondam Martial Arts Centre is a charity run organisation and has a car park and reception area including sofas and toys for younger children.

The Martial Arts centre includes a large permanent matted area, we use the half nearest the entrance for our training area. For the moment there are no changing rooms only toilets so it is advisable for you to change at home if possible. Changing rooms will be created in the future.

For more information on Wymondham Martial Arts centre click here

Image: Members of our aikido club in Sports Bar after Mike's Course 2011

Payment of Membership and Insurance

For your own Safety and the safety of all other people who train in the Dojo, in order to train in Aikido or any other arts taught at the Dojo, all people must have Full Membership and insurance as soon as possible otherwise, they will NOT be allowed to train on the mat.

PLEASE PAY YOUR INSURANCE AND MEMBERSHIP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.....

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What type of clothing to wear

Everyone must wear Zori (sandals or other slip on shoes such as crocks) in the Dojo, removing them before stepping on the Tatami (mats).

If you are a beginner, please wear loose fitting clothes (e.g. track suit bottoms (joggers) and a long sleeve T-shirt). Shorts and short sleeve T-shirts are not recommended, long sleeves protect the elbows from rubbing on the surface of the mat and causing chaffing (mat burns).

Once you have trained for several sessions the Sensei will inform you that you can purchase an Aikido Gi (training uniform).

An Aikido Gi has shorter sleeves than Karate Gi to leave the wrists free for learning aikido techniques from wrist grabs. Aikido Gi's are always worn folded left over right for both sexes.

All beginners start by wearing a white belt (Obi) even if they have gained other grades in other martial arts. This is to avoid confusion and ensures your belt represents you ability at aikido to other students.

When you start with our dojo please let the Sensei know your grade in Aikido or any other martial arts; this allows the Sensei to know your experience. It is always a good idea to be truthful about your abilities as checks will be made for the safety of the people in the Dojo.

Senior students can wear a black or blue Hakama (traditional japanese folded skirt trousers) which help aid posture and form. Hakama can either be worn over Gi trousers or on there own. Hakama are traditionally worn on there own in budo dojos. In western society (and most modern aikido dojos) Hakama are worn over Gi trousers. In our dojo it is the students decision to wear their Hakama how they feel most comfortable.

Black Belts in a (BUDO) dojo can wear White, Dark Blue or Black Gi Top. Most wear Black.

Image: Aikido student wearing Gi and senior aikido student wearing Gi and Hakama

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Behaviour in the Dojo

Behaviour in the Dojo is extremely important not just for your safety but for other people as well.

Please observe senior students and learn from them.

A copy of the rules of the Dojo can be obtained from either a senior student or the Sensei. Also you can go to the link on the front page of this website "all you need to know about behaviour in the Dojo.

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Grading

At sometime during your training you will be asked if you would like to take a grading. This is nothing to worry about this is just so that your teacher/Instructor can access how his student is progressing and the student can evaluate their progress as well. I stress that I would never put anyone through a Grading to fail. I would wait until I felt that the person concerned were ready and confident enough.

Grade Belts:

Some Aikido Schools have only Two Colours (white) and (Black) that is fine.

Most Aikido Schools now are using the Judo Style colours.

Our Dojo uses:

6th Kyu RokkuKyu --------- (White belt)
5th Kyu --- Gokyu ----- (Yellow belt)
4th Kyu --- Yonkyu ---- (Orange belt)
3rd Kyu -- Sankyu ---- (Green belt)
2nd Kyu -- Nikyu ------ (Blue belt)
1st Kyu --- Ikkyu ------- (Brown belt)
1st Dan --- Shodan -- (Black belt)