Q and A
To Visitors Who Want To Observe or Start Aikido Practice
in Meirin-Jyuku Dojo:
| Q1: How can I observe the practice in Meirin-Jyuku Dojo? |
| A: Meirin-Jyuku Dojo welcomes everybody who wants to observe the practice except for the Advanced |
| Class. See the Practice Schedule and Map on the Home Page and visit the dojo at ease. |
| We cannot deal with visitors during a practice so that contacting us before the practice will be |
| convenient to answer your questions and the like. |
| Q2: What is a practice observation? |
| A: Observing the practice in a dojo is also a very important way of practicing Aikido. |
| A person who cannot continue the practice once a week for at least a year would obtain no fruit |
| of it. Before joining the dojo, judge whether you have a strong will for Aikido by observing a |
| practice completely. |
| Q3: What is a dojo? |
| A: A dojo is originally a holly and serious place where the essence of a martial art (Budo) is passed |
| down from a teacher to members, which means that any member cannot enter the dojo without a |
| permission from the teacher after beginning a practice. |
| In other words, Meirin-Jyuku Dojo is a place for practicing Aikido not only enjoying it as a sport. |
| Q4: How can I select a good dojo? |
| A: You can feel a glass of water to be cool or warm by touching and drinking it practically. Also, each |
| one has individual feeling. Regardless of transportation convenience or the like, it is more important |
| than merely practicing to select the most suitable dojo for you by observing various dojos. |
| Q5: I’d like to practice a variety of dojos… |
| A: Acquiring the spirit and techniques of Aikido requires serious practices under a reliable teacher. |
| Although Meirin-Jyuku Dojo recommends members to practice in other dojos for enlarging their |
| view, it would be meaningless if there is no foundation of practice. You should select a dojo that |
| you can be proud of and rely on. |
| Q6: What kind of dojo is Meirin-Jyuku? |
| A: We consider that practice is a chance for members to learn the essence of Aikido via his/her |
| sensitivity, which means that there is no fruit from only paying membership fees. |
| Meirin-Jyuku is a dojo for all members with a motto “Respect all others as teachers”. We expect |
| from members to take part in managing the dojo and practicing together. |
| Q7: I would like to enter the dojo after experiencing a practice… |
| A: Although there are many demands of experiencing a practice before joining the dojo, we accept |
| a number of practice observations so that you are recommended to start practicing form the |
| Beginner Class. |
| Q8:l What is practicing as a visitor? |
| A: We welcome visitors who should belong to the other Aikikai dojo and be allowed to practice in |
| Meirin-Jyuku Dojo from their instructor. All visitors should also follow the practice method |
| and the rules in Meirin-Jyuku Dojo. |
| Q9: Are there any differences between the Beginner and Ordinary Classes? |
| A: In the Beginner Class, a member should start learning the basic attitude and body movements. |
| Before entering the Beginner Class, it is required to pay 3-month advanced fees (lump-sum |
| payment discount applicable). To entry the Ordinary Class, it is basically required to complete |
| the Beginner Class (30 hours); however, if recognized as safe for practices, he/she can enter |
| the Ordinary Class from the first day. Delayed participation to a practice is also accepted when |
| members cannot join the class from the beginning due to their working condition or the like. |
| Q10: What kind of practice is carried out in the Advanced Class? |
| A: The Advanced Class is a special class limited for the instructors in Meirin-Jyuku Dojo in which |
| the theory and techniques in Aikido are pursued. Participating in this class without permission is |
| not allowed as well as the practice observation. After obtaining the permission from the headmaster, |
| it is required to pay the extra fee in addition except for students. |
| Q11: Please explain the membership fee? |
| A: Meirin-Jyuku Dojo is a nonprofit and amateur group of pursuing Aikido where all expenses are |
| covered by the membership fee. All members should pay their membership fees at least one month |
| in advance. The visitor fee is \1,500 a day. The payment already received will not be returned for |
| any reasons except mistake. If a member fails to pay his/her membership fees for two months or |
| more without notice, he/she will be removed from the member’s list with corresponding duty of |
| paying membership fees remained. Submit the notice of recess or withdrawal without fail. |
| For a long-term recess, the advanced notice can reduce the membership fee to \500 a month. |
| If the membership becomes invalid, no support will be given from the dojo. |
| Q12: How the dojo copes with any injury during practice? |
| A: Any injury or accident during practice is the responsibility of each member. All members should |
| buy Accident Insurance every April (\1,500 a year). When withdrawing from the dojo, he/she will |
| become no object of paperwork. |
| Q13: I’d like to practice Aikido as the art of self-defense… |
| A: We consider that it will be the art of self-defense to maintain a secure condition without using |
| any self-defense techniques. There might be other effective methods to improve only one’s |
| physical strength. |
| Q14: Can I practice Aikido wearing glasses? |
| A: Wearing glasses could be dangerous for some techniques; even if closing your eyes, you can |
| practice by feeling the partner’s movement. Normally, you can wear glasses suitable for sports |
| during practice. |
| Q15: Is there any entry qualifications in Meirin-Jyuku Dojo? |
| A: We accept a person who is a high school student or older and has a will to continue the practice |
| for at least six months regardless of nationality, gender, age, etc. The headmaster will determine |
| his/her entrance after an interview. A junior high school student will be allowed to become a |
| member when he/she can practice with ordinary class members without undue stress. |
| Q16: Can I make a school boy/girl learn Aikido? |
| A: Meirin-Jyuku Dojo has 50 members in its 40-mat room. The dojo has three-level classes |
| (Beginner, Regular, and Advanced) and is running out of space. To avoid any accidents, please |
| wait until we have the Schoolchildren Class. |
| Q17: What attitudes are to be held during practice? |
| A: How to get the instructor’s message during practice depends on each student’s sensitivity so |
| that every member should develop his/her sense with the spirit that “If I failed yesterday, I can |
| overcome and succeed today” unveiling one’s sensitivity. |
| After all, Aikido movements consist of just “sitting, standing, and walking appropriately”. |
| Q18: Is there no practice on national holidays? |
| A: Except the beginning and the end of the year, there is no break in the practice throughout. |
| Please check the notice in the dojo or the message board in the Meirin-Jyuku Dojo’s HP since |
| the dojo could be closed on some Saturdays and Sundays due to other practice responsibilities |
| of the headmaster. (The message board can be accessed from all types of cellular phones.) |
| Q19: Please teach me how to hold up a hakama. |
| A: In Meirin-Jyuku Dojo, a male member can wear a hakama from the 1st dan (black belt) and a |
| female member from the 5th kyu (white belt). Since a hakama has many structural folds it will |
| easily crinkle up after folding it carelessly. The members having a hakama are recommended to |
| learn the formal holding method referring How To Hold a Hakama. |
| Q20: Can I get any membership card or certificate of registration from the dojo? |
| A: Meirin-Jyuku Dojo does not issue any kind of certificates. We will attach a Hombu Dojo’s |
| membership card to the certificate of 5th Kyu when a member passes. |
| Q21: Are there any other precautions? |
| A1: All activities concerning religions and politics are prohibited in the dojo. |
| A2: Do not treat the other member to meals and/or drinking for free! Split the bill with gratitude |
| to each other. |