Here are a few things you should know before you practice.
Fitness We will start slowly and build up, but if you have any doubts about your health talk to your doctor first, and if you are unwell or hurt on the mat, talk to the instructor. Let the instructor know of any injury or illness before the session starts.
Shared Responsibility Aikido is a martial art that promotes peace and harmony. We all need to respect each other’s abilities and levels of experience so that we can train together. There is some etiquette that helps us in the class, and that you will learn as you go along. When an instructor claps, please stop whatever you are doing as soon as it is safe and pay attention.
If anything doesn’t look safe in the studio, let someone know immediately. If the mats drift apart we need to fix them so that toes aren’t hurt.
Insurance The club is insured and affiliated to the British Aikido Board. If you want to continue practice after an introduction session you will need to pay a membership fee of £20 a year which will insure you personally.
Mat Fees We charge £40 a month by standing order to cover the hire of the studio, £5 a night for students and others on a low income.
Clothing You will want to wear a special outfit to look the part eventually, but to start with, any sports clothes that allow a good range of movement are fine. Bring sandals or flip-flops to keep your feet and the mat clean. If you have long hair then it is best tied back.
If you need to wear glasses on the mat make sure that they are safe for sports. Please remove any jewellery and piercings before practice - if you can’t then cover them in tape to keep them from snagging.
Warm Up Be mindful in the warm-up exercises. They help with the flexibility that prevents injury, and also teach good posture and balance.
Hydrate It’s a good idea to bring a bottle of water, but please leave it far enough from the mat to be safe. Never train under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Fire and Other Emergencies In the event of fire or other emergency the procedure is to leave the building through the front or side exits and assemble in the car park. Fire extinguishers are located in the corridor, use them only if it is safe or imperative to do so.