Welcome to AikiWeb Aikido Information
AikiWeb: The Source for Aikido Information
AikiWeb's principal purpose is to serve the Internet community as a repository and dissemination point for aikido information.

Sections
home
aikido articles
columns

Discussions
forums
aikiblogs

Databases
dojo search
seminars
image gallery
supplies
links directory

Reviews
book reviews
video reviews
dvd reviews
equip. reviews

News
submit
archive

Miscellaneous
newsletter
rss feeds
polls
about

Follow us on



Home > AikiWeb Aikido Forums
Go Back   AikiWeb Aikido Forums > General

Hello and thank you for visiting AikiWeb, the world's most active online Aikido community! This site is home to over 22,000 aikido practitioners from around the world and covers a wide range of aikido topics including techniques, philosophy, history, humor, beginner issues, the marketplace, and more.

If you wish to join in the discussions or use the other advanced features available, you will need to register first. Registration is absolutely free and takes only a few minutes to complete so sign up today!

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 02-03-2012, 04:44 PM   #1
Theijuiel
Location: Portland, OR
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 12
United_States
Offline
Question about entering the dojo for the first time.

I did a quick search for dojo etiquette and didn't find a thread for it.

I'm starting out as an uchideshi with a goal to stay for 2 years and was wondering what is the etiquette when greeting the sensei for the first time. Could I get a gift as a way to thank the sensei for her time and allowing me to be accepted in the dojo? If so, what gift is acceptable?

Justin
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2012, 06:45 PM   #2
Rob Watson
Location: CA
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 697
United_States
Offline
Re: Question about entering the dojo for the first time.

Quote:
Justin Tyle wrote: View Post
I did a quick search for dojo etiquette and didn't find a thread for it.

I'm starting out as an uchideshi with a goal to stay for 2 years and was wondering what is the etiquette when greeting the sensei for the first time. Could I get a gift as a way to thank the sensei for her time and allowing me to be accepted in the dojo? If so, what gift is acceptable?

Justin
Offering oneself IS the gift. After your term is up then a parting gift is in order.

"In my opinion, the time of spreading aikido to the world is finished; now we have to focus on quality." Yamada Yoshimitsu

Ultracrepidarianism ... don't.
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2012, 06:51 PM   #3
niall
  AikiWeb Forums Contributing Member
 
niall's Avatar
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 394
Japan
Offline
Re: Question about entering the dojo for the first time.

Put yourself in the position of the sensei and ask yourself what you would appreciate. My suggestion would be typical food from your home area.

About etiquette just be polite and natural. Good luck.

we can make our minds so like still water, and so live for a moment with a clearer, perhaps even with a fiercer life
w b yeats


aikiweb blog|wordpress blog
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2012, 07:01 PM   #4
Ellis Amdur
 
Ellis Amdur's Avatar
Location: Seattle
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 934
Offline
Re: Question about entering the dojo for the first time.

Depends what country. I'm assuming Japan. If so, you bring something like a package of fruit. Six high-quality Japanese pears, for example. The idea is that you bring something that will be a) welcome b) NOT too expensive. Because if you give the teacher something expensive, you will be "trying" to set up an obligation on from him to you. Inexpensive, but tasteful (literally, in this case) is welcome.

If you give too much thought into it, you put the teacher in an awkward position - you've perhaps given something he or she doesn't like - what do they do with that?

For example, when I was 25, I gave two teachers a Japanese translation of Journey to Ixtlan, thinking it would be meaningful. A book that influenced me - to share what was in my heart! (as if they cared!)
I got the following:
Teacher #1 - "I hated that book. If that Carlos guy was my student, I'd beat him to a pulp, leave him by the road, and be finished with him. What was wrong with those people? And - what's wrong with you that you liked that?"

Teacher #2 - a small smile. "Ellis-san. The rule of life is the student does not take it upon himself to teach the teacher." (and he gave it back).

Best
Ellis Amdur

  Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2012, 07:45 PM   #5
graham christian
Dojo: golden center aikido-highgate
Location: london
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,697
England
Offline
Re: Question about entering the dojo for the first time.

Just be yourself and be humble.

If you entered mine you would have have to say 'yo whassup, bow, and smile. Ha, ha.

Regards.G.
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2012, 12:08 AM   #6
kewms
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,318
Offline
Re: Question about entering the dojo for the first time.

Presumably you have a contact at the dojo where you'll be training. Ask that person to guide you.

Katherine
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2012, 12:35 AM   #7
gates
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 193
Offline
Re: Question about entering the dojo for the first time.

Is this a Japan uchideshi trip?
Her time? Pat Hendricks?

not tacky crap
not too expensive
not trying too hard
something local from your home town
well wrapped

& Sake (wrapped) for the kamidana (Shinto alter) if a traditional dojo

Enjoy the journey
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-05-2012, 07:55 AM   #8
RuteMendes
Dojo: Dramático de Cascais
Location: Lisbon
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 29
Portugal
Offline
Re: Question about entering the dojo for the first time.

just go there, bow as you enter the mat, bow to your sensei and thank him/her for accepting you
Be friendly to everyone! Oh, and in the cerimonial (im not sure how to spell it in english), just do as everyone does
Ask your sensei what to do, how to behave... sometimes diffrent dojos have diffrent ettiquete codes

Train hard and have fun!

  Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2012, 11:33 AM   #9
Theijuiel
Location: Portland, OR
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 12
United_States
Offline
Re: Question about entering the dojo for the first time.

Thanks for your responses.

I'm heading to North Berkeley, USA to train under Kayla Feder Sensei. I've just been in contact with her through emails and I keep my emails short.

I had a few other questions as well.

Feder told me to bring a few things that I NEED, such as clothes and toiletries.Would just a backpack, carry-on and sleeping bag be small enough to live in the dojo for two years? Should I bring my electronic equipment? (Tablet, phone + chargers.)

Justin
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2012, 12:03 PM   #10
Demetrio Cereijo
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,248
Spain
Offline
Re: Question about entering the dojo for the first time.

Quote:
Ellis Amdur wrote: View Post
For example, when I was 25, I gave two teachers a Japanese translation of Journey to Ixtlan, thinking it would be meaningful. A book that influenced me - to share what was in my heart! (as if they cared!)
I got the following:
Teacher #1 - "I hated that book. If that Carlos guy was my student, I'd beat him to a pulp, leave him by the road, and be finished with him. What was wrong with those people? And - what's wrong with you that you liked that?"

Teacher #2 - a small smile. "Ellis-san. The rule of life is the student does not take it upon himself to teach the teacher." (and he gave it back).
Who they were, if you don't mind to tell?
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2012, 12:32 PM   #11
kewms
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,318
Offline
Re: Question about entering the dojo for the first time.

Quote:
Justin Tyle wrote: View Post
Feder told me to bring a few things that I NEED, such as clothes and toiletries.Would just a backpack, carry-on and sleeping bag be small enough to live in the dojo for two years? Should I bring my electronic equipment? (Tablet, phone + chargers.)
Presumably, your family would like to have some contact with you during this time, so bringing a phone would not be unreasonable.

On the other hand, part of the point of this kind of program is to live simply, with very few commitments beyond eating, sleeping, and training. If you have enough time and energy to spend a lot of time surfing the internet, the program probably isn't doing its job.

There's also the matter of security for expensive electronic gadgets.

Katherine
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2012, 12:41 PM   #12
Ellis Amdur
 
Ellis Amdur's Avatar
Location: Seattle
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 934
Offline
Re your question, Demetrio. Not aikido people.

And Justin: OH! You are going to Kayla Feder's school? That's different. Just ask Feder sensei! Or whomever she's delegated to manage uchi-deshi's entry into the school.

The rigor of your practice and discipline will surely the equal of any Japanese dojo. But she is a kind and direct human being. Rather than asking here what we think you might need, it is quite in order to ask, explicitly, what you need! All you'll get is answers.

Ellis Amdur

  Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2012, 01:11 PM   #13
Theijuiel
Location: Portland, OR
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 12
United_States
Offline
Re: Question about entering the dojo for the first time.

The tablet is going to be used as my eBook storage, about 5 gigs of books. I have no intentions of using it for social media sites, just for books. I plan to cut myself off from the world while I'm training there, barring emergency calls from family.

Justin
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2012, 01:44 PM   #14
Demetrio Cereijo
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,248
Spain
Offline
Re: Question about entering the dojo for the first time.

Quote:
Ellis Amdur wrote: View Post
Re your question, Demetrio. Not aikido people.
Food for tought.
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2012, 02:42 PM   #15
Janet Rosen
 
Janet Rosen's Avatar
Location: Left Coast
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 4,339
Offline
Re: Question about entering the dojo for the first time.

What Ellis said. Kayla is both a wonderful teacher and a wonderful person.

Janet Rosen
http://www.zanshinart.com
"peace will enter when hate is gone"--percy mayfield
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2012, 02:43 PM   #16
Theijuiel
Location: Portland, OR
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 12
United_States
Offline
Re: Question about entering the dojo for the first time.

Quote:
Ellis Amdur wrote: View Post
And Justin: OH! You are going to Kayla Feder's school? That's different. Just ask Feder sensei! Or whomever she's delegated to manage uchi-deshi's entry into the school.

Ellis Amdur
I'd like to do that but the way my brain takes in information and the way I talk to people prevents me from doing that. I get kinda brain dead when I try to write emails, so a forum works out much better for me in the long run.

Justin
  Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2012, 05:04 PM   #17
Theijuiel
Location: Portland, OR
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 12
United_States
Offline
Re: Question about entering the dojo for the first time.

To elaborate; I contracted meningitis at the age of two, as a result, it left me with 12% speech recognition in my left ear and none in my right. Since that disease causes the brain to swell and become damaged, my brain processes information differently.

Justin
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2012, 10:07 PM   #18
aikidoka81
 
aikidoka81's Avatar
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 19
Singapore
Offline
Re: Question about entering the dojo for the first time.

Quote:
Justin Tyle wrote: View Post
I did a quick search for dojo etiquette and didn't find a thread for it.

I'm starting out as an uchideshi with a goal to stay for 2 years and was wondering what is the etiquette when greeting the sensei for the first time. Could I get a gift as a way to thank the sensei for her time and allowing me to be accepted in the dojo? If so, what gift is acceptable?

Justin
Just bow to the sensei and introduce yourself. If you want to give the sensei gifts,
a gift of fruits would do very nicely.

Aikido The Gentle Martial Art http://www.squidoo.com/aikido3
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2012, 06:30 AM   #19
JJF
 
JJF's Avatar
Dojo: Vestfyn Aikikai Denmark
Location: Vissenbjerg
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 803
Denmark
Offline
Re: Question about entering the dojo for the first time.

One newer fails with quality chocolate...

- Jřrgen Jakob Friis

Inspiration - Aspiration - Perspiration
  Reply With Quote

Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Sempai/Kohai Relationship in Aikido Ron Tisdale Training 82 09-07-2009 09:12 AM
A Zazen question and some worries "Frances Bacon" Anonymous 7 05-29-2009 05:56 PM
Training outside the dojo ? John Boswell Training 41 05-31-2005 05:49 PM
Article: Thoughts on Bugei Studies by Karl Friday AikiWeb System Training 28 04-27-2002 05:21 PM
Looking for intensive courses in SE Asia John Yeldham General 5 03-25-2002 02:16 AM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:52 PM.



vBulletin Copyright © 2000-2024 Jelsoft Enterprises Limited
----------
Copyright 1997-2024 AikiWeb and its Authors, All Rights Reserved.
----------
For questions and comments about this website:
Send E-mail
plainlaid-picaresque outchasing-protistan explicantia-altarage seaford-stellionate