Seminars are an essential part of your training. Even if you are too new to the dojo to feel safe practicing on the mat, you are expected to help in the seminar preparation to support the dojo. Hours spent helping for seminars are one of the best ways to get to know other members and to accumulate the service hours necessary for your tests.

Missing a seminar

If for any reason you are not able to attend the seminar, the proper etiquette is to let Birdsong Sensei know in advance of the seminar. It is appropriate to make a contribution to the dojo if you are unable to attend. If your reason for not attending is financial, however, please speak to Birdsong Sensei. There are frequently scholarships available to seminars and he is committed to finding a way for you to attend.

What to wear on the mat

• Wear your best gi/hakama on the mat. Do not wear torn/tattered gi/hakama.
• Wear only freshly washed gi. If you only own one gi, please hang it up to dry between morning and afternoon sessions, and launder it after class to wear the next day.

What to wear to evening events or outings

Seminars often include outings or dinners after class. For these events, it is OK to dress casually, as long it is "high end" casual. Aikido T-shirts/sweatshirts are fine, but not other T-shirts. Jeans are acceptable if they are in good condition (no holes, not too faded). Depending on the event, dresses, dress pants, ties are all are ideal, but it is completely understood that many do not have the finances or lifestyle to allow this. The essential here is to dress respectfully. If the after-class activity is an outdoor event, dress appropriately for the weather and activity, but wear clothing that is in good condition.

Addressing visiting instructors

During the seminar, address guest instructors as “Sensei.”

Entering and leaving the dojo

• When entering or leaving the dojo, do a standing bow toward the shrine as we usually do.
• If you are late for class, please wait at the front (by registration) until Sensei is finished demonstrating or discussing a technique before heading for the dressing room.

Lining up before class

• When entering or leaving the mat, do a formal (kneeling) bow every time.
• Be in line, ready to practice 5 minutes prior to the scheduled class time. Sit quietly and meditate.
• At the beginning of the class, and after each technique, sit in 2 to 4 lines (depending on the attendance). 
• If you cannot sit seiza, or cannot continue to sit seiza, bow to the shrine, and then sit cross-legged. Whether sitting seiza or cross-legged, sit with hands on knees, uncrossed. Do not fidget. If you know in advance of the class that seiza will be difficult for you, do not sit in the front row when lining up for class.
• During seminars it is not necessary to line up precisely by rank. In general, yudansha are in the front row and more junior students are in the other rows. If there is a gap in the row ahead of you, however, please fill it by moving forward no matter what your rank.
• During testing, or very prolonged discussion, it is acceptable to sit in a more relaxed version of seiza with both feet to one or the other side.

Entering and leaving the mat during a class

• Be on time to class! Unless you are on seminar business, there is no acceptable way to join a class late. Observe on the side until there is a break, then join the class. Better yet, plan on arriving early to class.
• When entering or leaving the mat, do a formal (kneeling) bow every time.
• If you must leave the mat or join a class late because of seminar errands and duties, wait until Sensei is finished demonstrating or discussing a technique, then quietly do a formal (kneeling) bow at the edge of the mat and join the class. Be as unobtrusive as possible.

During class

• If Sensei gives you instruction during class, always do a complete formal (kneeling) bow to him afterwards. He will usually walk away and seem as if he doesn't care or notice. He does, and it is proper etiquette.
• If Sensei is instructing your partner, sit in seiza (not between Sensei and the Shrine, with your back clearly not to the shrine) and afterward, bow as if he were instructing you personally.
• Do not wave your hand or otherwise “signal” Sensei to come over for instruction during class. Only raise your hand respectfully, and wait IF Sensei is near you. When he comes over, IMMEDIATELY BOW DEEPLY (standing is OK, but formal is best).
• When doing a formal bow, bow only low enough that your hips do not have to rise up from your heels. It is better to bow shallowly and properly than to bow deeply and poorly.
• At the end of the last class of the seminar (before testing), after the end-of the-class bowing to the shrine and to Sensei, the whole class should applaud Sensei enthusiastically. Once again, he will probably make some indication that this is too much, or unnecessary, but we should demonstrate our appreciation none-the-less.
• Never walk between Sensei and the shrine, even if it means doing a convoluted detour. It is disrespectful since you are symbolically breaking the “line” between the guest Shihan and O Sensei and Doshu. The exception to this is while you are actually practicing and the guest Shihan walks by, or is instructing the next pair of students and your PRACTICE is between Sensei and the shrine. If you stop your practice to watch Sensei, then position yourself clearly out of the “line.”
• Never face the shrine when you are straightening your gi/hakama. Turn partially away (but do not put your back to the shrine).
• Never turn your back completely toward the shrine unless you are actively engaged in practicing a technique.

Between classes

• Unless you are yudansha or part of the Committee working directly with the visiting Sensei it is best not to approach the visiting Sensei directly. If in doubt, ask one of the senior yudansha for what is appropriate.
• When stepping outside of the dojo during the breaks please wear sandals or shoes so that you do not bring dirt into the dojo.
• Do to limited aisle space, zori are not worn in this dojo during seminars, except by the instructors.

ABOVE ALL, BE COURTEOUS TO EVERYONE, PARTICIPATE FULLY AND ENJOY THE CLASSES.