Class Attire

What To Wear

Emory Aikikai encourages all students to wear dogi, the traditional practice uniform of Japanese martial arts. However, new students may wear athletic loose clothing without sharp objects like zippers until they obtain a gi. There are many gi vendors and Emory Aikikai may recommend vendors from which other students have purchased uniforms with satisfactory results. Students should not wear jewelry on the mat (rings, dangling earrings, necklaces, or bracelets). Students should not wear shoes onto the mat.

Ewwww!

Aikido training requires intimate contact with others! Please observe good hygiene and come to class well-groomed. Students should keep finger and toe nails trimmed and Emory Aikikai recommends students to keep long hair in a pony tail or bun. Students also should wash their gi regularly.

Belts

Belts (or degrees) are a great way for strangers to observe and rank students in a dojo under generalized criteria. Emory Aikikai observes the belt ranking implemented by the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU). There are 6 white belt degrees (listed in decreasing order, 6th, 5th, etc.) before earning a black belt in aikido. To move up in belt rank, a student must test in accordance with the requirements of each belt set forth by ASU.

Hakama

Aikidoka traditionally wear hakama when training. Wearing hakama is a public declaration that you have made aikido part of your life, and you are willing to develop the attitude, knowledge and skill necessary to represent aikido. Students who wear hakama are willing and able to take advanced ukemi and are sufficient in basic movement skills. After testing for 6th kyu, students that express these traits may be encouraged to wear hakama and become sempai. Sempai are senior students that act as role models for junior students, or kohai.

Weapons and Training

Emory Aikikai trains with three [wooden] weapons: bokken, jo, and tanto. Some aikido curriculum excludes weapons training, but ASU and Emory Aikikai believe that weapons training is important to better understand aikido. Emory Aikikai encourages students to purchase weapons shortly after purchasing a uniform.