East Bay Aikido - Oakland, California

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Arriving Late and Leaving Early

Modern life is not easy. Fitting something like aikido into an already busy schedule of work, family and friends can be a logistical challenge. It sometimes seems like everything is set up to make having a personal practice difficult. So from time to time, you may find yourself arriving late or needing to leave early. On these occasions, please do come and train. The general guideline is to BLEND. Join the class, and leave the class, in such a way as not to disturb the flow of what is happening.

Here are some specifics that will be helpful to that end:

Should you need to leave early, tell the instructor before class. Often the student will get so engrossed in class (as it should be) that they forget to keep track of the time. That's where letting the instructor know comes in handy. Also, by informing the instructor before class, it keeps the instructor from worrying if something went wrong that caused you to suddenly leave - like an injury or an insult.

If you arrive after class has started, you should get on the mat as quickly as possible and without disturbing the flow of the class.

If the class is seated in meditation, sit on the bench and meditate with us. Once we have bowed in and are warming-up, you may cross the mat quietly.

If you come out of the dressing room and the class is seated in meditation, you may join us on the mat as long as you do so in a manner that does not disturb the class. Do not expect your training partners to move or adjust their seating positions to accommodate your arrival. Find a spot on the mat where you can seat yourself without causing others to move. Making a habit of leaving several spaces open on the mat closest to the dressing rooms shows awareness and helps maintain harmony.

If the class is already standing when you come out of the dressing room (doing warm-ups or training), wait on the side of the mat for an invitation from the instructor before joining. Then, get on the mat, bow in (clap softly so as not to disturb the class) and find a training partner.

If there is instruction going on when you come out of the dressing room, wait on the side of the mat until the class is up training and the instructor has invited you to join the class before you step onto the mat. Then, get on the mat, bow in (clap softly so as not to disturb the class) and find a training partner.

If you arrive after warm-ups and you wish to warm-up before you join the class, do so in the dressing room or in the student lounge so that when you step on the mat you are ready to train.

If you arrive after meditation, and you wish to mediate before you begin training, do so in the dressing room or in the student lounge (or in your car before you come in) so that when you step on the mat you are ready to train.

Remember, your goal is to join the class as quickly AND as harmoniously as possible.