The Running of a typical class
The formal part of the class is 90 minutes but we ask students to arrive a little earlier, typically 15-20 minutes so they can get changed and help get the mats out, and a few extra minutes after to help put the mats away. So count on being at the dojo for slightly over two hours per class.
Depending of the number of student, putting the mats out takes 10 minutes. It consist at setting up a special frame to hold the mats in place (designed and built by members), we add a carpet underlayment for extra cushioning and the standard 4x8 tatami. We have a total of 30 mats for a total slightly under 1000 Sq-Ft of training surface.
The Sensei then claps his hands to call everyone to the mat. Upon entering the mat for the first time of the evening, one must kneel in seiza (traditional position) and bows to the picture of O-Sensei which is found "center stage" so to speak often refer to as the Kamiza (higher position) or more correctly the kaminada (miniature shrine).
Once everyone is on the mat, we get into position for the rei or ceremonial bow-in. All students form a line in seiza position in order of experience, facing the Kamiza waiting for Sensei to take his position, also in seiza position facing his student. After a brief moment of meditation ( mokuso ), sensei turns around and fallowing his timing everyone bows to the Kamiza . More specifically to O-Sensei the founder of Aikido as a mark of respect for his countribution to our lives. Then sensei turns back to us and proceeds to bows to us as we bows to him. It is customary that at the low point of the bows the student in unison say "Onegaishimasu" - pronounce fast but like "o negai shimasu" it is a formal greeting which literally means "please do be so kind as to..." where often the the rest is implied. In Aikido it is understood to mean "please will you be so kind as to train me" or "... train with me".
Then the warm-up starts. A few laps around the mats (4-5) and the some front rolls and then back rolls as you are doing these laps (beginner can skip the rolls or do them at their own pace). Then while stationary, we do some upper body stretch, back stretch, legs stretch. Some back strengthening exercise, sit-ups and push-ups. The whole thing takes about 20-25 minutes.
The last part after warm up and in-between moving to the technique portion is called Ukemi practice. The focus of ukemi is to learn to receive a technique. Mostly it means learning to roll, forward and backward. For the more advance students it may include breakfall. It can be done individually or where one student does the technique while all other in succession practice to "roll-out" of the technique.
At this point of the class, there is roughly 60 minutes left. Depending of the composition of the class and partly the mood of the instructor the technique portion of the class can take three general forms but regardless of the form each technique is demonstrated and practiced the same way.
For each individual combination attack-Defense technique, the instructor will ask a senior student to assist him. The student will act as the Uke (aggressor or person that receives the technique). Sensei will demonstrate the technique at speed a few time, then slowly and will emphasize the Dos and Don'ts and the subtleties and variations of the movements.
In one form, the focus the whole class will be on one defense technique and student will practice this technique against various types of attacks. This is generally prefered when there is more junior student as it allows them to learn the basics faster.
In a second form, the focus of the whole class will be on one attack and the student will be shown various defense technique against this one attack. This is generally preferred when the class is more senior, as they allow to move up from basic technique to much more advance ones in the course of one class which helps keep the advance students interested and stimulated.
Some classes, but more rarely, are a mix of both.
A few minutes before the end of the formal class we sometime do Kokyu Dosa, an exercise practice in seiza to develop "breath power", strength without strength. Then a few light stretching exercise to remove the kinks and we line-up for the final rei where everyone bows-out. Similar to the bow-in, everyone lines up, we all bow to O-Sensei, we bows to sensei. This time we say to Sensei, "Domo Arigato Gozaimas'ta". We wait for sensei to join us in the line up, we bow again and after a few seconds all student turn to each other and bow to each person that theiy have trained with that night.
