Aiuchi Harrow - Information

Harrow Jiu Jitsu Club

On this page are the rules we generally adhere to during training sessions. You may also be interested to see news of our latest gradings and our gallery of photos.

Rules of the Dojo

In general we are a very relaxed martial art. We don't have that many rules and the ones we do have are largely there for safety reasons, but we also want to retain a sense of tradition and to create a training environment distinct from everyday life. The latter builds up a pattern of behaviour that helps your mind to switch into jiu jitsu 'mode' as soon as you step onto the mats to train.
For an explanation of the Japanese terms used on this page, please be sure to read the glossary of terms.

The rules of the dojo are as follows:

Before Training

1 Make sure your finger and toenails are short and have no sharp edges. This is both to prevent your nails cutting or scratching others, and also to prevent injury to you if your nails are bent back or torn.
2 Remove ALL jewellery (including watches, necklaces, earrings and rings). Any jewellery that cannot be removed (such as body piercings) must be covered and secured with tape. This is to ensure you don't cut or scratch yourself or anyone you are training with, and in the case of earrings or other piercings is to stop them getting torn out if anything catches on them.

Entering the Dojo

1 When entering the dojo, rei to the dojo. This is a traditional gesture of respect and also marks the start of the session as a whole.
2 Enter your name in the attendance book.

Before Stepping Onto the Tatami

1 Make sure you've shown your sports centre/gym membership card to the staff or paid them for the session.
2 Take off your shoes and socks.
3 Wait for the highest grade on the mat to acknowledge you. They will do this by reiing to you. Rei back, brush any loose dirt from the floor off your feet, then step onto the tatami.

During the Session

1 During the session, the instructors should be referred to as sensei.
2 If you have any injuries or problems that may affect your ability to train, make sure the sensei and your training partners know about them in advance. If we ask you to do anything that you're not happy to do, let us know. We won't force you to do anything you don't want to do.
3 Rei to your training partner before and after training with them.
4 Treat your training partners with respect and don't swear or lose your temper on the mat. Self-control is essential to the safe practice of our art and we take loss of self-control very seriously.
5 If you sustain any injury, even a minor one, let the instructors know immediately.
6 If you have to leave the tatami for any reason, attract the sensei's attention, explain why you wish to leave the tatami, then wait for the sensei to rei to you, rei back and leave the tatami. Remember to wait for the instructor to rei to you when you come back onto the tatami.
7 We do not allow eating or drinking in the dojo. Water is the only drink permitted.

Leaving the Dojo

1 When leaving the dojo, rei to the dojo in the same way as when you entered.