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Aikido
JSR – Fall 2006 Syllabus
August 23 - December 14, 2006
Instructor: Brian Hill, LCSW, Adjunct Professor
804-828-3297 bthill70@yahoo.com
www.rivercityaikido.com
Fall 2006 Calendar
Last day to withdraw with a “W” grade: October 26, 2006
November 22, 2006: No class
Last day of class: Dec 6, 2006
Make Up Class: Dec. 13, 2006
*Required Class Equipment*
Purchase ($40) a martial arts training outfit (gi) through the instructor. Wear this to class to prevent torn clothing
and enable the practice of all techniques.
Grading: Based on attendance and class participation.
School Guidelines on Attendance: In accordance with the general guidelines of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community
College, students are expected to attend all classes and to notify the instructor when absences are necessary.
Students are expected to arrive at class on time to provide adequate warm up time, which is essential to the
prevention of injury. When a student is, or expects to be, absent from a class, he or she should contact the
instructor immediately. Grading will be based on number of classes attended.
Grading based on a 15 class semester:
2 Absences or less = A + Certificate of Promotion
3 Absences = B
4 Absences = C
5 Absences = D
6 Absences = F
What Is Aikido?
"Ai" means harmony. "Ki" means energy of the universe. "Do" means way or path. An Aikidoist moves in harmony
with the movement of an opponent rather than in conflict with it. Ideally, the structure of conflict is changed to a
structure of harmony, and the conflict can be resolved without anyone getting hurt. Aikido is useful in daily life, as
well, because the same principles can be used in verbal and nonverbal communication.
Dojo Etiquette
River City Aikido Dojo is modeled on traditional Japanese dojo culture for the purpose of maintaining martial spirit
and providing the highest quality training possible. Etiquette provides a structure for rigorous training, respect, and
safety, without which martial arts training becomes diluted and sometimes dangerous. Adherence to the culture of
dojo etiquette is an essential component in your relationship to sensei and to the dojo.
Kohai-Sempai-Sensei relationship
• Always address sensei (the instructor) as “sensei”.
• Always address another sensei (someone visiting) as “sensei”.
• Always refer to another sensei by saying “Tim Sensei” or “Sheldon Sensei”.
• When sensei gives corrections or instruction, deshi (students) should respond with “hai, sensei” or “thank
you, sensei” and bow.
• Sempai (more senior student) must always take care of kohai (more junior student), and strive to create a
culture of safety and trust in the dojo.
• Kohai must always take care of their sempai as a way of showing respect and thanks for the mentoring they
receive.
• Sempai must always role model exemplary behavior and attitude for kohai in an appropriate and respectful
way, teach etiquette, and maintain dojo expectations.
• When training, sempai should role model proper technique as nonverbally as possible. It is not sempai’s
role to teach or give corrections about techniques on the mat unless a kohai specifically asks.
• Kohai should listen to sempai and incorporate suggestions in a respectful manner.
Proper attire and hygiene
• Always wear a clean gi (uniform).
• Do not wear perfume or cologne, or have a strong scent on your clothes or body.
• Do not wear colored t-shirts under your gi.
• Keep your toenails and fingernails cut to a safe length.
• Come to class with a clean body, feet, and hands.
• Keep your hair safely out of the way.
• Do not chew gum or have anything in your mouth during training.
• Do not wear jewelry, watches, etc. because it may be broken or scratch your partners.
During training
• Arrive early and be on the mat before sensei. Be lined up in seiza (kneeling) on the mat 3-4 minutes before
class begins.
• Bow before entering and leaving the training area.
• Bow to your partner before and after training.
• Keep a positive mental attitude and martial spirit.
• Train intensely and safely.
• Limit talking—communicate nonverbally and listen to your partner physically.
• Do not leave the mat except for emergencies. If you are injured leave the mat—do not lay on the mat or sit on
the mat.
• If you are waiting to train, practice individually. Do not stand idle.
• Do not talk or cause distraction while sensei is instructing.
• Sit with focus on the edge of the mat in seiza while sensei is instructing.
• When sensei is done instructing he will say “Hai, dozo” or “Onagaeshimas” and deshi (students) will bow and
respond “Onagaeshimas”
• It is prohibited to use force or strength to prevent a technique from being completed.
• At the end of practice, the class bows and says “domo arigato gozai mashita” which means thank you very
much in a formal way.
Soji (Chores)
• Deshi will put dojo duties before their own needs. This means taking care of your personal needs ahead of
time, or waiting to take care of your personal needs until later, so that you can be ready for sensei and the dojo.
• Deshi should always perform dojo duties with purpose (hustle), seriousness (do a good job), and positive
attitude (have fun and take pride in your work).
• A kohai should offer to relieve a sempai of a duty if the kohai is done with his duties.
• Deshi should take initiative to take care of chores that are obvious but not typical.
• Deshi should consult with one another about the chores that need to be done, and the dai-sempai (senior
student present) will insure that chores are delegated and assigned appropriately.
• The dai-sempai communicates with sensei about needed tasks.
Other
• Always turn your pagers, phones, etc to silent mode during practice. If you are on call, please notify sensei, in
case the pager goes off.
• Do not take photos or video unless you have permission from sensei.
• Do not bring children to class. It is a safety issue.
• Harassment of any kind will result in immediate dismissal from class.
• Discrimination or disrespect towards race, culture, religion, or sexual orientation will not be tolerated.
Course Objectives:
• To gain an understanding of the fundamental principles of Aikido
• To include discussion of how Aikido can be used in our daily communication to resolve conflicts in a non-
combative way.
• To study the specific Aikido techniques leading to promotion to Sixth Kyu, the first level of rank.
• To study the general principles of self-defense
Two phrases you'll hear alot:
"Onagai shimasu" - pronounced O-ni-gai-shi-MAS ... Means "If you please." Is said when bowing in at the beginning
of practice and bowing to another student during practice.
"Domo arigato gozai mashita" - pronounced Do-mo a-ri-GA-to Go-zai mashta. Means "Thank you very much." Is
said when bowing out at the end of practice.
Recommended Reading
• Aikido in Everyday Life: Giving In To Get Your Way, Terry Dobson and Victor Miller, North Atlantic Books, P.O.
Box 12327, Berkeley, Calif., 94701.
• Aikido, The Way of Harmony, John Stevens under the direction of Shirata Rinjiro, Shambhala Publications Inc.,
Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, Mass., 02115.
• Budo, Teachings of the Founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, Kodansha America Inc., 114 Fifth Ave., New York,
NY, 10011.
• Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere, An Illustrated Introduction, A. Westbrook and O. Ratti, Illustrations by O. Ratti.
Charles E. Tuttle Company, Suido 1-chome, 2-6, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. U.S. offices in Rutland, Vermont.
• Book of Ki: Coordinating Mind and Body in Daily Life, Koichi Tohei, Japan Publications Inc., distributed by
Japan Publications Trading Company, P.O. Box 5030, Tokyo International, Tokyo 101-31, Japan.
• The Essence of Aikido, Spiritual teachings of Morihei Ueshiba, compiled by John Stevens, Kodansha
International, Tokyo, distributed by Kodansha America Inc., 114 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011.
• The Secrets of Aikido, John Stevens, Shambhala Publications Inc., Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Ave.,
Boston, Mass., 02115.
About the Instructor:
Brian Hill is a 3rd degree black belt in Iwama Ryu Aikido and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who practices
psychotherapy with children, adolescents, and their families at the Virginia Treatment Center for Children. He is an
Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Virginia Commonwealth University. He holds a bachelor's
degree in psychology from Virginia Wesleyan College and a master's degree in clinical social work from Virginia
Commonwealth University. He began studying Aikido in 1996 under Tim Sheldon, 4th dan. He is the head
instructor of River City Aikido, a Richmond, VA dojo. River City Aikido offers classes at Lewis Ginter Recreation
Association, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College Downtown Campus, and Bryan Park. River City Aikido also
teaches children’s classes at a local yoga studio, 4025 Yoga and Wellness (www.4025yoga.com).
For more general information about aikido and additional training times, please visit River City Aikido on the web at
www.rivercityaikido.com.
