Etiquette and Respect

Aikido promotes and encourages the Japanese traditions of etiquette and respect in training, such as shoes are never worn on the training mats. The most common example of showing respect in Aikido is the bow (rei). The bow is used not only to show mutual respect between the instructors and the students but, also respect for the training hall (dojo). There are two forms of bowing (rei): the kneeling bow (seiza rei) and standing bow (tachi rei)

The bow (rei) is typically done upon entry to the dojo, at the start of a class to both O Sensei (to his picture), to your sensei (instructor), before and after practising a technique with a partner, and again to your sensei (instructor) at the end of the class. In Japan, it is also customary to seek out all those you have practiced with during the training session and bow to them by way of thanking them for the mutual assistance you have both experienced through training with each other during the class 

Another very important etiquette in the practice of Aikido is the respectful relationship between seniors (sempai) and juniors (kohai). In Aikido, a relationship of respect from the kohai toward the sempai must always exist and be evident in training. A kohai should never question a sempai during training and in the execution of an Aikido technique. If the kohai has any doubts or questions about what their sempai has taught them during the training session, these doubts or questions should be directed to an authorised instructor after the training session. If the instructor contradicts what your sempai told you during the training, always remember that an instruction from a sempai to a kohai during training was correct at that time. A kohai will always learn from the directions of both the sempai and the instructor