Membership and dress code

Membership:

No one has to join the Club to come and practice with us. Currently the Grove Community Center allows us to use the room for free, so we do not charge to come to learn and practice.

Charter Membership to the club is earned by individuals that have some Aikido experience and promise to join the Club for a minimum of 2 practices a month for the first 3 months the club is active.  The Charter members, that join and pay on or before the second meeting, shall be able to vote for a Club President and Treasurer in that second meeting.  All Charter members must be over the age of 18 or have a parent or guardian that is also a Charter member.

All other potential members must be over the age of 18 or be joined by a parent or guardian at all practices.  Those wishing to become new members which can prove some Aikido experience, are required to practice with the club for a minimum of 6 practices, within 6 months or less, to become eligible for Club membership.  Anyone with no previous Aikido experience must practice with the Club for a minimum of 12 practices within 6 months or less to be eligible for membership.  All members present shall have a vote at any election, and shall be eligible to be Club officers.  Votes to change or re-elect Club officers shall be taken every year.  At least one Club member must be present at a practice for it to count towards membership for potential members.

The cost to join and become a Grove Aikido Club Member is $10.00 per year, plus the membership at whatever gym or organization allows the Club a place to practice.  The cost to join the gym or organization is to be paid directly to that organization and may have other benefits beyond access to the Club practices.  To renew a membership the member must have been to at least 4 practices within the last 4 months.

 The first $25.00 per year is to be used for the Club web site maintenance.  All future monies collected for Club membership are to be saved by the Treasurer and its use is to be voted on by the membership.  Suggested uses may include books on Aikido to start a club library, or a club party, improved mats, or any other group benefit that the club votes to approve.  Charter membership fees shall not be collected until at least the second practice is held in whatever gym or organization the club chooses to practice in.

All members and all those who choose to practice with the Grove Aikido Club must fill out and sign a “RELEASE OF LIABILITY” prior to practicing with the Club. 

Responsibilities: 

All club members and all those that practice with club members are responsible to make any preparations needed to the practice area, and to return the area to the original condition, or the condition requested by the gym or organization where they practice.  This includes sweeping the floor or mat if needed.


Club Practice procedures:

All practices should have the same basic agendas.  They should start on time, so arrive early.  

Please bow towards the front of the class before stepping on the mat, as a “Thank you” for a place to practice and to follow ritual.  A welcome and a bow to thank your preferred deity for a place to practice followed by bowing to each other as a thank you for someone to practice with, will begin each class. 

Then a series of stretches and movements should take about 10 minutes, and should be done together as a group.  A program of basic or beginner Aikido moves, pins, and releases should be practiced for about 30 minutes.  After this, if advanced members wish to practice more advanced techniques they should be able to this for about 30 minutes. 

Lesser knowledgeable persons may watch or review what they have practiced earlier.  The group should dismiss with bows and proper thanks, repeating the opening of the class.  A bow should be given to anyone you are working with as a thank you, and anyone that helps you should receive the same courtesy.

The bows are used in recognition of the predecessors of Aikido.  Their religion and culture required the bow to honor deities and others.  Although our culture does not honor deities or people in this method we believe it is appropriate to use the bow as a thank you, and in recognition of the origins of the art.

Advancement:
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The Grove Aikido Club will not be offering belts to show advancement in the art.  Although you may learn a great deal, depending on the amount of time you spend practicing your art, the Club members believe that the only true advancement is how you feel about yourself.  The Club members believe that improving your own self esteem and your comfort level in difficult situations is a greater benefit than any belt.

It should be understood that time spent practicing with the Grove Aikido Club might not be counted as practice time by any other Master or Sensei in any martial art, and therefore should only be done for self improvement.

The Grove Aikido Club hopes to spend time working on and improving both physical and mental aspects of all those that regularly practice with us.  Aikido is an Art of the body and of the mind, and Club members intend to work to improve both of these with the intent of self improvement.

Misuse:

The Grove Aikido Club believes that the Art of Aikido is a passive art.  Anyone, including Club members, that is overly aggressive, or that is believed to have used the knowledge learned while practicing with the Club in an aggressive manner, believed inappropriate by a majority of the Club members, may be ask to stop practicing with the club members.

Dress code:

Although the Grove Aikido Club will not expect Judo or Karate Gis, it is to be understood that loose fitting clothing and clothing that allows for free movement is required.  Gis or sweat pants and sweat shirts are suggested.  If you wear a gi it is requested, but not required, that you wear a white belt to show that you are also still learning, regardless of any previous ranking you may have.  Denim pants or shorts often have buttons or rivets that may tear the mats.  It is requested that denim or blue jeans not be worn for this reason.  Also, sometimes the clothing may be used in the throws or pins, and may become damaged during the practices.  Grove Aikido Club, its members and those practicing with us take no responsibility for any damage to your clothing.  You are responsible for your clothing and any damage that may result during a practice. 

If you are found to not be wearing proper practice clothing or proper underwear or attire under your practice clothing, in case it should be torn, you may be asked to leave until proper attire is worn.  Personal cleanliness is expected from everyone.  Shoes should not be worn on the practice mats while practicing, but are required to get to the area of practice.  Toenails and fingernails should be properly trimmed to avoid damage to yourself and others.