Teaching Procedure:
1) Opening the dojo:
Open up the dojo at least 15 minutes before class starts.
2) Your Responsibility:
By far, the number one priority is safety. Number two priority is maintaining order, decorum and etiquette.
You are in charge of the dojo at this time, regardless if someone of higher rank shows up (unless it is someone from our teaching staff and they want to teach and they are of higher rank than you). It is important to know that no one from outside the dojo has permission to teach. No one is allowed to teach or lead a class in the dojo without the explicit permission of the Chief Instructor, no matter what rank they are.
You are in charge of safety and order in the dojo, so even if it is an open practice, you should still make sure everyone is being safe, etc. If in doubt, err on the side of safety.
3) Visitors:
If anyone is there to observe, try to greet them when they arrive and get them situated. Find a free moment when the class is keeping busy, and briefly talk to them / answer their questions. Let them know the schedule.
Ask if they'd like us to email them further info — and get their email if they are interested. You can also offer them one of our info cards (on desk).
Guidelines for prospective students / visitors:
Prospective new students (especially who have not done Aikido before) are recommended to watch a class before getting on the mat or signing up.
Any new student MUST sign a liability waiver (in the folders on the wall by the desk) prior to getting on the mat.
4) Closing the dojo:
Once everyone is gone:
- Lights out, fans off, heat back on (if winter).
- Make sure double doors are locked.
Guidelines for leading a Free Practice:
1) Read above instructor guidelines
Please read the above guidelines. They apply to you as well - even if you don’t typically teach class. In particular the notes about safety, and permission requirement to teach (nobody can teach without explicit permission from the Chief Instructor).
2) Free Practice Class Structure:
You start and end class normally, but once everyone has finished backstretch ukemi, announce that it is free practice and everyone can pair or group up and practice what they like.
Some students may desire some structure, so it may help to throw out a suggestion and see what people want to do, like "Feel free to pair or group up, but anybody who feels like working on [5th kyu] techniques (or whatever their next test would be), we can do that over here...."
Or, "Does everyone feel like doing line techniques... or working on a specific technique... or just pairing up?"
Discourage people from talking too much, e.g. analyzing the techniques. It's ok to talk, and it's hard to describe exactly what is "too much", but if overall if there is more talking going on than practicing, disrupt it by e.g. suggesting a simple technique to practice, making them pick up the pace, changing partners or breaking up groups into pairs.
If you are leading an open practice, let any visitors know that typically there would be a black belt teaching a structured class.
Let them know the schedule. * Ask if they'd like us to email them info and get their email if they are interested.
*In case anything really weird happens, please call Dare, David or other senior students.
David cel: 617-970-4511
Dare cel: 401-465-0253