Attendance and participation: All classes must be attended with the student's full participation. The student’s grade may be dropped by one full grade level if three or more classes are missed, without an official excuse. If a student is ill but manages to come to class, watch, and take notes, then the class is counted as full participation. A missed class must be made up within two weeks, by the student and the teacher mutually agreeing upon a make-up assignment. (20 points)

Two Vocabulary Tests:
Test A: Terminology covering basic movements.
Test B: Terminology for techniques, and important Aikido persons, places, and things. (10 total points, 5 per test)

Test 1: Basic Movements: The student will demonstrate basic skills of Aikido: Stances, Right and Left; Footwork, entering, turning, and stepping back; Hand Strikes, overhead, to the side of the head, and rolling forwards. (10 points)

Test 2: Basic Techniques: Katatetori Ikkyo O/U; and Katatetori Shiho-Nage O/U. (10 Points)

Test 3: Basic Techniques: Katatetori Nikyo O/U; and Katatetori Aihanmi Kotegaeshi O/U. (10 points)

Final Test: Katatetori Ikkyo O/U; Katatetori Shihonage O/U; Katatetori Nikyo O/U; Katatetori Aihanmi Kotegaeshi O/U.

These techniques consist of throws, locks, and pins. Not all the techniques shown during the semester’s classes will be required. These non-required techniques are shown and practiced in order to demonstrate to the students that a basic aikido technique may be applied to different attacks.  (40 points) 

100 points total. Extra credit may be earned for written book reports, short writings about important Aikido persons, places, and Ideas. (5 to 15 points)

Other: The proper etiquette used upon entering and leaving the dojo, the mat, during the opening and closing of the class, how to address one's partner during practice, and other points of etiquette will be demonstrated and shown during class time.

There are no required books to buy for this course.

The books below are highly recommended. Kisshomaru Ueshiba (1921-1999) is the son of the founder of Aikido and was the 2nd Doshu (master of the way) of Aikido

Ueshiba, Kisshomaru. Aikido. Hozansha Publications Co, Ltd., 1985, Tokyo, Japan.

Ueshiba, Kisshomaru. The Spirit of Aikido. Trans. by Taitetsu Unno. Kodansha International, 1987, Tokyo,

Ueshiba, Kisshomaru. The Art of Aikido: Principles and Essential Techniques. Trans. John Stevens. Kodansha International, 2004, Tokyo, Japan.
 

The book below is a classic in Aikido literature for the Western reader.

Adele Westbrook and Oscar Ratti.  Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere: An Illustrated Introduction. Charles E. Tuttle Co., Inc., 1994, Tokyo, Japan.

History, Philosophy/Spiritual, and Techniques will be explored in the course.

History: Short lectures focusing on the history of Japanese Martial Arts, history of Aikido, the founder, Morihei Ueshiba, his successors, International Aikido, and Aikido in the United States are presented, and followed by a question and answer session.

Philosophy/Spiritual: Because the founder was a deeply spiritual and philosophical person who embedded spiritual and philosophical aspects into Aikido, Aikido’s philosophical and spiritual foundations are explored through short talks and Aikido practice. The philosophies of Taoism and Confucianism, Zen Buddhism, and Shintoism all have had some effect on Aikido and are briefly discussed. The concepts of “ki” (energy, spirit, breath), “hara” (center), and the practice of Kototama are examined.

Techniques: There are thousands of aikido arts (techniques) and many of them are potentially very lethal when used incorrectly.  The length of time required to perform the arts of Aikido successfully and safely require many hours of practice, thus, the student is not judged on the perfection of the arts but how well she/he trains with their practice partner during the class. In Aikido 1 and 2, only basic arts are practiced. The Aikido arts include throws, backward and forward rolls, locks of the wrist and the elbows, and pins using the arms and shoulders. There are many variations of the basic arts of aikido and they may be shown during the class, but not practiced. Aikido is practiced symmetrically, alternately using the right and left arms of the body to move the practice partner to the front or to the back.

Aikido 1 and 2 are brief introductions to the Japanese martial art of Aikido. The student learns that Aikido is a cross-cultural martial art originating in Japan and uses Japanese terminology in the Aikido dojo (place to train). Useful Aikido movements and Aikido techniques are learned, which gives the student a solid foundation to confidently continue training in Aikido. The successful completion of the class allows the student to converse knowledgeably about Aikido regarding its history, philosophy, and spiritual nature.

The manners or etiquette used in the dojo are important to help the student navigate the cross-cultural aspects of Aikido.  Aikido etiquette is observed during all classes.  Studying a non-competitive partner-based martial art that begins and ends with respect, the student becomes more considerate of the practice partner and by extension becomes a better citizen both in class and hopefully in the larger society.  

For the student who wants to pursue Aikido training to obtain a rank (white belt to black belt), Aikido 1 and 2 classes provide an excellent introduction to the basic techniques used in many aikido tests.