Beginner Dojo Etiquette: How to Feel Comfortable in Your First Aikido Class

Starting something new can feel intimidating, especially when it comes with unfamiliar customs, movements, and vocabulary. Many people who walk through the doors of Aikido of Park Slope for the first time share the same quiet worry:

What if I do something wrong?

The good news is this: Aikido beginners are not expected to know anything on day one. Dojo etiquette exists to help everyone feel safe, respectful, and supported, not to make anyone feel judged.

This guide is here to help you feel comfortable, confident, and welcome from your very first class.

The Dojo Is a Shared Learning Space

In Aikido, the dojo is more than a gym. It is a shared space for learning, focus, and mutual respect. Etiquette helps create an environment where everyone can train safely and comfortably together.

You’ll notice small rituals, like bowing when entering or leaving the mat. These gestures are not about formality or hierarchy. They are simply a way of acknowledging the space, your training partners, and the practice itself.

If you forget or feel unsure, that is completely normal. Watching others and following along is more than enough.

Arriving, Joining Class, and Taking Breaks

If you arrive a little early, great. If you arrive right on time, also great. If you arrive late, you can simply wait at the edge of the mat until the instructor invites you to join. No apologies needed.

If you need to step off the mat during class or leave early, just let the instructor know. Listening to your body and communicating clearly is part of good practice.

What to Wear and How to Prepare

You do not need a uniform to begin. Comfortable clothes you can move in, like a t-shirt and sweatpants, are perfect for your first classes. Aikido is practiced barefoot.

A few simple guidelines help keep everyone safe. Please keep fingernails and toenails trimmed, remove jewelry before class, and stay home and rest if you are feeling unwell. These practices help create a safe and respectful training environment for everyone.

These are about care, not rules.

Safety Comes First

Aikido is cooperative and non-competitive. You will never be asked to push past your limits or do something that feels unsafe.

If you have an injury or concern, let the instructor know before class begins. If something feels confusing or uncomfortable during practice, asking questions is encouraged. Clear communication helps everyone learn.

One of the first skills many beginners learn is ukemi, or how to fall and roll safely. This is taught gradually and scaled to your comfort level.

If you are still deciding which martial art is right for you, Best Martial Arts for Beginners in Brooklyn: Why Aikido Works may help clarify what makes Aikido unique.

Partner Practice and Learning Together

Aikido is practiced with partners, but never against them. You and your partner are working together to understand movement, balance, and timing.

More experienced students often train with beginners intentionally. Helping newer students is part of their own learning. You are not slowing anyone down by being new.

If you want a beginner’s view of what the first few weeks feel like, From Your First Roll to Your First Gi walks through the early learning curve with warmth and honesty.

Mindfulness, Focus, and Presence

During class, phones are set aside and attention is on the practice. This helps create a calm, focused environment where learning can happen.

Listening, observing, and staying present are all part of training. You do not need to remember everything at once. Progress comes from showing up and staying curious.

Helping Care for the Dojo

At the end of class, students help clean the mat and straighten the space together. This is a simple way of taking care of the community you are now part of.

It is not a chore. It is a shared moment of closure and appreciation.

You Are Allowed to Ask Questions

One of the most important things to know is this: questions are always welcome.

Whether you are unsure about a movement, etiquette, or anything else, instructors and senior students are happy to help. Everyone remembers what it felt like to be new.

Progress Happens Gradually

Aikido is a practice, not a performance. Feeling awkward, confused, or clumsy at first is completely normal.

Each class builds gently on the last. Over time, movements feel more familiar, confidence grows, and the dojo begins to feel like a place you belong.

For a practical overview of class structure, pacing, and what to wear, What to Expect at Your First Martial Arts Class in Brooklyn is a helpful companion to this guide.

Your First Step Is Simply Showing Up

You do not need to be in shape. You do not need experience. You do not need to understand etiquette perfectly.

All you need is a willingness to try.

We offer free trial classes for adults and kids so you can experience Aikido in person and see how the practice feels.

Sign up for a free trial class

Questions before you start? Feel free to contact us directly.

We look forward to welcoming you to the mat.