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How does an aikido class go?

Here's how a class usually flows, so you know what to expect:

Before Class

Plan to arrive a little early. This gives you time to change into your uniform and do any personal stretching or warm-up you want before the class officially begins. Once it's class time, everyone lines up on the mat.

During Class

The instructor will start by leading the whole group through stretches and warm-up exercises for about 5 to 15 minutes.

Once everyone's warm, the main part of the class begins:

The instructor will demonstrate a technique (like a wrist lock or a throw).
Everyone then pairs up to practice that specific move, taking turns as the attacker and the defender.
The instructor will periodically stop the practice, show the next technique, and everyone will go back to their partners to practice the new move.

Ending Class

When class time is up, the instructor stops the practice, everyone lines up again, and the class is formally dismissed.

A bit more detail...

This is a detailed breakdown of a typical Aikido class, simplified for general understanding:

Starting the Class

Arrive Early: Plan to get there with enough time to change clothes.

The Formal Start: Students line up and sit in a traditional kneeling position (seiza) before the class formally begins. The instructor enters and leads the group in an opening bow. This bow is a respectful "hello, let's begin" to the training space (dojo) and the founder of Aikido, O-Sensei.

Saying "Please": As you begin, the group often says "Onegaishimasu" (Oh-neh-guy-shee-mas), which means "Please, do this thing for me" or "Please train with me."

Warm-ups and Practice

Warm-ups: The instructor leads the class through stretches and exercises, which often include practice in falling safely (ukemi).

Learning Techniques: The instructor demonstrates a technique. Then, everyone pairs up to practice it.

Roles: When you practice, you take on one of two roles:

Nage (or Tori): The person doing the technique (the defender).

Uke: The person receiving the technique (the attacker).

The System: You usually switch roles after each person performs the technique about four times.

Who Goes First: The more experienced person typically starts in the Nage role. This helps the practice start quickly since they might already know the move.

Instructor's Role: The instructor moves around the mat, practicing with students and offering individual tips and adjustments.

Changing Partners: The instructor will signal when it's time to learn a new technique or switch to a new partner. When changing partners, you thank your current one and formally bow to your new one before continuing.

Ending the Class

Thanking Your Partner: When you finish practicing with a partner, you say "Arigatogozaimashita" (Ah-ree-gah-toe-goh-zye-mah-sh-tah), which means "Thank you very much."

The Formal End: The instructor signals the end of class, everyone lines up, and the instructor leads the closing bow and "thank you."

Asking Questions

During class, the focus is on a non-verbal, physical type of learning. The best time to ask questions about what you practiced, or anything else, is after class. You can simply ask a fellow student or the instructor to work it out with you on the mat.