Applying for Membership in the Dojo
We request potential students make an
appointment to observe training, prior to applying for admission to the dojo. Visitors are
asked to arrive at the dojo no later than 15 minutes prior to the start of practice, in
order to allow time for introductions and a quick explanation of what they will be
watching. During class, the instructors usually make it a point to check in with observers
to see if they’ve generated any quick questions. At the conclusion of practice, there
is adequate time to discuss the class more completely, and to conduct an admission
interview, should the guest decide to apply for membership. The interview is intended to
ensure that the expectations of the dojo and the prospective student are in harmony.
Questions are encouraged.
We expect candidates for membership to treat the interview as they would a job interview, and to dress accordingly.
We
realize that most people coming to watch a practice are unfamiliar with
traditional Japanese etiquette and dojo protocols. These are things members of
the dojo learn naturally, over time, and not something about which visitors
should worry. If you approach the dojo with simple courtesy and respect, and
sincere interest, you’ll do just fine during your visit and application
interview.
Should you wish to gain some advance insight to etiquette and the manner in which a traditional dojo functions, we strongly recommend obtaining and reading carefully the book, In the Dojo, by Dave Lowry.
Schedule of Fees
In some traditional dojo, discussion of financial considerations tends to be avoided whenever possible. This practice derives from the fact the samurai regarded money with contempt. Of course, the samurai could afford to take that attitude, since they essentially owned the entire country of Japan and everyone in it...
We prefer that potential members of the dojo have a clear understanding
of what to expect.
• Membership Dues
Students of a traditional dojo recognize that membership dues support the existence of the dojo, and are not simple payments in exchange for instruction. An individual membership is $85 per month, while a family membership — which can include a spouse and dependents over the age of 12 years — is $125 per month.
Please
note that dues are for membership in the dojo, and the rates are
unrelated to the number of times per month a student attends practice.
New
students can commence training at any time, with the first month’s dues prorated to the point of the month the member begins training. New members must also
designate the method by which subsequent fees will be submitted, with the choices being
either Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) from a bank account or the use of a credit/debit
card.
Use of EFT or
credit/debit cards eases the load on the chief instructor and makes things more convenient
for members. On the first banking day of each month, membership dues are transferred from
a member’s designated account or are charged to the card, eliminating the need to
write checks and enabling the dojo to know right away the resources available for the
month. We encourage everyone to use EFT for membership dues, because it is the safest
method as well as the least expensive in terms of fees to the dojo.
We do not use
contracts. EFT or credit card arrangements can be changed or stopped at any time, provided
written notice is submitted to the dojo prior to the 20th of the month, in order to effect
changes for the subsequent month.
• Examination Fees
There are no examination or certification fees charged by Itten Dojo.
• Required Training Equipment
Aikido: New members of the Itten Dojo aikikai need only a judo-style uniform and a pair of zori (Japanese sandals). The uniform is available through the dojo for less than $50, and proper zori can be purchased for about $35 from The Kiyota Company, in Baltimore (order forms are on hand at the dojo).
Iaido: The basic uniform and bokuto (wooden swords) required for training cost about $275. A shinken (a sharpened, steel sword) can be obtained from a variety of suppliers as well as through a member of the dojo — it's possible to obtain a real sword, entirely suitable for training, for little more than the cost of an iaito (an unsharpened, aluminum training sword).
• Special Seminars
Many members of the dojo travel to seminars held periodically around the country. Attendance of these seminars is optional, but encouraged, and we always coordinate our travel plans to get the best possible rates on airfares and accommodations. On occasion, we host senior instructors presenting seminars here, at Itten Dojo. When we schedule one of these events, members of the dojo planning to attend the training may be asked to contribute a small fee — usually about $35 to $75 — to help defray the cost of the instructor’s airfare and accommodations.
For additional information or to apply for membership, please send an e-mail to ittendojocho@cs.com or call (717) 728-8871.