Membership – Aikido of Honolulu

Fees

	Adults (Age 18+)	Juniors (Age 6-17)	College Students (Full-Time Only)	Payment Deadlines
Monthly Fee	$35	$20	$25	1st of each month
Initial Membership Fee	Free	Free	Free	at registration
Testing Fee (Kyu)	$15 per exam	None	$15 per exam	prior to test
Testing Fee (Dan)	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA

Anyone desiring to become a member, must complete a membership registration form (for a minor, a legal guardian must complete), and submit it with your payment to an authorized representative.

All fees must be paid in full at the initial registration. Cash or check only. Checks should be made out to Aikido of Honolulu. Credit cards are not accepted. After the initial registration, the monthly fee is due on the first of each calendar month. Members will be ineligible to practice until the fee is paid.
There are no annual membership fees beyond the initial membership fee. Payment of the monthly fee will maintain membership.
There are no trial classes. Prospective students may watch as many classes as they wish before making a decision to join.

NOTE: At the initial registration, the first month’s fee is for the calendar month in which you join and includes only the days within that month. Days are NOT pro-rated. For example, if you were to join in the third week of June, the monthly fee would go towards only those days left in June, and July 1 would require another payment. In some circumstances, this rule may be waived.

Practice

Members who have paid their monthly fees are allowed to practice in as many classes as are available to them within that month. All practices are currently mixed levels. All students should approach training with seriousness and sensitivity. Aikido practice involves partner training and constant contact, and therefore appropriate conduct is paramount to safety. Jewelry of any kind (including earring studs and rings) worn on the body should be taken off before practice. There should be no talking while training, as excessive talking leads to inattentiveness, slack behavior and sloppy technique. Hydrate fully and attend to restroom needs prior to class so that practice will not be interrupted. Improvement is very much an independent endeavor, and each student must practice at his/her own pace while pushing him/herself to the next level of training, whether physical, technical or mental.

College Students

Students who wish to receive the reduced fee for college students must present identification that proves that the student is enrolled FULL-TIME during the period of membership. Such identification may include but is not limited to an official student ID card, transcript showing enrollment, and receipt of payment for tuition during membership period. PART-TIME students will not be considered for the reduced rate.

Beginner Adults

New adult students who have little or no experience in Aikido or other martial arts may attend any adult class. Because classes are mixed levels, new students usually are separated from the rest of the class initially in order to be trained in basic rolling and falling and other movements. Once deemed qualified by the instructor to join the rest of the class, the student may practice with the others as normal. Although much may be new and sometimes intimidating, we encourage new students to go at their own pace and seek out help from the instructor whenever needed. Advanced students training with a beginner may also be able to provide some guidance.

Teens in Adult Class

In some cases, teenagers may feel that they are ready to train with adults. This would require a more serious attitude in training and the maturity to interact with adults. Adult and Junior classes are not conducted the same way, and the students do not train the same way. Teens who enter an adult class should be ready to be perceived by others as an adult practitioner. Teens who would like to practice in the adult classes should request permission from an instructor. This would also require the full understanding and permission of the legal parent/guardian. Fees will remain at Junior levels.

Uniforms and Equipment

Anyone stepping onto the mat for practice must wear an appropriate uniform. The dojo carries a limited stock of new uniforms, which may be purchased at the dojo at any time by members only. However, members are free to purchase from outside vendors. Anyone bringing their own uniform must check with an instructor for its appropriateness. Members generally wear traditional white or unbleached judo/aikido practice uniforms, and they should not have any patches, symbols or marks of any kind. Sleeves should not be rolled up, and any undershirts should be tucked into the gi pants.

Weapons and other equipment are not sold at the dojo. Some weapons at the dojo are available for borrowing during practices only. Consult an instructor about where to purchase weapons and other items.

Promotion Exams

Exams for rank are generally held twice a year, once in late spring and once in late autumn. Adults and juniors are tested separately on separate days. A fee is charged to examinees and should be paid prior to testing. See the table above for the correct fee.

Adult promotion requirements and levels are posted at the dojo. Junior students have their first promotion at 9th kyu. Requirements will be decided by the instructor presiding over the exam. Minimum hours for each junior level promotion is 60 hours until they reach 6th kyu. After this, they follow the same requirements for adults.

Students should sign the attendance sheets at the front desk to record their practice hours. Only one hour of practice per day counts toward promotion requirements (i.e., 1 day = 1 hour = 1 unit of practice).

Students who are delinquent on any fees will not be eligible for promotion.

Short and Long Term Absences

Students who need to take a break from practice for a month or more, should notify the Chief Instructor immediately. The Chief Instructor will determine whether the break constitutes a temporary leave or break in membership.

Temporary Leave – Temporary leaves are absences throughout which membership is maintained. Such leaves require approval by the Chief Instructor. Approval allows students to cease fee payments for the months that they do not practice, and to keep the the practice hours accumulated for rank promotion. Temporary leaves beyond one year will require the student to re-register and pay the initial membership fee, although their practice hours will remain intact.
Break in Membership – A break in membership occurs when student membership is terminated and the student decides at a future date to resume. These students must register for membership and pay the initial membership fee again, and they will be considered as new members, with previous practice hours for rank promotion wiped from the record.
Termination of Membership – Students who stop practice indefinitely will have their membership terminated. We would appreciate notification, if possible.
Grace Period for Notification – The important point is to maintain communication with the Chief Instructor and the dojo. Students absent for over a month without proper notification will be considered as having ended their membership.