Memberships & Insurance
You can attend THREE classes before being required by law to purchase insurance. This insurance is charged quarterly pro-rata so you will only pay for the amount of the year remaining. The insurance fee also buys your membership to Aikido for Daily Life, the affiliation we are part of which also gives us membership to the BAB (British Aikido Board). There is also an optional annual membership to Shinsei Dojo. Membership to Shinsei dojo takes a student from position of Deshi (Student) to Soto Deshi (committed student) and is highly recommended for students who plan on remaining with Shinsei Dojo on a long term basis. Students who show commitment through their actions such as helping maintain the dojo and assisting with dojo events will be elevated to the position of Uchi Deshi. Shinsei Dojo currently has Five Uchi Deshi, Laura Lewis, Steve Wroe, Wayne Barlow, Paul Stacey & Shane Manning.
On your first lesson a manadatory insurance fee of £4.65 is payable - this will cover you until your three week initiation period is up and you must then join Aikido for Daily Life.
The £4.65 will be deducted from that fee so you will only pay the balance.
Fees
Below is a breakdown of the different methods of payment and the benefits that are attached to each. Payments other than pay as you go are due on the first of the month or there abouts & are valid for that month only, Shinsei Dojo cannot be held responcible for any fee lost due to a lack of attendance by the student.
Cash per lesson is £10
Cash at the beginning of the month is £30 (this is for 4 classes, saving £10 over the Cash per lesson option)
Direct Debit/Standing Order at the beginning of the month is £30 (this entitles you to all classes held by War Lewis, excluding seminars and special events)
Private 2.5 hour lesson (including stretch off), for upto 4 people with Uke provided for single person classes, on the subject of your choice, at a mutually convenient time, £30 1 person, £45 2 people, £55 3 people, £60 4 people
Junior 2 hour classes are divided into 2 seperate hour classes as we wish to make sure our junior students receive the same quality of training our adults enjoy and we have discovered through experience that our junior student concentration tends to die off after 45 minutes to an hour.
Private lessons are open to all who wish to undertake them, you do not have to be a regular student at our dojo to enjoy them, infact you do not need to be a student of Aikido at all!
Equipment & Attire
Shinsei Dojo is a traditional Dojo & requires its Deshi (students) to wear the correct attire. Having said this we also understand that to purchase the correct clothing right away, before you have decided that you want to pursue your training with us is not fair to you, or financially practical. With this in mind we will allow a 3 class leeway where you may where appropriate clothing to train in, i.e. Tracksuit or other similar sport oriented attire. After the 3 classes are up, if you are continuing with us, the purchase of a Gi will be necessary. These can be purchased through Shinsei Dojo. We have extensive experience in where to shop for quality Martial Arts Clothing & Equipment at the best prices so you can leave the foot work to us. You will also, after a while, require a Jo staff, Bok’ken (Wooden Sword) Bok’tanto (Wooden Knife) as their use is part of our syllabus.
Wearing a Hakama was considered a must by O’Sensei as without Hakama you were, infact, wearing your underwear, this would have been considered highly disrespectful. Despite this O’Sensei was understanding & was aware that, back in those days, a Hakama was very expensive, so he allowed up until just after the 1st grading was taken before he required a student to wear a Hakama. At this point it was assumed that the student had committed themselves & an invitation was extended to the student to wear a Hakama. Tenshi Aikikai extends invitation to wear a Hakama once any concerns of incorrect footwork are put to rest, this is an individual thing and should be expected on completion of Shodan. This invitation was & still is more of a polite request more than anything else & students are asked respectfully to observe this.