The Dojo Notebook is an independent guide to aikido and traditional martial arts. We explain the techniques, principles, customs and ranking systems that students meet on the mat, so that what happens in class makes sense and practice between classes has a direction. We are a publication, not a dojo, and we are not affiliated with any school or organization.
What we cover
- Core Techniques & Principles: the basic stances, attacks, blends and pins, and the principles that make them work.
- Dojo Etiquette & Culture: bowing, belts, first-class nerves and the customs of the mat, with the reasons behind them.
- Grading & Belt Systems: kyu and dan ranks, what gradings look like, and honest timelines to black belt.
- Solo Practice Between Classes: footwork, ukemi, bokken and jo drills you can train alone at home.
- Choosing a School & History of the Arts: how to pick a dojo, the differences between styles, and the history and philosophy of the art.
Who it is for
Beginners deciding whether to start, new students in their first months of training, and intermediate practitioners preparing for gradings or adding solo weapons practice at home. We write for readers in the United States and Canada, but the arts themselves do not change at the border.
How we research and write
Articles are built from the handbooks of the major aikido organizations, instructor manuals and books by senior teachers, interviews and lectures in the public record, and the histories written by people who trained with the founders. Each article links the sources it relies on, and every external link is checked before publishing. Where styles and organizations do things differently, we say so instead of presenting one dojo’s custom as the rule.
We are not paid by manufacturers, schools, software makers or shops to cover them, and we do not publish sponsored articles. If a product is mentioned, it is because it is what the task actually calls for.
Corrections
If you spot a mistake, a missing credit or a broken link, tell us through the contact page and we will check it and update the article.
Train with a teacher
Nothing here replaces instruction from a qualified teacher. Our solo-practice guides are meant to support what you learn in class, not to teach techniques from scratch. If something hurts, stop and ask your instructor.
Our privacy policy explains what data the site collects.