Budo Club - Guidelines for Beginners

Consistently follow dojo etiquette.
Be on time for practice. Stay until the end of practice.
Watch the techniques of advanced students so you can learn.
If you must leave the mat or practice let the teacher (sensei) know.
Always come to practice clean and with short nails.
Please keep your uniforms (gi) clean. Wash them at least once a week.
Do not chew gum during practice as this can lead to blockage of your airways and choking.
Prior to class, please remove all rings, bracelets, anklets, earrings, watches and other body ornaments. These can be dangerous to you and to people whom you are working out with.
Martial arts practice can be very rigorous. Please drink plenty of fluids before practice.
If you come to practice with an injury that limits your ability to practice, let the instructor know and let each of your partners know if it will be dangerous to do or receive techniques.
Your practice partner is allowing you to improve your techniques. Be considerate and show your respect for her/him and her/his body. Do not slam your partner unnecessarily when throwing or try to cause pain when doing matwork, joint locks, joint throws, or chokes and strangles.
If a particular technique does not seem to work for you, do not try to muscle it. You will get hurt or hurt your partner. Ask your instructors and they will help you.
Practice your falls every time you have the chance to do so. Very soon you will be thrown very fast and very hard; if you fall well, you will not get hurt.
When applying chokes, release the pressure the moment your partner taps you, the mat or her/his body.
Class will always be conducted by the highest ranking club member present. She/he will be in charge of instruction. Warm-ups will start at the scheduled time even if no regular instructors are present. Learn the warm-up routines; someday you may have to lead warm-ups.
Make each technique count. Do not waste time and effort with improper techniques. A central principle of Judo is "maximum efficient use of energy." Apply this to all your martial arts. A bad technique is not efficient.
It takes about 5000 well-done repetitions for a technique to become automatic (subconscious). Your hard work will pay off, do not despair.