Senshin Center - A Place for Traditional Martial Arts in Santa Barbara: Dojo Membership

*The dojo currently has a stay on accepting new Trail Members. Please look to enter a Trial Membership at a later date. Please remember that we accept no more than five new adult members at a time. We address new Trial Members on a "first come, first served" basis. (01/19/08)

Senshin Center is not a commercial martial arts school. Applicants seeking membership should keep this well in mind. While the dojo’s efforts to assist all with gaining the capacity to train properly are universally applied, the dojo cannot universally accept all prospective students. Below you will find several relative criteria that every potential member must meet in order to achieve dojo membership.

The Trial Period:

While not universally rejecting walk-ins, Senshin Center will always give priority to potential members with referrals. Contacts should be made through other current members and/or by approaching the head instructor directly. The pressures of maintaining a productive but relatively safe training environment require that potential members make an informed decision regarding Aikido training at Senshin Center. A four-week trial period is designed toward this end. Trial periods happen only periodically, but exceptions are always made for law enforcement personnel and/or for the sincere civilian. Potential members entering a trial period are limited to no more than five people per period.

There is no dues responsibility needing to be addressed through the four-week trial period. If needed, all equipment (e.g. gi, obi, weapons, zafu, zabuton, etc.) can be provided by the dojo. Monetary concerns should not inhibit one from commencing the trial period. Potential members do not have to strictly follow the Intended Training Schedule protocol (see below) - being allowed to try different schedules weekly. However, potential members do have to meet the Minimum Training Requirement (see below). Failure to meet the Minimum Training Requirement will result in the trial period being terminated. The dojo will, to the best of its abilities, accommodate the needs the beginner student may face and that are required by the nature of the training at hand.

During the trial period, potential members should seek to expose themselves to as much of the art as it is practiced at Senshin Center as possible. Please seek to gain an accurate sense for the instructors, your peers, the dojo’s pedagogy, as well as the potency and vitality of that pedagogy. Note: Commencing a trial period in no way commits one to dojo membership. A potential member should work as is required by their nature to gain all that is needed to make an informed decision regarding dojo membership.

Please note that the trial period works in two ways. As a potential member is working to decide if his or her needs can be met by Senshin Center, the dojo is working to determine if it can meet the needs of said potential member. A potential member can withdraw from a trial period at any time. Senshin Center can ask a potential member to try another trial period later at any time.

During trial periods, the dojo is quite flexible with its culture and thus a potential member should be quite flexible in how they are approaching the training. It will be assumed by the dojo that things like discipline, commitment, dedication, and endurance are things that need to be cultivated over the years and through the training. Potential members should not expect these virtues to be fully mature within them as they are working to gain information on the dojo through the trial period. Please be kind to yourself through the four-weeks in question while nevertheless seeking to rise to the level of dojo membership.

If during the trial period a potential member comes to know that they do indeed wish to seek full dojo membership, a request to end the trial period can occur. At such a point, the dojo can request that a trial period continue onward, or the dojo can immediately consider one’s request for dojo membership from its own point of view. A potential member will be promptly notified whether or not a harmony of needs can be manifested. The dojo can also request that a trial period end at any time.

Child members do not enter Trial Membership Periods.

Intended Training Schedules:

Intended Training Schedules are designed to cultivate the necessary levels of commitment, dedication, discipline, and endurance, that are required to keep the dojo’s training culture potent. Members must inform the head instructor of the training regimen they wish to commit to. Such scheduling is akin to deciding coursework within a university. Any combination of days, and/or combination of classes are acceptable for submission as an Intended Training Schedule. Note: Dojo members can modify their Intended Training Schedule for any reason and at any time (within reason). Members unable to meet a class or day, etc., from their Intended Training Schedule, must notify the head instructor of such no earlier than one day in advance and no later than three hours prior to class time. A simple notice (e.g. email, phone message, conversation, etc.) suffices. No reasons for absences are required but for those with hakama responsibility.

Child members do not require an Intended Training Schedule - though a courtesy call or email marking absences is greatly appreciated.

Minimum Training Requirement:

All members must meet the Minimum Training Requirement. The Minimum Training Requirement is two classes (on two different days) per week. Any potential member unable to meet this minimum requirement should seek membership later when they can. Any full member that is unable to meet this minimum training requirement should seek to rescind dojo membership and opt to hold Guest Status. Guest Status holds no minimum training requirement but does have a maximum training ceiling of two classes (on two different days) per week. Guest status is only open to those that have had previous training in Aikido or are currently undergoing training in Aikido at another dojo. Beginning students cannot seek Guest Status.

Dues Responsibility:

Monetary concerns should never prevent one from training. If necessary, the dojo supports its members financially through several means: Financial aid and scholarships are readily available; All purchases made through the dojo are carried out so that full wholesale discounts are passed on to dojo members; Equipment can be supplied by the dojo for those members unable to afford such purchases; Etc. By requesting such services monthly, or as needed, a member has fully met the dues responsibility.

The dues responsibility must be met by the 25th of each month. Failure to address the dues responsibility by either contributing funds to the dojo's continuing existence and/or requesting dojo finanicial assistance by the 25th of each month will result in a revoking of dojo membership.

Members that can contribute to the dojo's continuing existence and growth should use the following as a prescribed guide:

Adults: $90/month

Full-time College Students: $50/month

Children: $60/month

* Family discount is $15 off for each member from the same income. The fourth or more member from the same family does not need to meet the dues responsibility. We prioritize Adult Dues Responsibility over Child Dues Responsibility.

** Again - The dues responsibility must be met monthly by the 25^th in any of the above-mentioned ways.

*** Potential members in Trial Periods, Guests, ARCON participants, and Fourth or more members from one family have no dues responsibilities.

**** There are no mat fees for guests.


	Membership The dojo currently has a stay on accepting new Trail Members. Please look to enter a Trial Membership at a later date. Please remember that we accept no more than five new adult members at a time. We address new Trial Members on a "first come, first served" basis. (01/19/08) Senshin Center is not a commercial martial arts school. Applicants seeking membership should keep this well in mind. While the dojo’s efforts to assist all with gaining the capacity to train properly are universally applied, the dojo cannot universally accept all prospective students. Below you will find several relative criteria that every potential member must meet in order to achieve dojo membership. The Trial Period: While not universally rejecting walk-ins, Senshin Center will always give priority to potential members with referrals. Contacts should be made through other current members and/or by approaching the head instructor directly. The pressures of maintaining a productive but relatively safe training environment require that potential members make an informed decision regarding Aikido training at Senshin Center. A four-week trial period is designed toward this end. Trial periods happen only periodically, but exceptions are always made for law enforcement personnel and/or for the sincere civilian. Potential members entering a trial period are limited to no more than five people per period. There is no dues responsibility needing to be addressed through the four-week trial period. If needed, all equipment (e.g. gi, obi, weapons, zafu, zabuton, etc.) can be provided by the dojo. Monetary concerns should not inhibit one from commencing the trial period. Potential members do not have to strictly follow the Intended Training Schedule protocol (see below) - being allowed to try different schedules weekly. However, potential members do have to meet the Minimum Training Requirement (see below). Failure to meet the Minimum Training Requirement will result in the trial period being terminated. The dojo will, to the best of its abilities, accommodate the needs the beginner student may face and that are required by the nature of the training at hand. During the trial period, potential members should seek to expose themselves to as much of the art as it is practiced at Senshin Center as possible. Please seek to gain an accurate sense for the instructors, your peers, the dojo’s pedagogy, as well as the potency and vitality of that pedagogy. Note: Commencing a trial period in no way commits one to dojo membership. A potential member should work as is required by their nature to gain all that is needed to make an informed decision regarding dojo membership. Please note that the trial period works in two ways. As a potential member is working to decide if his or her needs can be met by Senshin Center, the dojo is working to determine if it can meet the needs of said potential member. A potential member can withdraw from a trial period at any time. Senshin Center can ask a potential member to try another trial period later at any time. During trial periods, the dojo is quite flexible with its culture and thus a potential member should be quite flexible in how they are approaching the training. It will be assumed by the dojo that things like discipline, commitment, dedication, and endurance are things that need to be cultivated over the years and through the training. Potential members should not expect these virtues to be fully mature within them as they are working to gain information on the dojo through the trial period. Please be kind to yourself through the four-weeks in question while nevertheless seeking to rise to the level of dojo membership. If during the trial period a potential member comes to know that they do indeed wish to seek full dojo membership, a request to end the trial period can occur. At such a point, the dojo can request that a trial period continue onward, or the dojo can immediately consider one’s request for dojo membership from its own point of view. A potential member will be promptly notified whether or not a harmony of needs can be manifested. The dojo can also request that a trial period end at any time. Child members do not enter Trial Membership Periods. Intended Training Schedules: Intended Training Schedules are designed to cultivate the necessary levels of commitment, dedication, discipline, and endurance, that are required to keep the dojo’s training culture potent. Members must inform the head instructor of the training regimen they wish to commit to. Such scheduling is akin to deciding coursework within a university. Any combination of days, and/or combination of classes are acceptable for submission as an Intended Training Schedule. Note: Dojo members can modify their Intended Training Schedule for any reason and at any time (within reason). Members unable to meet a class or day, etc., from their Intended Training Schedule, must notify the head instructor of such no earlier than one day in advance and no later than three hours prior to class time. A simple notice (e.g. email, phone message, conversation, etc.) suffices. No reasons for absences are required but for those with hakama responsibility. Child members do not require an Intended Training Schedule - though a courtesy call or email marking absences is greatly appreciated. Minimum Training Requirement: All members must meet the Minimum Training Requirement. The Minimum Training Requirement is two classes (on two different days) per week. Any potential member unable to meet this minimum requirement should seek membership later when they can. Any full member that is unable to meet this minimum training requirement should seek to rescind dojo membership and opt to hold Guest Status. Guest Status holds no minimum training requirement but does have a maximum training ceiling of two classes (on two different days) per week. Guest status is only open to those that have had previous training in Aikido or are currently undergoing training in Aikido at another dojo. Beginning students cannot seek Guest Status. Dues Responsibility: Monetary concerns should never prevent one from training. If necessary, the dojo supports its members financially through several means: Financial aid and scholarships are readily available; All purchases made through the dojo are carried out so that full wholesale discounts are passed on to dojo members; Equipment can be supplied by the dojo for those members unable to afford such purchases; Etc. By requesting such services monthly, or as needed, a member has fully met the dues responsibility. The dues responsibility must be met by the 25th of each month. Failure to address the dues responsibility by either contributing funds to the dojo's continuing existence and/or requesting dojo finanicial assistance by the 25th of each month will result in a revoking of dojo membership. Members that can contribute to the dojo's continuing existence and growth should use the following as a prescribed guide: Adults: $90/month Full-time College Students: $50/month Children: $60/month Family discount is $15 off for each member from the same income. The fourth or more member from the same family does not need to meet the dues responsibility. We prioritize Adult Dues Responsibility over Child Dues Responsibility. Again - The dues responsibility must be met monthly by the 25^th in any of the above-mentioned ways. * Potential members in Trial Periods, Guests, ARCON participants, and Fourth or more members from one family have no dues responsibilities. **** There are no mat fees for guests.

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