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

Membership

January 2, 2010: We are currently ACCEPTING new Adult Trial Members. Please feel free to contact the Head Instructor with your request.

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

Guest Members

Guest members must contact the head instructor (Dojocho) prior to participating in a class. Guest members may not attend more than two classes a week. Any guest members that would like to attend more classes should seek to enter a Trial Period and look towards gaining full dojo membership. Guest members do not have a Dues Responsibility.

The Trial Period

While Senshin Center does not universally reject walk-ins, priority will always be given to individuals with referrals. Contact should be made through a current, adult member, and/or by contacting the head-instructor directly. In order to maintain a productive and relatively safe training environment, we require that potential members make an informed decision regarding Aikido training at Senshin Center. As a result, all potential members will undergo a four-week Trial Period. Trial Periods happen only periodically. Exceptions will be made for law enforcement personnel, for friends/family of current members, and/or the sincere civilian. Trial Periods are set at a limit of five potential members per period.

If necessary, the dojo will provide any equipment needed (e.g. gi, obi, weapons, zafu, zabuton, etc.) Monetary concerns should not stop one from participating in a Trial Period. Trial Members do not have a Dues Responsibility. Trial Members should try to adhere to the Intended Training Schedule Protocol (see below), though they are permitted to change their schedule weekly to try a variation of class topics. However, Trial Members must meet the Minimum Training Requirement (see below). Failure to meet the Minimum Training Requirement will result in termination of the Trial Period for that member. The dojo will, to the best of its abilities, accommodate the needs of the beginner student.

During the Trial Period, Trial 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. Please note that commencing a Trial Period in no way commits one to dojo membership. A potential member should strive, in accordance with their nature, to gain all that is needed to make an informed decision regarding dojo membership.

Please be aware that the Trial Period works in two ways. While each potential member is working to decide if his or her needs can be met by Senshin Center, the dojo is also working to determine if it can accommodate the needs of each potential member. Thus, potential members can withdraw from a Trial Period at any time. Likewise, Senshin Center can request that a potential member pursue another Trial Period at any time or refrain from seeking membership at the dojo altogether.

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 themselves during the Trial Period. Please be kind to yourself through the four-week period while nevertheless seeking to rise to a level worthy of dojo membership.

If during the Trial Period a potential member discovers that they do indeed wish to seek full dojo membership, a request to end the Trial Period can be made. At such time, 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 adult 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. Please understand that two days per week is a MINIMUM. All members should work toward obtaining a capacity for daily training.

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: $110/month

Full-time College Students: $70/month

Children: $80/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 25th in any of the above-mentioned ways.

*** Potential members in Trial Periods, Guests, ARCON participants, and the fourth or more members from one family have no Dues Responsibilities.

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


	Membership January 2, 2010: We are currently ACCEPTING new Adult Trial Members. Please feel free to contact the Head Instructor with your request. Senshin Center is not a commercial martial arts school. Individuals seeking membership should keep this well in mind. While the dojo's efforts in assisting everyone to gain the capacity to train properly are universally applied, the dojo cannot accept all prospective students. Below you will find several criteria that every potential member must meet in order to achieve dojo membership. Guest Members Guest members must contact the head instructor (Dojocho) prior to participating in a class. Guest members may not attend more than two classes a week. Any guest members that would like to attend more classes should seek to enter a Trial Period and look towards gaining full dojo membership. Guest members do not have a Dues Responsibility. The Trial Period While Senshin Center does not universally reject walk-ins, priority will always be given to individuals with referrals. Contact should be made through a current, adult member, and/or by contacting the head-instructor directly. In order to maintain a productive and relatively safe training environment, we require that potential members make an informed decision regarding Aikido training at Senshin Center. As a result, all potential members will undergo a four-week Trial Period. Trial Periods happen only periodically. Exceptions will be made for law enforcement personnel, for friends/family of current members, and/or the sincere civilian. Trial Periods are set at a limit of five potential members per period. If necessary, the dojo will provide any equipment needed (e.g. gi, obi, weapons, zafu, zabuton, etc.) Monetary concerns should not stop one from participating in a Trial Period. Trial Members do not have a Dues Responsibility. Trial Members should try to adhere to the Intended Training Schedule Protocol (see below), though they are permitted to change their schedule weekly to try a variation of class topics. However, Trial Members must meet the Minimum Training Requirement (see below). Failure to meet the Minimum Training Requirement will result in termination of the Trial Period for that member. The dojo will, to the best of its abilities, accommodate the needs of the beginner student. During the Trial Period, Trial 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. Please note that commencing a Trial Period in no way commits one to dojo membership. A potential member should strive, in accordance with their nature, to gain all that is needed to make an informed decision regarding dojo membership. Please be aware that the Trial Period works in two ways. While each potential member is working to decide if his or her needs can be met by Senshin Center, the dojo is also working to determine if it can accommodate the needs of each potential member. Thus, potential members can withdraw from a Trial Period at any time. Likewise, Senshin Center can request that a potential member pursue another Trial Period at any time or refrain from seeking membership at the dojo altogether. 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 themselves during the Trial Period. Please be kind to yourself through the four-week period while nevertheless seeking to rise to a level worthy of dojo membership. If during the Trial Period a potential member discovers that they do indeed wish to seek full dojo membership, a request to end the Trial Period can be made. At such time, 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 adult 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. Please understand that two days per week is a MINIMUM. All members should work toward obtaining a capacity for daily training. 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: $110/month Full-time College Students: $70/month Children: $80/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 25th in any of the above-mentioned ways. * Potential members in Trial Periods, Guests, ARCON participants, and the fourth or more members from one family have no Dues Responsibilities. **** There are no mat fees for guests.

Dojo Information		Writings	Video	Contact Us