Every Dojo disciple, either beginner (Kohai) or advanced (Senpai), is committed to assimilate these codes together with learning the techniques themselves. People of different age, background and status meet in the Dojo and are treated equally as is derived from these codes.

At the start and end of each training session, it is customary to bow. This bow has no religious meaning, but rather a show of respect from one hand, and an expectance of the codes of conduct of ancient Japanese Martial Arts from the other. It is about shutting out and cleansing from the mundane, and entering another dimension of absorption, assimilation, study and pleasure.

The Dojo’s ambience is that of good will and relaxation, and the disciples share common goals, which contribute to the feeling of comradeship and friendship. The relation between a teacher and a disciple is a special one, and this is so because that under the teacher’s influence the special ambience is created,which is the basis of spiritual and technical growth. During a lesson, it is the sole duty of the teacher to rectify or comment any mistakes. Disciples must understand that advancement in martial art is personal, and not collective. In order to better them selves, disciples must learn to loosen up, and allow the teacher to coach each individual in the appropriate time. This is to say, that disciples must put their faith in the teacher and practice heartedly, avoid peer-discussions and debates, but rather, do their best to accomplish the tasks at hand and understand that Aikido also embodies an educational way.

As explained, the advancement of a disciple, is entirely subjective, and based upon rank examinations that take place from time to time and are meant to examine the level of understanding and assimilation of the skills. There are seven junior ranks (Kyu) starting at 7 and descending to 1, followed by exams for advance ranks (Dan). The first examination is for Dan 1 also called Shodan, which means entering rank. The passage to Black Belt, as opposed to common thought, does not mean that the individual automatically became a teacher or master that is in total control of the martial art,, but rather that the disciple has reached a status of Shodan and is now considered to be an advanced student, more mature, and has actually just began consolidation of his long –(ever ending) way to perfection.

Jose Magal– Head teacher in Modiin and the surroundings.

Jose Magal was born in the year 1959 in Brazil. Magal took up Aikido at the age of 16, upon the arrival of Sensei Shikanai to Brazil in 1975. After six and a half intensive years of study, Magal was conferred by Sensei Shikanai as his first Yudansha (Black Belt) in Brazil. At the end of year 1981, Magal immigrated to Israel, and graduated in Physical Education at The Wingate Institute for Physical Education.

Jose Magal served in the israeli army as a combat fitness trainer, and later on as an officer. After his military service, he held the position of a physical education teacher in Jerusalem. During that same time, he taught Aikido in various places, such as the Philip Leon Youth and Sports Center, the Hapoel club in Strauss street, Youth and Sports Center in Pisgat Ze-ev, and Rene Cassin High School where he founded his own Dojo. In the year 1999 he moved to Modiin, and founded his second own Dojo near the village Kfar Rut. After closing the second dojo he started to teach mainly in Modiin’s martial arts hall. Students arrived at his classes from the surrounding cities, such as Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv and Lod.