What to Know Before Your First Class at Bakersfield Budo

Bakersfield Budo asks prospective students to arrive early, wear comfortable clothing you can move in, remove all jewelry and shoes before stepping onto the dojo floor, and leave food off the mats. The dojo offers a free two-week trial — call (661) 398-2100 to set it up. These rules apply across all three arts taught there: Karate-Do, Aikido, and Iaido.

Before You Arrive

The dojo's Prospective Student Guide is short and practical. Plan around these points:

• Come early. Instructors use the extra time before class to walk new students through dojo and class basics. The guide puts it bluntly: in Japan, being on time means you're late, and being early means you're barely on time.
• Dress for movement. Wear comfortable clothing that allows unrestrained mobility and physical exertion. No special uniform is mentioned as a requirement for a first visit.
• Leave the jewelry at home. Jewelry is not permitted during class because of the injury risk to yourself and others.
• Plan your footwear. No footwear of any kind is allowed on the dojo floor. Shoe racks are provided. If you can't go barefoot, socks are permissible.
• No food on the dojo floor.

Choosing Which Class to Visit

Each art has its own schedule and instructor, so your arrival time depends on which class you're trying. The site lists these times:

Five-year-olds are considered case by case for Karate-Do based on maturity level. The page evidence covers Karate-Do and Aikido times but does not list an Iaido class schedule, so call ahead if Iaido is your interest.

A Quick Sense of the Three Arts

• Karate-Do blends the Okinawan fighting style Te with Shaolin boxing from China, systematized in mainland Japan in the early 20th century. It centers on empty-handed practice that builds fitness and coordination. The Goju-ryu style taught here emphasizes balancing internal and external force through physical training and breath technique. Instruction is led by Charlie Tootle, Sensei, OGRKK Certified Godan, and the dojo is a member dojo of the OGRKK.
• Aikido was created by Morihei Ueshiba in the early 20th century, combining traditional samurai jujutsu with Shinto and Buddhist influences into a system emphasizing harmony and non-destruction. Training redirects an attack's speed and energy and covers body throws, joint locks, fitness, mental focus, controlled relaxation, and development of ki. Instruction is overseen by Jason Parsons, USAF Certified Yondan and Shidoin.
• Iaido is listed among the dojo's offerings, though the provided page material gives no further detail on its curriculum or schedule.

One Rule That Applies to Everything

Every Budo tradition at the dojo is subject to the rules and regulations of its parent organization. That means etiquette and requirements can vary by art, so treat the points above as the shared baseline and let your instructor fill in the rest when you arrive early.

The simplest path: call (661) 398-2100, book the free two-week trial, show up early in loose comfortable clothing with no jewelry, and carry your shoes to the rack.