お願いします。 — Please (training request — Aikido equivalent of karate's 'Osu'). (Cultural · Traditional · Arts, Formal — to stranger, JLPT N4)

Gesture & etiquette

Seiza (formal kneeling) before training. Both hands placed in front, fingertips touching the mat, forehead nearly meeting hands ('rei from seiza'). Mutual — partner says お願いします back simultaneously. Same words with ありがとうございました at end.

合気道 (Aikido) uses 'お願いします' rather than karate's '押忍'. The same phrase serves as opening greeting between training partners (uke and tori), and 'ありがとうございました' closes the exchange. Each dojo has subtle etiquette differences — never speak loudly, never enter without permission, never step over a black belt's belt left on the mat.