RELEASE OF LIABILITY, ASSUMPTION OF RISK, AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT
Midwest Aikido Center
Version: May 2026
PLEASE READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING YOUR MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION. BY CHECKING THE BOX AND SUBMITTING THIS FORM, YOU AGREE TO BE LEGALLY BOUND BY ITS TERMS.
This Agreement is entered into by you ("Participant") in favor of Midwest Aikido Center and its directors, officers, instructors, assistant instructors, seminar instructors, guest instructors, employees, volunteers, agents, members, students, visitors, seminar participants, guests, landlords, property owners, affiliates, successors, and assigns (collectively, the "Released Parties").
You must be 18 years of age or older to complete this form. By submitting this membership application, you confirm that you are an adult who has reached the age of legal majority, that you have read and understand this Agreement, and that you are entering into it voluntarily as a condition of membership and participation.
1. Acknowledgment of Risks
You acknowledge that aikido, iaido, and martial arts training involve physical contact, strenuous movement, and inherent risks of injury, including but not limited to those arising from:
- throws, falls, rolls, pins, joint locks, strikes, grabs, and escapes
- partner practice with students of varying size, rank, experience, strength, control, and judgment
- weapons practice, including bokken, jo, tanto, iaito, and other training weapons
- iaido training, including drawing, carrying, handling, and resheathing of iaito; solo cutting practice and kata; and risks associated with the presence of bladed training weapons in a shared training space
- the nature of iaito as weighted metal training swords that, although unsharpened, can cause significant injury through contact, impact, or improper handling
- mat work, ukemi, kneeling, standing, turning, jumping, rolling, and falling
- collisions with other participants, walls, floors, mats, fixtures, or equipment
- crowded or shared training space during weapons practice
- slipping, tripping, falling, or losing balance
- fatigue, overexertion, dehydration, dizziness, travel fatigue, or aggravation of prior injuries or conditions
- exposure to communicable illness, skin conditions, or other conditions associated with close physical contact or shared training space
- ordinary risks associated with presence in or around a martial arts training facility
Possible injuries include bruises, sprains, strains, cuts, abrasions, dislocations, broken bones, concussions, neck or back injuries, joint injuries, paralysis, permanent disability, or death. These risks may arise from your own actions or inactions, the actions of other participants, the condition of the premises or equipment, or the ordinary negligence of the Released Parties.
2. Voluntary Assumption of Risk
You voluntarily choose to participate in activities at or associated with Midwest Aikido Center, including aikido and iaido training. You knowingly and freely assume all risks - known and unknown, anticipated and unanticipated - associated with your participation, presence on the premises, use of facilities or equipment, and involvement in dojo-related activities.
3. Health and Fitness
You represent that you are physically and mentally able to participate in aikido, iaido, and related activities. You understand that it is your responsibility to consult a physician before participating if you have any medical condition, injury, limitation, or uncertainty about your ability to train safely. You agree to notify an instructor of any condition that may affect your participation, and to stop or modify your participation if you feel pain, dizziness, unusual discomfort, distress, or believe continued training may be unsafe.
4. Dojo Rules and Instructions
You agree to follow the rules, customs, etiquette, policies, and safety instructions of Midwest Aikido Center, including all rules and protocols governing the handling, carrying, drawing, and storage of iaito and other training weapons. You understand that you may be asked to stop participating or leave the premises if your conduct creates a safety concern, disrupts training, or violates dojo standards.
IMPORTANT — 5. Release and Waiver of Claims
You hereby release, waive, and discharge the Released Parties from any and all claims, demands, causes of action, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses of any kind arising out of or related to your participation in aikido, iaido, martial arts training, classes, seminars, examinations, demonstrations, open practice, volunteer activities, dojo events, use of facilities or equipment, or presence on the premises - including claims arising from the ordinary negligence of any Released Party - to the fullest extent permitted by Illinois law.
This release applies to claims for personal injury, bodily injury, illness, death, property damage, medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and any other loss or damage, whether known or unknown, anticipated or unanticipated.
This Agreement is not intended to release claims that cannot lawfully be released under applicable law. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to release liability for intentional misconduct, reckless misconduct, willful and wanton misconduct, or other conduct that cannot be released under applicable law.
6. Covenant Not to Sue
You agree not to bring any claim against any Released Party for any matter covered by this Agreement. This applies to claims brought by you or on your behalf, including by your heirs, executors, administrators, representatives, successors, or assigns.
7. Indemnification
To the fullest extent permitted by law, you agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Released Parties from and against any claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses - including reasonable attorneys' fees - arising from:
- your conduct or omissions
- your breach of this Agreement
- any claim brought by you or on your behalf contrary to this Agreement
- any injury or damage you cause to another person or property
This indemnification obligation applies only to the fullest extent permitted by law and is not intended to require indemnification for any matter that cannot lawfully be indemnified under applicable law.
8. Medical Authorization
In the event of injury, illness, or medical emergency, you authorize Midwest Aikido Center and its representatives to seek emergency medical assistance on your behalf if they reasonably believe such assistance is necessary. You understand that the Released Parties are not obligated to provide medical care and are not responsible for the costs of medical treatment, transportation, emergency services, or related expenses. You accept full responsibility for all costs associated with any medical care provided on your behalf.
9. Personal Property
Midwest Aikido Center is not responsible for the loss, theft, or damage of personal property brought to dojo activities or premises, including any personally owned iaito or other weapons brought onto the premises.
10. Scope
This Agreement applies to all participation in Midwest Aikido Center activities - including regular aikido classes, iaido classes, beginner and advanced classes, weapons classes, seminars, workshops, examinations, demonstrations, open mat, informal practice, volunteer work, setup, takedown, social events, and any other dojo-related activity - whether on the dojo premises or at another location, and whether occurring before, during, or after scheduled class time.
11. Photo and Video Release
Midwest Aikido Center may photograph, film, or otherwise record activities at or associated with the dojo, including classes, seminars, examinations, demonstrations, and other events. By participating, you grant Midwest Aikido Center a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to use, reproduce, publish, and distribute photographs, video, and other recordings in which you may appear, for purposes including but not limited to social media, website content, promotional materials, archival records, and instructional use.
You waive any right to inspect or approve the specific use of your likeness and any claim for compensation arising from such use. This license does not transfer ownership of any recordings to you and does not obligate Midwest Aikido Center to use your likeness in any particular way.
If you do not wish to be photographed or recorded, you agree to notify an instructor or dojo representative before participating so that reasonable efforts can be made to accommodate your preference. Midwest Aikido Center cannot guarantee that you will not appear incidentally in photographs or recordings of group activities.
12. General Provisions
This Agreement is binding upon you and your heirs, executors, administrators, personal representatives, successors, and assigns. If any provision is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect, and any invalid provision shall be modified only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable. This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Illinois. Any dispute shall be brought in the state or federal courts of Cook County, Illinois, unless otherwise required by law.
13. Electronic Signature and Consent
You agree that checking the box and submitting this form constitutes your electronic signature on this Agreement and has the same legal force and effect as a handwritten signature, to the fullest extent permitted under the Illinois Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, 815 ILCS 333, and applicable federal law. Midwest Aikido Center may retain and rely upon an electronic copy of this Agreement as the legally effective record of your acceptance. A copy of this Agreement will be emailed to you for your records upon submission.