Aikido is a non-violent Japanese martial art which emphasizes protection for both oneself as well as the attacker. Where most martial arts operate from the premise of defeating an opponent, Aikido seeks rather to resolve conflict without causing serious injury to either person. Some mistakenly believe Aikido is a passive art, which is not the case. The founder of Aikido believed that to allow someone to injure you was as bad as injuring another. The challenge is to become skilled enough where those are no longer the only two options. While Aikido practice is a martial art, the founder of Aikido intended techniques to go beyond merely physical self defense. In his words techniques were meant as “...vehicles for the cultivation of life, knowledge, virtue, and good sense, not devices to throw and pin people.”

Yes, Aikido has been used countless times in real self-defense situations, with many of its technique's origins tracing back centuries to unarmed samurais having to defend themselves. That being said however, Aikido's purpose is not simply physical safety. The bigger issue Aikido seeks to address is the broadening of the concept of self defense. Physical safety is not sufficient, rather Aikido's principles as taught here will find use and effectiveness with the vastly more frequent internal battles and fights we encounter daily, often which we generate or make worse by our own untrained reactions. Our body's physiological and psychological response largely doesn't understand that the modern threats to our safety are rarely physical in nature, but it responds as if they were. Instead Aikido utilizes its techinques as a model to help calm our mind and body when faced with threats less tangible and frequently more dangerous to us overall than solely physical safety. This allows us to maintain a clarity of purpose and action creating far more effectiveness and safety in all aspects of our lives, not simply in the narrow scope of physical self defense. In the tradition of great arts, Aikido strives to teach you not only how to defend your life, but also how to better live it. The true threat to our lives is rarely physical, but rather in a life poorly lived.

Our classes are held in a very fun and relaxed atmosphere. The founder of Aikido believed that the art should be practiced in a “vibrant and joyful manner,” and we strive to live up to this ideal every class. We specialize in smaller class sizes, which allows us to customize classes to the needs of the students, as well as provide more personalized instruction. The training itself is characterized by a non-competitive, helpful atmosphere. Each person takes turns being nage (thrower, one performing the technique), and uke (receiver, one who is playing the role of the attacker). In the adult classes we work on the techniques as well as going over the underlying principles and philosophy behind Aikido. In the children's classes we include fun games and activities that teach essential skills such as awareness, assertiveness, safety, cooperation, kindness, and confidence. For the children’s classes in particular we focus on the modern serious safety threats they could face, but do so in an indirect way that that feels like play and doesn’t create a psychology of fear, but rather confidence and safety.

Aikido often attracts people who are looking for something a bit different than the other martial arts out there, are more interested in a defensive rather than offensive martial art, or even those who never really considered doing martial arts before, but still would like to learn how to better handle the challenges of life. On a purely technical side Aikido does not require the raw physical strength of many other arts, and as such it attracts a very diverse community. If you or your child is a bit nervous about the prospect of martial arts in general, we would encourage you to come in and try out a free class, or simply watch. We realize that martial arts, even a non-violent art such as Aikido, can be very intimidating for the potential new student. We have of course been that new student at one point ourselves, and are committed to providing a welcoming, fun and friendly learning atmosphere for you or your child.

The benefits of training in Aikido are quite varied, often including both the physical and the mental. On the physical side students of Aikido gain increased fitness, flexibility, grace, as well as physical self defense skills. On the mental side students will have the opportunity to develop better conflict resolution skills, heightened ability to cope with stress, lessened fear/anxiety, as well as increased ease and confidence even under challenging circumstances. And of course, Aikido is simply good fun as well!

Aikido’s techniques consist primarily of throws, joint locks, and pins, applied in such a manner that there is no collision or struggle. Aikido’s goal is not to teach you to fight and struggle with life, rather to find ways to effectively be in harmony without sacrificing your values or physical safety. Aikido performed well is characterized by flowing, effortless, almost dance like movement and throws. You will learn not only to apply these techniques, but also safely receive these techniques when they are done to you during training (including getting down to the ground safely, and in more advanced training forward and backward rolls).

Aikido practice is primarily an empty handed art, but we do on occasion practice with the Aiki weapons of the bokken (wooden sword) and Jo (wooden short staff), as well as learning how to disarm weapons (knives and guns primarily). While it might seem contradictory with Aikido’s philosophy, this practice is integral to the origins and effectiveness of our empty handed techniques, as well as serve to amplify the principles at work in Aikido. In the words of the founder of Aikido, “the Aikido sword is so keen it cuts things together.” We train to find truth and honesty even when that requires intensity.

Since Aikido’s techniques do not require raw physical strength, healthy people of nearly any fitness level would find themselves able to learn Aikido. Both men and women, young and old practice Aikido. While physical aptitude is not a requirement, a friendly and non-competitive attitude towards other students and training is. Aikido will not train people to be fighters, so those seeking such skills would be best served elsewhere. We do not accept students who currently train in mixed martial arts. Aikido is taught to be a “way” or life philosophy, not as merely a sport or way to learn to be a better fighter.

While many embrace Aikido as a spiritual discipline, the philosophy and principles taught in class are not religious in nature, so they should not conflict with most people's religious beliefs. Aikido practice does aim for very high ideals however, such as the ability to maintain compassion and love for one's attacker despite their actions perhaps not being worthy of it. Much of Aikido practice is about becoming skilled enough that you don’t need to cause harm to another to maintain your own safety. Aikido does not however speak to the source of these values and as such it has been embraced by practitioners of the world's varied religions and atheists alike. Aikido's primary purpose is in dealing with the conflict and chaos in the world, which the founder of the art intended to be something that would complement peoples' religious beliefs. Aikido tries to put in physical practice the values that many of us hold in principle. We are ultimately what we practice.

The founder of Aikido believed that “testing, competing with, and criticizing others only weakens and defeats you.” As such we do not have tests here, but rather follow the tradition of promotions. Promotions are community events designed to celebrate and showcase your progression in the art to yourself, your fellow students, as well as any friends or family you'd like to invite. During a promotion you demonstrate the promotion techniques for your given rank and are awarded your new rank (there are 7 kyus or ranks before black belt, symbolized with different colored belts).

New students are welcome at any time. If you think Aikido is something you'd like to pursue, please feel free to come in and watch a class. Should it look like something you'd like to try out we offer a free introductory class. Starting out you can simply train in any comfortable, loose fitting clothes. Students wishing to continue training should purchase the traditional white training uniform known as a dogi. These can be purchased relatively cheaply through martial art supply stores, or directly through us. Adult students who feel themselves committed to Aikido are also welcome to wear a blue or black hakama, the traditional pleated skirt like garment worn by the Samurai, as well as practitioners of many martial arts including Aikido, Kyudo, Iaido, amongst others.