September schedule: 

Tuesdays        6-7:30  Intro class integrated with regular

Wednesdays  6-7:30  Kihon basics

Thursdays      6-7:30   Intro class

Fridays            6-7:30  Aiki-flow class

Saturdays       9:30-11 Weapons practice                         

 Drop-in visitors from any affiliation are encouraged to join us. Please call/text or email in advance.

Aiki Flow - Starting in November 2025

I’ve heard Aikido described as “doing yoga in traffic”. The image makes me chuckle, but it is apt. We centre and align our posture, move mindfully, and strengthen our capacity to respond to what comes at us - effectively, creatively, appropriately - rather than reactively. 

This unique class brings you the wisdom of the martial art of Aikido in an accessible format for all bodies and abilities:

  • Wear comfortable clothing

  • Simple, low-impact movements

  • No rolling, and no sitting on the knees.

  • Learn to get down on the ground and up again with ease.

  • Learn to fall safely

  • Increase agility, mobility, balance, and stability

  • Develop mind-body unity, centeredness, and confidence

  • Embody the capacity for responding rather than reacting to situations. 

Fees

All classes – $190 per 3 month session.

Introductory 6-week course when offered - $150

Aiki Movement - $120 for 10 class punch card.

Drop-in from other dojos: $10/class

Discount for students and multiple family members.

Our way of practice

Change into your dogi. Step through the doors of the dojo and on to the mats. Shed the cares and happenings of your day. A few moments of meditation, followed by a bow, and then you are led through warm-up exercises to relax the joints, stretch, lengthen and align, breathe into your hara, settle and expand into the dojo space. 

Then the paired practice begins. A collaboration in learning. You study the classic repertoire of Aikido throws and pins, with a focus on the underlying principles of timing and positioning and non-resistance. With your partner, you create just enough challenge for each other to explore a more and more refined and effective way to execute the techniques. As you advance, your training becomes ever more spontaneous.

Our AKI way of training emphasizes spontaneity, the capacity to respond quickly and intelligently to changes in the interaction. This requires us to be relaxed and sensitive to our partner’s movement, flexible of mind, generous of spirit. We take an exploratory and creative approach to Aikido study – expanding our awareness of space and lines and energy. Hence our organization's name: “kenkyukai” means study or research group. This way of training is challenging and uplifting.

Grading

Once or twice a year, you will be given the opportunity to grade. You will progress through 5 levels of kyu or white belt grades and then black belt or shodan. We follow Aikikai world headquarters grading guidelines. Grading is an opportunity to challenge yourself to perform, and to test your skill and understanding. It can be nerve-wracking, in a good way, and an immensely satisfying experience. Anyway, your Aikido journey is your own.