Training ranges of the rigorous and aerobic to the detailed and meditative.

Training ranges of the rigorous and aerobic to the detailed and meditative.

Class Schedule Starting January 1, 2025:

Mondays:

  • 6:30 – 8:00 pm: Aikido & Weapons (All Ranks)

  • 8:05 – 8:15 pm: Zen Meditation (Open to All)

  • 8:15 – 8:30 pm: Dojo Cleaning

Tuesdays:

  • 5:30 – 6:15 pm: Yoga & Zen Meditation (Open to All)

  • 6:30 – 7:30 pm: Children’s Aikido

  • 7:45 – 8:15 pm: Aikido Open Mat (For Dojo Members Only, by Reservation)

Wednesdays:

  • 5:30 – 6:15 pm: Intermediate Aikido (Approval from Sensei Required)

  • 6:30 – 8:00 pm: Aikido & Weapons (All Ranks)

  • 8:00 – 8:20 pm: Zen Meditation (Open to All)

Thursdays:

  • 7:00 – 8:00 pm: Aiki Weapons and Aikido

    • Starting 1/2/25: Intro to Aiki Jo

  • 8:00 – 8:30 pm: Aikido Open Mat (For Dojo Members Only, by Reservation)

Saturdays:

  • 8:30 – 10:00 am: Aikido (Open-Hand & Weapons) & Iaido

    • Iaido is on the 3rd Saturday of the month

  • 10:15 – 11:15 am: Children’s Aikido

Important Dojo Etiquette:

  • Classes start on time. Please plan to arrive early and be seated in seiza on the mat 5 minutes before class begins.

  • The dojo opens 30 minutes before class to allow time for dressing, sweeping the mats, stretching, and preparation. ***Starting 1/1/25***

  • If you arrive after class has begun and the instructor has already bowed in, please sit at the edge of the mat and wait silenty to be acknowledged before joining the class.

Last Updated: December 8, 2024

For more information or to reserve spots for open mat or special classes, please contact the dojo.

Aikido, All Ranks, Class Description

In the all ranks class students of all levels train together. Attention is given to novice students to assure they are learning in a comfortable environment. We cover a range of skills in this class including tumbling techniques, strikes, and defenses as well as refining and more deeply exploring breathing, meditation, and integration exercises. Intro to Aikido means that prospective students are welcomed but are still encouraged to contact the dojo before class.

Curriculum includes

  • Exploration of Breathing, Meditation Exercises

  • Rigorous warm-up

  • Body Movement and Coordination Exercises

  • Tumbling skills and introduction to advanced tumbling

  • Strikes

  • Self-Defense Techniques

This course is ongoing and part of the standard dojo membership fee.

Aikido, Weapons, Class Description

Aikido is derived from the battlefield techniques of the samurai, so understanding the art requires a level of training with weapons. Traditional Aikido weapons training includes the bokken (wooden sword), jo (short staff), and tanto (dagger).

Weapons class is open to students of all levels and should be considered appropriate for any student of Aikido. Curriculum includes:

  • Posture and holding weapons properly

  • Striking and cutting practice (suburi)

  • Forms (kata)

  • Partnered forms (kumitachi, kumijo)

  • Disarming and attacker (bokken-dori, jo-dori, tanto-dori)

  • throwing an attacker attempting to grab your weapon (jo-nage)

Weapons requirements begin showing up on belt exams at the advanced-beginner level. As such, it is critical that students of Aikido begin to attend weapons classes early on in their training.

This course is ongoing and part of the standard dojo membership fee.

Yoga: Balance, Strength, and Flexibility

Our yoga class, led by certified instructor Kia Stern, is designed to complement your martial arts practice by focusing on strength, flexibility, and balance. This class blends traditional yoga poses with specific conditioning techniques aimed at improving overall Aikido performance. Whether you're working on core strength for stability, flexibility for smoother movement, or mental focus for better technique, this yoga practice offers a holistic approach to enhance both mind and body.

Each session begins with breathing exercises and gentle stretching to warm up the body, followed by a series of asanas (yoga poses) that challenge your strength, balance, and coordination. Emphasis is placed on mindful movement, posture alignment, and core activation, all of which directly support Aikido techniques. We conclude with guided relaxation and meditation to center the mind and restore energy.

This class is ideal for all levels and offers a welcoming environment for Aikido practitioners and yoga enthusiasts alike. It’s the perfect way to build physical and mental resilience while supporting your Aikido training.

Zen Meditation

Our Zen meditation class offers a tranquil space for students to cultivate mindfulness, focus, and inner calm. This practice is an essential complement to Aikido, as it fosters mental clarity, emotional balance, and deepened awareness—key elements both on and off the mat.

Each new session begins with a brief introduction to the principles of Zen meditation, making it accessible to beginners and experienced practitioners alike. We then transition into seated meditation (Zazen), where participants focus on posture, breath control, and clearing the mind of distractions. The goal is to be present, observing thoughts without attachment, allowing for deeper self-reflection and personal growth.

As part of our Aikido philosophy, this meditation class emphasizes the integration of body and mind, preparing practitioners for more fluid, centered movement in Aikido practice. Regular attendance helps improve concentration, reduce stress, and build mental resilience.

Whether you're seeking to enhance your Aikido training or simply looking for a peaceful moment in your day, our Zen meditation class provides a grounding and restorative experience for all.

AIKIDO, ADVANCED, CLASS DESCRIPTION

Because this class moves at a swift pace and assumes a higher level of tumbling skills, it is only open to students ranked 2nd kyu (brown belt) and higher. The course is designed to explore the more advanced techniques of the art and to increase power in basic and intermediate techniques. It is essential for students who wish to test into advanced ranks and eventually, Dan (black belt) ranks to attend this class on a regular basis. Curriculum includes:

  • Deeper exploration of Breathing, Meditation Exercises

  • More rigorous warm-up

  • Deeper exploration of Body Movement and Coordination Exercises

  • Advanced tumbling skills

  • Kneeling techniques against kneeling and standing attackers

  • Strikes

  • Advanced Self-Defense Techniques

  • Multiple person attacks

  • Weapon retention

This course is ongoing and part of the standard dojo membership fee.