Naka Ima Aikikai

Naka Ima Aikikai Aikido martial arts dojo in Toronto (Dufferin/Castlefield) Naka Ima is a martial arts school location in Oakwood Village in Toronto.

We offer various martials school classes including Aikido, Karate and Kenjutsu. Aikido is a Japanese martial arts that is about connecting through motion. With its emphasis on spherical or circular motion, Aikido allows the martial arts practitioner to effectively blend with an attack resulting in a non-confrontational connection between partners. Naka Ima is the name given to our dojo by Endo Shihan. It translates literally to "inside now". The name reminds us not to be caught up in the past or to dream idly of the future, but rather to be mindful of each moment. At Naka Ima Aikikai, the emphasis of practice is on ki musubi or the binding together of energy. Centeredness, contact and fluidity are hallmarks of this practice.

09/21/2026

Tension is easy to feel when two bodies connect and pressure builds. The harder part is the release. How do you let go of that tension?

In this clip, Greg Sensei shows what happens when the release is there. Uke is still trying to take nage’s balance, but when nage releases the tension, uke’s balance is taken instead. The tension is then reapplied to complete the throw.

Tension. Release. Reapply tension.

Simple to describe. Much harder to do. That’s what practice is for.

Reminder for Naka Ima members! Regular classes this Friday and Saturday are cancelled as we host the Isshinkai Toronto 2...
09/14/2026

Reminder for Naka Ima members! Regular classes this Friday and Saturday are cancelled as we host the Isshinkai Toronto 2026 Seminar.

If you can, come out and enjoy a weekend of keiko and connection with aikidokas from other dojos and our guest instructors.

And a special note for our younger practitioners: anyone 16 years old and under is welcome to attend the Friday session at no cost.

Come join us on the mat!

More details and registration on https://aikidoisshinkai.com/isshinkai-toronto-2026/

09/10/2026

Every Aikido journey starts somewhere.

Learning how to fall without hitting your head.
Learning how to get out of the way.
Learning that strength isn’t always about meeting force with more force.

You don’t have to know how to do any of this before you walk through the door. That’s what practice is for.

Come try a class.

Beginner Aikido classes
Wednesdays at 6pm
Fridays at 7pm
Open to women and men, ages 10 and up.

Thank you to everyone who came out for our Martial Arts Discovery Day and gave Aikido and Karate a try. A special thank ...
08/31/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out for our Martial Arts Discovery Day and gave Aikido and Karate a try. A special thank you to all Naka Ima members who helped make the morning such a welcoming experience. It was wonderful to see Aikido and Karate members trying each other’s art. Sharing the practice, learning from each other, and having some fun together is what makes our community special. 🥋

And a big thank you to the members who worked behind the scenes to prepare the BBQ and make sure everyone was well fed! 🍔

Didn’t make it to the beginner workshop? You can still come try a class! If you’ve been curious about Aikido or Karate, come experience it for yourself. No experience necessary.

Check our class schedule at nakaima.ca to learn more about trying a class.

08/20/2026

You don’t have to be experienced.
You don’t have to be strong.
You just have to start.

Not sure if martial arts are for you? This is a great place to find out.

Join us for a beginner-friendly introduction to Aikido and Karate. You’ll have experienced members practicing alongside you, helping you learn the basics and giving you a chance to experience what training at Naka Ima is like.

Then we’ll have a BBQ at the dojo — because getting to know the people you practice with is part of the fun too.

📅 Saturday, August 29 | 10 AM–12 PM
📍 Toronto (Dufferin & Castlefield)

Come for the practice. Stay for the BBQ.
Everyone 10+ welcome.

08/13/2026

Have you ever been curious about martial arts? Here’s your chance to step onto the mat and experience it for yourself.

Join us for our FREE Martial Arts Discovery Day on Saturday, August 29 from 10am to 12noon. You’ll receive hands-on instruction in both Karate and Aikido, learn some of the principles behind each art, take part in beginner-friendly exercises, and watch demonstrations from our instructors and students.

Whether you’re looking for a new challenge, want to build confidence, or have simply wondered what martial arts training is really like, this workshop is designed for complete beginners.

🍔 And when we’re done training, stick around for burgers, hot dogs, and a chance to meet our community.

✅ Free to attend
✅ Adults and youths ages 10+
✅ No experience necessary



Register here: https://www.nakaima.ca/martial-arts-intro/

08/07/2026

When someone pulls in the opposite direction, the instinct is often to pull back. But that’s exactly the trap.

If you meet force with force, the stronger person usually wins.

Instead, stay calm. Let your partner have the direction they want, but only for a brief moment. As they begin to move, change direction.

You don’t overcome resistance by fighting it. You allow the opening to appear.

In Aikido, the opening often appears the moment you stop competing with force.

Less struggle.
More awareness.
Better timing.

These principles aren’t learned by watching videos or reading about them. They’re learned by feeling them.

Come experience them on the mat.

08/01/2026

A big thank you to our host and to everyone who joined us for our annual summer BBQ a couple of weeks ago! It was a wonderful afternoon of great food, conversation, games, and time together with the Naka Ima community. ☀️

Just a reminder that there are no classes this Monday, August 3 for the Ontario Civic Holiday. We’ll see you back on the mat on Wednesday!

Enjoy the long weekend and stay cool out there.

07/22/2026

Some of the most important things in Aikido can’t be seen.

A technique isn’t made effective by a dramatic throw. It’s made effective by what happens before it.

The moment of connection.
The change in balance.
The opening that was already there.
The options that quietly become available.

From a martial perspective, that opening is always there. We don’t always choose to take it, but its presence tells us that the technique has changed the situation.

By the time the throw happens, the outcome has often already been decided.

That’s the paradox of Aikido. The more complete the movement becomes, the less there is to see.

07/12/2026

In Aikido, timing makes a big difference.

When your attention stays on your partner’s center, your angle is right, your whole body moves together, and the timing is there... even simple techniques become surprisingly effective.

It’s not about using more strength. It’s about bringing everything together at the right moment.

Address

2489 Dufferin Street
Toronto, ON
M6B3P9

Opening Hours

7pm - 8pm

Telephone

+14162594320

Website

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