Aikido: The Art of Peace. We are an independent queer-friendly Aikido dojo in Berkeley, CA.
06/06/2026
If you are free on Saturday, come out 11am - 4pm to Encian and Rebekah's yard sale and goodbye party. More information on the email list.
And we have a copy of Here Comes the Giant, the book written by Encian and illustrated by Niki, at the dojo for anyone that wants to read it.
https://hundredjoyspress.com/
06/04/2026
We've got a full month of events planned. Most importantly, new students train free in June. And if you attend six or more free classes, we'll include a uniform with your registration.
Then you can connect with the community between classes too.
https://aikiarts.com/upcoming-dojo-events/
It's a pleasure to share this short video on how to put on a uniform. We made it for the youth program, where students tend to wear the light versions with ties at the hip. That said, much of the lessons here apply to the thicker judo style uniforms too.
06/02/2026
Aikido is fun. It's a form of physical play, complex enough to always be interesting, with lots of tumbling around on mats, done with a group of good people in a supportive environment. Though our play is challenging and intense, at the end of class everyone walks out of the studio smiling and feeling good.
05/31/2026
We are pleased to share a family day on Thursday, June 18. That means parents and siblings age 7 and up can join us for practice.
It's a chance for the students to show what they are learning, so we will make it an especially playful class.
In terms of preparation, just bring a water bottle and wear long comfortable pants.
https://aikiarts.com/upcoming-dojo-events/
05/29/2026
If you learn something in class about how to stay centered and grounded when someone is grabbing you or pushing you, try to practice that same technique of centering and grounding in any challenging situation you encounter in life.
Aikido FAQ • Aiki Arts Center Aikido FAQ What is Aikido? Aikido is a martial art that focuses mainly on redirecting the force of an attack in order to take the attacker's balance and throw or pin them. It's also designed to be a practice of self-development with benefits that extend far beyond its self-defense applications (see....
05/27/2026
Hao Tran is giving a reading tonight at Pegasus Books, 2349 Shattuck in Berkeley. Hope you can join us.
https://pegasusbookstore.com/event/2026-05-27/lyrics-dirges-monthly-poetry-series
05/24/2026
05/20/2026
We are delighted to share this video on Partnership and Transformation. Aikido is particularly well-suited for relationship skills, because we work with the energy nearby and turn it into rapport and healing.
Video: Partnership & Transformation • Aiki Arts Center In aikido partner practice, a pair of partners takes turns playing the roles of nage (the person who throws or pins an attacker) and uke (the person who provides an attack for the nage to work with). In this video, ... Read more