Aikido of Georgia

Starting January 9, 2023: we now have adult class on Monday evening, from 6:45 to 8:15 pm. We now train three days a week. Mondays, Wednesdays (6:45 pm), and Saturdays (10:00 am).

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Aikido of Georgia wishes everyone a Happy New Year 2023! Our classes in the Martial Art of Peace begin Wednesday, January 4, with classes for three age groups: Kindergarten - 3rd grade, 4th grade - 8th grade, and Teens & Adults. See

Aikido of Georgia Classes for Children and Adults Beginners and Visitors always welcome! Children K-grade 3Movement, socialization, fun! Children grade 4-8Building confidence, strength, self control, learning to protect oneself and one's attacker. Teens and AdultsThrive amid life's stresses through physical training,...

New sign!

Kids: Mon/Wed/Sat
Adults: Wed/Sat

Aikido classes for children. Beginning August 2022. Kindergarten - grade 3, and grades 4 - 8.

Registration is open.

More info at https://www.AikidoOfGeorgia.com

Happy New Year!

We are pleased to restart our adult classes (age 12 and older) on Wednesday, January 5. Classes are open to those who are fully vaccinated and boosted and who wear masks. We are considering restarting our children's classes as some point this year, but we have no firm plans at this time.

See you on the mat!
Joel sensei

Aikido for All Levels
Wednesdays 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Saturdays 9:30 to 11 am

at Decatur Healing Arts
619 B East College Ave.
Decatur, GA 30030

Please note: there will be no class Saturday, January 15 while DHA improves the training facility.

We are back! Starting August 2021 Aikido Decatur offers classes for vaccinated students only at Decatur Healing Arts, 619B East College Ave., Decatur, GA 30030. Wednesdays 7:00 to 8:30 pm, and Saturdays 9:30 to 11 am. Classes are $20/session drop-in, or $140 for an 8-class card. Come to class at least 15 minutes early to enroll. Visitors and beginners are welcome at every class!

Congratulations to Michelangelo Grigni on your promotion to shodan last year!

Congratulations are also in order for all of our yudansha candidates promoted throughout 2020. Here is the list:

What a day! With the help of my wonderful students we took apart our dojo room and sorted into piles to give away, store, sell, or trash. I received many notes of condolences from you and I appreciate every one.

The good news is, however, that also today I promoted my senior student, Michelangelo Grigni, to shodan (first black belt). This is my first time promoting a student to shodan, after 10-1/2 years as Aikido Decatur! Our school will return just as soon as possible, and I look forward to training with you when we resume!

Aikido is a close-contact martial art that cannot be truly learned without person-to-person training. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Aikido Decatur will be pausing all classes until the pandemic is officially over and it is universally accepted that direct contact is safe again. While it is sad that our community cannot assemble for a substantial time, the art of aikido still gives us the means to center ourselves, get present with our bodies and our environment, and then safely and effectively harmonize with the energies moving around and through us. The dojo itself is harmonizing with our need to continue isolating and to prevent the spread of the virus. Stay tuned for further updates, and please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns about your training. Be well! Joel sensei, 6/14/2020.

Due to an abundance of caution, and to our rule of following the schedule of the City Schools of Decatur, I am closing the dojo in order to do our part to help reduce spreading COVID-19 any further. There will be no classes from Friday, March 13, through Wednesday, March 25.

In aikido we have a regular practice of ma-ai, which means proper distance. In the face of an attack, we position ourselves just outside the range of an attacker's immediate reach, giving ourselves a moment to respond instead of being vulnerable to an impact in an instant.

With the coronavirus spreading through direct contact and via contaminated surfaces, experts are recommending that whole populations practice "social distancing". This is another form of ma-ai that we must now practice with our community as a whole.

Although the dojo will not be training together for a time, we should all continue our practice wherever we may be. We can all practice stretching, warmups, ukemi (falling and rolling), strikes, shadow techniques, knee walking, mokuso (meditation), and even kiai shouts—when it won't disturb others.

Our dojo is a wonderful community that nourishes so many, and I look forward to returning to a full schedule at soon as possible. I will keep everyone informed as things develop, and if we have to remain closed longer than two weeks, I will let you know as soon as possible.

Lastly, if there's anything I and the rest of us can do to support each other during this time, please let me know.

Be well, and see you on the mat.

Joel sensei