Welcome

We believe that every person can practice Aikido and that you bring a unique quality to our dojo.  We look forward to having you join the Seattle Aikikai community.

"Everyone has a spirit that can be refined, a body that can be trained in some manner, a suitable path to follow."

– Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido

About Aikido

The image shows Morehei Ueshiba, or O Sensei, the founder of Aikido, an older Japanese man with a white beard and mustache, wearing a white gi and hakama, holding a large watering can and pouring water on plants.

"To injure an opponent is to injure yourself. To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace."

– Morihei Ueshiba

Aikido is a modern martial art developed in the early 20th century by Morihei Ueshiba (O Sensei or “Great Teacher”). It is the culmination of a lifetime of study and has roots in many traditional martial art forms. Aikido (合気道) means "the way of harmonizing with energy." Aikido blends with an attack, evading and redirecting to throw or pin. At the highest level, this maintains the physical safety of the aggressor, who can then only harm themselves. Aikido has no sparring or competitions.

In a relentlessly fast-paced world, Aikido provides a place where you can practice mindfulness, develop mental and physical strength, and improve your flexibility. 

About our dojo

Seattle Aikikai is a community-led dojo dedicated to facilitating personal mastery through the practice of the martial art of Aikido. Our goal is to preserve the history and the spirit of the art and to refine our practice of it to ensure that Aikido is personally relevant to our membership. We provide world-class training opportunities to challenge and support our members. Our dojo is affiliated with Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan and has been part of the Seattle community since 1997. We are a non-profit 501(c)3 organization.

"The Art of Peace begins with you. Work on yourself and your appointed task in the Art of Peace. Everyone has a spirit that can be refined, a body that can be trained in some manner, a suitable path to follow."

– Morihei Ueshiba

Community

Seattle Aikikai is fortunate to have a diverse and inclusive community that welcomes everyone who wants to practice. Aikido requires commitment and discipline. Our members will challenge you to be your best and support your practice. Our local Aikido community is part of a larger community in the Pacific Northwest and internationally. The Aikido family can be found in every corner of the globe, and our members often travel to seminars in the U.S. and abroad. 

In these modern times, we need a personal practice that allows us to feel vital in our bodies and connected to a community.

Join Seattle Aikikai and choose a practice that feels right for you. 

The image shows two middle-aged men at an aikido seminar. A man with graying hair is smiling and laughing as he throws another man with graying hair. There are pairs of people throwing each other in the background.

"As a longtime Aikido practitioner and a newcomer to Seattle, I knew the best way to get a feel for the city (and make new friends) would be to join a dojo. While there were a handful of choices, Seattle Aikikai really stood out for its warm welcome, and acceptance of students coming from different training backgrounds."

– Mahika R.

Inclusivity

Seattle Aikikai is fortunate to have a diverse and inclusive community that welcomes everyone with the desire to practice. We have a zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination or harassment of any kind. We take feedback seriously, and any given will remain confidential.

We believe that diversity – a foundation of a wide range of experiences and perspectives – greatly enriches the practice of Aikido. We are committed to the inclusion and support of all members regardless of race, color, age, culture, ability, ethnicity, nationality, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religious or political affiliation, veteran status, citizenship, or socioeconomic status.

We recognize that dojos can reflect the inherent inequity in our society and all members come with implicit bias. Cultural understanding and humility in the delivery of accessible, inclusive programming are core values of our dojo. Black. Lives. Matter. Until the actions of individuals and society demonstrate this to be true, we need to recommit ourselves to this pledge every day.  Read more.

We support diversity in our membership by:

  • Practicing non-discrimination at home and at seminars
  • Encouraging awareness of appropriate, welcoming language
  • Working to reduce physical, social, and economic barriers to practice
  • Reducing barriers to participation in classes and events by providing scholarships

Seattle Aikikai is a 501(c)3 non-profit dojo, and we provide training for anyone through a scholarship program funded by tax-deductible donations.

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