At Aikikai International, Inc., we strive to honor the vision of O'Sensei, the founder of Aikido. O'Sensei believed that peace was preferable to war and that love was superior to hate. We invite all people, regardless of their gender or background, to join us in our mission to seek internal peace and promote peace throughout the world. We believe that this journey should be enjoyable, and it is a gift that O'Sensei has given us.
At Aikikai International, Inc., we have a number of connections to the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, the World Headquarters of the largest Aikido organization based in Tokyo, Japan. Takashi Ishikawa Sensei, 6th dan, of the Misasagi-Kai Aikido Federation based in Osaka, Japan, is the direct supervisor of Aikikai International, Inc. Additionally, Aikikai International, Inc. is a member of the California Aikido Association, Division I, that was founded by Morihiro Saito Sensei, a 9th degree black belt. Today, Pat Hendricks Sensei, 7th dan, a senior student of Saito Sensei, leads Division I.
At Aikikai International, Inc., we are dedicated to fostering a peaceful and loving environment. Our mission is to bring peace to the world, and we strive to do this through having fun on the mat and developing life-long friendships. We believe that this is an incredible gift from O'Sensei, and we are proud to do our part to honor his vision.
Our program is designed for kids aged 7 to 11 years old. Other children may be admitted upon skill and maturity evaluation. Ferguson Sensei generally teaches the kids classes himself and actively maintains small class sizes to provide individualized instruction to each student. As students mature and learn basic skills, they may be invited to participate in additional advanced practices. The kids are physically challenged and learn how to deal with and diffuse conflicts, while maintaining a positive and joyful attitude.