News and Notes
*** IMPORTANT NOTICE - CLASS SCHEDULE***
26 September 2023
Current Class Schedule
- Sunday - 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - Karate
- Monday - 5:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. - ZOOM Class with Ikeda Sensei - October 9th only this month.
- Tuesday - 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Aikido - A Deeper Look at Ukemi
- Tuesday - 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - Aiki Youth Program
- Tuesday - 6:30 p.m. - 7:20 p.m. - Karate
- Wednesday - 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. - Weapons skills
- Wednesday - 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. - Low-impact Aikido
- Thursday - 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. - Aiki Youth Program
- Thursday - 6:30 p.m. - 7:20 p.m. - Karate
- Thursday - 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. - Aikido, Supplementary Practice, Open mat
- Friday - 6:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. - Aikido Open Class
- Friday - 7:30 p.m. - 8:45 p.m. - Aikido
- Saturday - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Aikido in the Garden (Japanese Friendship Garden) - Special class (4 weeks - extra cost)
- Saturday - 10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. - Aikido - Beginner to Advanced. You are welcome to wear a mask. Hand sanitizer is available and should be used regularly by everyone! Mats and surfaces are sanitized regularly.
Seminar with Lia Suzuki, 6th dan
23 July 2023
September 29, 30, and October 1, 2023 Join us for a 3-day seminar with Suzuki Sensei at our Agatsu Dojo, 939 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85013. Schedule:
Friday – 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturday
9:00 a.m. – Noon
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday – 9:00 a.m. – Noon Cost:
Full Seminar - $100
Friday only - $30
Saturday half day - $30
Sunday only - $30
Seminar Location:
Arizona Agatsu Dojo
939 W. Camelback Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85013
Google Map This is walking distance from the light rail station at 7th Avenue and Camelback Rd. Download a flyer here. Register and pay for the seminar here:
Remembering Tsuneji Sakakibara Sensei
22 July 2023
We remember Sakakibara Sensei fondly on the tenth anniversary of his death on July 22, 2013. Sakakibara Sensei was very important to Arizona Aikido! After the death of Jon Takagi Sensei in February 1984, Sakakibara Sensei stepped in to fill the role of Chief Instructor. He held the dojo together, brought us back into union with Hombu Dojo, and kept us training. He started the first Fall Mountain Camp in Prescott when he saw the need for us to get away from the Valley, to come together as a family and to grieve the loss of Takagi Sensei. Eventually, he turned the dojo over to Tom Haines Sensei, but continued to teach as Chief Instructor Emeritus. We still miss him and we honor his memory. Read Sensei's biography here.One of the ways we remember him is through the Sakakibara Sensei Memorial Scholarship Fund. If you'd like to donate to the Fund, you may do so using the Donate button below.
Arizona Aikido Students - Pay Your Aikido Schools of Ueshiba Dues via PayPal
15 December 2022
We set up a page for you to pay your Aikido Schools of Ueshiba dues via PayPal. Note that you don't need a PayPal account to accomplish this; you may just use your credit or debit card. Go here to pay via PayPal. (Note that we will charge you a little bit extra to cover the Paypal fee!) Of course, you can still pay your ASU dues the old fashioned way - with cash or a check!
Annual Ikeda Sensei Seminar - December 9 - 11, 2022
11 December 2022
Thanks to Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan for a WONDERFULseminar! We look forward to his return NEXT December!Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan has been a strong supporter of Arizona Aikido for more than half of our 54 years of existence! He returns to Arizona Agatsu Dojo December 9-11, 2022! Ikeda Shihan is seen in this photo taken at the in-person Ikeda Seminar we had in 2019.Please don't miss this opportunity to train with Ikeda Sensei. The seminar will be held at Arizona Aikido's Agatsu Dojo, 939 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85013. Access to the dojo is easy via the light rail system. Exit at the 7th Avenue Station and the dojo is just a short walk to the west. The light rail is easily accessible from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport via the Sky Train. There is plenty of parking at the dojo, as well. The dojo is immediately east of the 11th Avenue traffic light and bus stop on the south side of Camelback Road. December should be beautiful in Phoenix! If you'd like to check it, here's the Phoenix weather. Download a flier. Please note that we do ask that you wear a mask while training. We highly recommend that you be vaccinated and boosted for COVID! You can register for the seminar and pay online: Cost for the full seminar is $175. You can choose to attend individual sessions for $45 each. The session schedule is:
Party Saturday Evening at the dojo (Suggested donation of $20) Authentic Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki will be served! Can't make it to Phoenix for this seminar? Register for the Zoom sessions. All three days for $75! Register for Zoom HERE:
- Friday evening, December 9, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Saturday morning, December 10, 10:00 a.m. to noon
- Saturday afternoon, December 10, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday morning, December 11, 10:00 a.m. to noon.
Arizona Aikido - Matsuri Video
10 March 2021
Arizona Aikido participated in the Virtual Matsuri in Phoenix this year. What you see here is the video presentation we made. If you are interested in learning Aikido, reach us through our Contact Us link.
*** IMPORTANT NOTICE ***
9 November 2020
Here are some guidelines as to how we'll behave in the dojo:
- Wear your gi to the dojo or have only one person in a changing area at a time. We may also use the bathrooms and shower room to change.
- Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before and after training.
- You are required to wear a mask. This is more to protect others than it is to protect yourself.
- Sanitize weapons before and after use with Lysol.
- Don't trade weapons with another person; continue using the weapons you are using.
- Try to maintain a six-foot separation from others who are training.
- Launder your gi after each use. If you don't have a clean gi to wear, wear street clothes, but launder those afterward, as well.
I know this seems like a bit of a load to put on everyone, but we need to be cautious as we move into this new paradigm.
We will ask you to sign a COVID-19 waiver. We feel this is a necessary precaution on our part.
Also remember, if you don't feel comfortable coming to training at this time, don't! It's OK. You need to do what you need to do. Please do stay in touch!
Training will be a bit different from what it was before this pandemic started, but flexibility is one of the characteristics of the Aikidoka (Aikido practitioner). Let's continue the journey!
Ikeda Sensei Zoom Seminar
1 November 2020
** IMPORTANT NOTICE - UPDATED**
1 May 2020
Aikido is a full-contact art. It is not possible to train in the dojo and maintain social distance. Therefore, Aikido training in the dojo is suspended until at least May 31, 2020! The novel coronavirus global pandemic is upon us. Entire countries are on lockdown and global measures are being taken to slow the spread and impact of what may be the largest public health emergency we’ve faced in our lifetimes. As Aikido practitioners, our very way of life has been upended. The foundation of the art we love so much is human connection, after all. These are challenging times, and the actions we take now will impact our families, friends, communities, and the future of the art of Aikido itself. Aikido teaches us to remain calm in the face of danger, to be adaptive, and to neutralize threats in a way that creates collective benefit. Now is the time for us to make some hard decisions. This is the moment for us to put our training into practice in a real-world crisis. The world is facing a challenge of enormous scale and human impact with the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Based on recent developments, I wanted to reach out to you and provide an update on the actions we are taking to help prevent the spread of the virus and support the health and wellbeing of our student and broader community. After consulting data and recommendations from the WHO, CDC, and the State of Arizona, we have decided to cancel classes through the month of March. Social distancing is an effective way to prevent transmission and the earlier that measures are taken, the larger the positive impact we can have on the spread of the virus. Effective today, group classes at the dojo will be cancelled through Thursday April 30. We will reevaluate this decision on a regular basis and either terminate or extend it, as necessary. The decision to close the dojo during this period has not been made lightly, but the health and safety of our community is our highest priority. This is an opportunity for us to put our training into practice, to adapt to a short term challenge and show our resiliency and ability to collaborate for the greater good. Please monitor your email for updates. Stay safe and healthy.
Donate to Arizona Aikido
30 April 2020
Arizona Aikido is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation. Please consider donating to us to help us through the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to have normal expenses while not being able to train. Not all members are able to continue paying monthly dues during this time. Thanks for any help you can provide!
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