Isshinkan Aikido Vancouver

I was looking for some training and this dojo was near my office. I practiced for about 1 year and a half. I had great time training and learning. The two Sensei’s John and Michelle are great, patient and kind. John is about my size and Michelle a bit more petite but they enlightened me to attain physical feats that I though never capable of. Very newbie friendly. More advanced black belt techniques were taight to white belts and there was always a great deal of support. The senior students were all very kind. Full marks, great dojo!

I practiced in this dojo for several years and couldn’t have asked for better instructors. While adhering to traditional techniques, the school focuses on techniques that actually work in real situations such as self-​defense situations, rather than just focusing on form alone. John-​sensei, the head instructor of the school, teaches with a mix of humour and discipline that makes learning techniques fun but also impresses on the student on the importance of not abusing the techniques. This is an extremely important thing in the style of Aikido where many of the techniques focuses on joint locks that can easily lead to injury.
Perhaps what strikes me the most about this dojo is the balance between the philosophy of the art and the physics. Every traditional martial arts has its set of philosophy, some near mystical but the instructors at the dojo have a way of breaking the movements down using logic and physics while still respecting tradition. Not to mention, every couple years, there are visits from the sister dojos in Japan, which gives an awesome opportunity for experiencing how Aikido is taught in its native country.
All in all, I would highly recommend this dojo to anyone who is looking to explore martial arts. This dojo is extremely newbie-​friendly and helps even non-​athletes (like myself) become more comfortable in their body and confident in the way they move. The only caution I would have is that Aikido in general requires a certain level of maturity and respect and is not for those that are looking for a light exercise. The classes are real work!