Sunset Cliffs Aikido

Specialties

We teach Traditional Aikido for adults.. Basics is a key in learning any martial arts. We specialize in teaching basics and gradually move to flowing advance moves. The head instructor is a 6^th degree black belt, Bernice Tom. Beginners Instructor is a 5^th degree black belt, Benjamin Teeter.

We also have a great children’s program, ages from 8 to 14 years. They learn concentration, blending with others, discipline, games and of course great Aikido while having fun. The head instructor, Bernice Tom, a 6^th degree black belt, manages this class.

History

Established in 1984.

Bernice Tom began teaching at Sunset Cliffs Aikido in 1985. The school was started by Wes Levens the previous year. He had the school until 1987 when he moved. Bernice Tom took over the school at that time revising the lesson plans to integrate more of Morihiro Saito Sensei’s teachings. She became the sole proprietor in 1990. She and the students have built up the school and made it what it is today. During the years, she has kept her connection with her teacher, Morihiro Saito Sensei until his passing in 2002. She would visit Iwama yearly where Saito Morihiro Sensei lived. In return he would come yearly to visit Sunset Cliffs Aikido from 1988 to 1995. The style that is taught is mainly what she learned from Saito Morihiro Sensei who studied with the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, for 23 years. There is a lot of care for the students at Sunset Cliffs Aikido in creating what Morihei Ueshiba would call the «one world family.»

Meet the Business Owner

Bernice T.

Business Owner

Bernice Tom began Aikido in 1974 at the Aikido Institute of Oakland.

She trained consistently from fall ’74 to ’77. In ’77 she went to Iwama, Japan, for the first time where she encountered her first of many incredible experiences with one of aikido’s finest teachers, Saito Morihiro Sensei, her long time teacher. The training was an intense 4 hours daily, for one month. She came back charged with inspiration and determination. In 1980 she moved to Japan to live and study aikido. In 1985 she moved back to San Francisco, her home town, then to San Diego where she began teaching at Sunset Cliffs Aikido. She has been teaching and caring for the dojo, with the help of the other students, assistant instructors, especially Ben Teeter, the basics class instructor, these 25 years. She recently participated in the Oakland Institute 40^th Anniversary where Bernice Tom trained and taught with many old aikido partners, a fitting celebration to her 36 years in Aikido.