Aikido Silicon Valley

I’ve been training at this dojo for more than six years. It has had a huge impact on my life!
Beginners are in good hands here. At the start of class, you line up in order of seniority. After the teacher demonstrates the first technique, you pick a partner to train with for the rest of the class. It’s expected and encouraged for beginners to rush to the opposite side of the mat and snag a senior student to train with. The culture here is that senior students are very patient and really take the time to help their partners improve. As you move towards the other end of the mat, you tend to train more with people your level, so you get better at recognizing your own correct or incorrect technique. Of course, the teacher is walking around helping people individually during practice, so they won’t let you off the hook if you’re doing it wrong! And then as you get into brown/​black belt territory, it becomes increasingly important that you are able to teach your partner in addition to improving yourself. At least, that’s how I see it.
Generally, people decide to go to either the evening classes or the morning classes during the weekdays. Nothing’s stopping you from attending both, though. Based on my experience, the evening classes usually have 10 – 20 students on the mat, and the morning classes usually have 3 – 7. The dojo founders (including Witt Sensei, who trained with the founder of aikido as well as the founder of the Iwama style taught here) tend to teach in the evenings and on Saturday mornings.
Other tips:
— The stated class time is 100% pure class time. So for the evening classes, plan to come 10 – 15 minutes early to help set up mats and warm up. For the morning classes, expect to stay a few minutes later to put away mats.
— Learn to pronounce «Onegaishimasu» and «Doumo arigatou gozaimashita» (
) since we say those a lot. Unlike other matters of etiquette, it’s hard to pick those up just by copying other people.
— There are no competitions in aikido.
— You learn a lot by preparing for tests. There are six belt levels before black belt, and then there are different degrees of black belts. A few weeks before you take the test for your next belt, you ask a more senior student to help you train, and usually you arrange to practice with that person after class in the weeks leading up to your test. Since the training is focused on a few techniques, it really helps you polish them.
— Weapons (usually a long wooden stick and a wooden sword, and sometimes a wooden dagger) are taught sometimes during the regular classes, but Saturday has a dedicated weapons class.
— I see first-​timers show up in sweatpants and nobody looks askance at them. Eventually you’ll want a proper aikido uniform though.
And finally, some reasons why I like coming here.
— I’ve learned a lot, both from the teachers and the other students. Their patience and kindness are amazing.
— It’s easy to train regularly. Sunday is the only day without a class, and nothing, except sleep, conflicts with the 6:30 AM class: P
— Unlike some other martial arts, aikido almost always involves training with a partner. It’s hard to zone out when there’s a human being you’re either trying to throw or getting thrown by.

I came to this dojo in 2011 when I lived in San Jose and I loved it. The students and the instructors are really nice people. They assured much of my fun at that time. One would find intimidating when you see that many of the students are black belts, but don’t let that frighten you. All of them are very welcoming and always ready to go easy and help you in the beginning. I saw people from 8 to 80 years old training there of all levels.

I have been training at this dojo for more than a year. I like it for its high level of training and high qualification of the senseis, but even more for its attitude towards beginners. As a newcomer you will train with a senior student who will introduce you to the basics of Aikido, and as a more advanced student you will always find a challenge that you need for making a good progress. And you can do this at your own pace, depending on your busy working /​studying schedule. There are many classes and various times to acommodate almost any schedule. Highly recommend this dojo.

I’ve been training at this dojo for 3+ years now. What I love about the dojo is that everyone is friendly and is always eager to help out new students.
The dojo offers classes almost everyday both in the morning and in the evening, and there is no limit of how many classes you can attend as a full dojo member. So it offers great flexibility as well as value. There are also kids classes in the afternoon if you are a parent wanting to find after school activity for your kid.
The quality of instruction is excellent. Having Sensei, who has trained in Japan at his younger age, teaching makes differences. Also, it’s not often you can find a dojo where a Shihan teaches regularly. We are very lucky to have him with us.
Definitely come visit us if you have any interest in Aikido. We also offer introductory program for those on the fence about diving into the world of Aikido.

I’ve taken classes at ASV in 2007 after I found out about aikido from my friend. I can easily second everything that’s been said about how friendly everyone is and the generally welcoming atmosphere. There is no competitive atmosphere you see in a lot of other martial arts, either. This can be a pro or a con depending on your mindset. Someone who comes in for the first time will start off on some basic techniques with one of the senior students. After a few classes, you will join with the rest of the class. Instruction style is rather traditional. Each regular class is 1hr long, and instruction takes place in the form of kata, where the sensei demonstrates a technique, and the class breaks off into pairs to practice. The principle of senior students practicing with junior students still applies.
I’d have to knock down one star though. The changing room is rather cramped, which is annoying when you are going from work straight to the class. The schedule can also be inconvenient. There is only one 1hr adult class in evening and one in the morning. Check the schedule and how well it works for you before you commit.
The main reason I left ASV after about six months has to do with Aikido and its philosophy, rather than any shortcomings of the dojo or the instructors, all of whom are extremely skilled and courteous. Without going on a really long rant, anyone considering training in Aikido needs to understand Aikido is more about personal development and having fun, rather than learning how to fight off someone more interested in ripping your head off than exchanging pleasantries. In any case, there is no law that says you can’t cross-​train in striking arts such as kickboxing or boxing, which put more emphasis on physical conditioning and the mental conditioning necessary to fight against someone who wants to hit you as much as you want to hit them.

When my old Aikido dojo closed, I visited several area dojos (schools) but kept coming back to this one because the quality of instruction is excellent and because everyone was having fun. I have now been there about 4 years. I am still having fun!
I have tried many forms of exercise and this is the one that «stuck» for me. It’s good exercise, helps me focus (I am one of those distractable types), and it’s good self-​defense training.
The techniques they teach are effective and powerful but they teach in a light, forgiving manner. They are really, really good with beginners. There are three senseis (instructors). Their styles differ but all are excellent and it’s great having the broad exposure. There is also a wide range of students — a steady influx of new people on up to second– and third-​degree black belts. They mix up the levels so newer students work with higher levels. That’s provides effective learning for everyone.
As «Lu L» said — the place is fun. The training is serious and committed but there is always humor and fun.

What I like about our Aikido dojo is that people always seem to be smiling when practicing. We have great instructors and members. All our senseis have a great sense of humor and very patient. It is a great place for beginners as they practice with the higher ranking students, thus can progress and learn more easily. For me, being a gal, love to be able to throw the big guys around making the satisfying «thump» when they hit the ground :) I also love that there is early morning trainings AND evening trainings available.
This is a follow up to Kris M’s review. Learning to do forward roll is the most important part of aikido. You must be able to fall correctly, without injuring yourself, during training. It takes time to do the rolls correctly, just like any other physical activity. Bruising is part of the process. (You should see some of the bruises I used to get!) I am sorry you did not enjoy the experience. Aikido is not for everybody. I hope this did not deter you from trying other martial arts. Good luck.