We are delighted to share that Hao has published a new memoir through Autonomous Press, The Old Village Road. It's available for paperback and e-book, and you can read about his creative process on the press blog. autpress.com autpress.com/2026/03/old-... @autonomouspress.bsky.social

We are looking forward to Hao's new memoir. He writes with a great deal of heart.

We are open with a regular schedule on Easter Sunday, April 5. See you at 12:30pm for open hand class. And if you want to plan ahead, we post holiday notes on the events page. aikiarts.com/upcoming-doj...

We are delighted to share that classes are free for new students all month in June. And anyone that trains in six or more classes gets a free uniform when they register for membership. If you have friends and family that want to start practice, this is a great time.

We are pleased to share that Sunday, April 12 and Sunday, April 26 are promotion days for November and Ronn. They are moving up to the second level of brown belt, also known as 1st kyu.

We are hosting a family day on Tuesday, April 7. On family days, parents and siblings age seven and up can join the class and get a sense of what your kids are learning. It's an opportunity for the students to be the experts and show the games and movements that are the foundation of our practice.

"You are here for no other purpose than to realize your inner divinity and manifest your inner enlightenment. Foster peace in your own life and then apply the Art to all that you encounter." O Sensei

"Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like." - Lao Tzu

We are promoting two students to yellow belt in the youth class on Tuesday. If you are an adult student coming to support them, please show up between 4pm - 4:20pm. The families tend to arrive about 4:30pm and class runs for an hour. See you there.

It's so helpful to be together in community. We have a Picante meal on Sunday, March 22 and then a party at a dojo member's home on Sunday, April 26. See you there.

We are pleased to share a new video, made for the parents of our youth students, though useful for everyone. It shows the basic exercises that we practice as our foundation, along with new material. We are learning to be present in the body, calm and grounded, and to move with purpose.

The beginner series is rolling along at Aiki Arts Center. We have two more Fridays (show up at 6pm) with these techniques and ki exercises. katate tori - tenkan katate tori - sayu nage gyakute tori - irimi nage ryo kata tori - kokyu nage tenkan shomen uchi - kaiten nage yokomen uchi - omote nage

We are pleased to share that the dojo has been selected to give a demonstration at the Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco next month. If you are free on Saturday, April 11, come by 1840 Sutter Street and look for the main stage. Our time slot is 2:30pm - 3pm though you may want to aim early.

We are delighted to share three more promotions this spring. They happen during the regular Sunday class (12:30pm - 2:30pm). Hope you can join us. Sunday, April 12 November - 1st kyu Sunday, April 26 Ronn - 1st kyu Sunday, May 17 Elise - 3rd kyu

We are honored to give a demonstration at the Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco on Saturday, April 11 (2:30pm - 3pm). You can come by the stage at 1840 Sutter Street, and we will be looking for volunteers too.

We are delighted to share this interview with Hao about his first book, Skinny Woman in a Straw Hat. And you can stay tuned for a new book (and interview) later in the spring. He is a beautiful storyteller. autpress.com/2023/09/inte... @autonomouspress.bsky.social

Our beginner series starts tonight (show up at 6pm) and spans all four Fridays in March. It's suitable for brand new students, anyone preparing for orange belt, and more experienced students. The fundamentals are always relevant.

A year ago: It's wonderful to see Mike as a black belt. Thank you for all the heart and play you bring to the group. See you next time.

Berkeley Unified School District is taking spring break in late March and early April. We will be open with a regular schedule that week. aikiarts.com/upcoming-doj...

We are looking forward to the beginner series on Fridays next month. Here are the techniques that we'll learn (along with ki exercises). katate tori - tenkan katate tori - sayu nage gyakute tori - irimi nage ryo kata tori - kokyu nage tenkan shomen uchi - kaiten nage yokomen uchi - omote nage

We started the spring promotion season yesterday and it went great. Thank you for supporting Eli in becoming 5th kyu (second level orange). And if you want to plan ahead, here are more events. aikiarts.com/upcoming-doj...

On Thursday, February 19 we are opening up the youth program to parents and siblings age seven and up. That means our students will get to be experienced mentors, showing what they are learning. And if there is interest, we'll schedule a family day for the Tuesday class later in the spring.

"Most of us want to be more graceful and less awkward. But I don’t think the awkwardness of being human can ever be fully transcended. It might look that way when we see certain bodies on stages or movie screens, but there’s a lot of illusion involved in that." neuroqueer.com/the-awkwardn...

Many of you know Anno Sensei from the wonderful book Journey to the Heart of Aikido by Linda Holiday Sensei. They enjoyed a lifelong friendship of mutual support. If you are free on Saturday, February 28 at 9am Pacific, come celebrate his life with the larger group. aikidosantacruz.org/events

We are pleased to share a Girl Scout Cookie option that benefits the dojo community. Here is the link to purchase from Alan Sensei's daughter. Thank you for supporting our local young people. digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/scout/anna76...

We're talking with the San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival about an exhibition in April. As the plans develop, we'll have more information to share. It's a fun event for the whole family. sfcherryblossom.org

We are having a great time in the youth class. As many of our students are younger with the current enrollments, here is a helpful video on how to put on the jacket and belt. Hope you like it.

We are pleased to share a beginner series on Fridays in March (6pm arrival and 7:30pm pack up). If you would like to start practice, it's a wonderful time. The series is free for dojo members or you can reach out through the website for payment options. aikiarts.com/upcoming-doj...

"May his passage remind us to look deeply, love deeply, and continue to learn and share Aikido deeply, as we live our precious lives with full commitment." – Linda Holiday Sensei aikidosantacruz.org/motomichi-an...

We get the great honor of sharing Studio 12 with UpSwing Aerial Dance & Company. They are hosting a youth summer camp for ages ten to sixteen. You can learn more here: www.upswingaerialdance.org/summer-camp

We are gathering at Picante after class on Sunday, and it's a beautiful chance to get to know each other. Then two weeks later we begin the spring promotion season. See you there. aikiarts.com/upcoming-doj...

We are delighted to share this post from Dean Gloster on YA Outside the Lines. It's about how we can show up for each other with a depth of care. @deangloster.bsky.social yaoutsidethelines.blogspot.com/2026/01/adio...

"Techniques employ four qualities that reflect the nature of our world. Depending on the circumstance, you should be: hard as a diamond, flexible as a willow, smooth-flowing like water, or as empty as space." O Sensei @aikiartscenter.bsky.social

"If your heart is large enough to envelop your adversaries, you can see right through them and avoid their attacks. And once you envelop them, you will be able to guide them along the path indicated to you by heaven and earth." - O Sensei

It's always fun to see photos from the archives. Here we are four years ago, with Zoe that came up in the youth classes and Ronn Sensei that is teaching in our re-launched youth program. We are open for ages seven to twelve on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The youth program is going strong. We are learning how to count in Japanese, how to work with our own power, and how to support each other in learning. It's a fun group that is leveling up together.

It's such an honor to publish Dean Gloster in Spoon Knife 6 (Rest Stop) and Spoon Knife 9 (Numbers). You can get to know him through this wonderful aikido interview. aikiarts.com/dean-gloster...

We are going strong with free classes at Aiki Arts Center this month. It's a chance to learn the skills of play and calm in a supportive group. If you are in the Bay Area and looking for a practice, come on through. I am teaching tonight, show up at 6pm. @aikiartscenter.bsky.social

We are having fun in the youth class. Today we jumped up this flight of stairs while counting to three in Japanese. There was also time to whack sticks (taller than the students in several cases) and do forward rolls. It's a playful group.

Here is a video on the complementary roles of nage (the person who throws or pins an attacker) and uke (the person who provides an attack for the nage to work with). aikiarts.com/video-partne...

Youth program updates: Our Tuesday class will be led by Azzia Sensei and Ronn Sensei, and the Thursday class will be led by Azzia Sensei and Hao Sensei. Students learn coordination, bravery, and creativity in a playful setting. See you there. aikiarts.com/instructors/

When we were young: the Aiki Arts Center group six years ago. @aikiartscenter.bsky.social

We have three spare mats that anyone can take home for extra rolling and side fall practice (they also make nice benches when folded up). Much like the mats we use in open hand classes, they are twelve feet by six feet when expanded.

We've got two more weeks of free classes for adults. It's a wonderful time to start your training, and you can learn more about the art in this fabulous interview with Nick Walker Sensei. aikiarts.com/insights-for...

"The better approach is to be willfully ignorant of everything else you need to do, while giving full attention to one task at a time. In a sense, a lumberjack can only chop the tree in front of him or her, and can’t do anything with a bunch of half-chopped trees." Peter Hollins Learn Like Einstein

We are so happy to present Mike with the ten year mug. He started training right after Zoe, and engaged fully by practicing with the kids and adults from the beginning. Thank you for the warmth and dedication you bring to the group. @mikejungwroteabook.bsky.social

We have promotions, community meals, and holiday schedules on the calendar. Here is the link so you can plan ahead. And new adult students practice free this month (January) so it's a lovely time to start training. aikiarts.com/upcoming-doj...

We are ready for youth class this afternoon. The students take turns ringing the gong that starts practice and choosing the stickers of the day.

We are open with a regular schedule on Monday, January 19 (MLK Day). As orientation for anyone new: we gather at 7:30pm for sticks practice, and do this class in street clothes. You can simply show up with a water bottle as we have spare sticks.