Aikido, which when translated from Japanese basically means to unify using life energy, is a martial art that uses an attacker’s aggression against them in order to overcome them without causing serious injury to the attacker.  This is done using throws, pins, and joint locks. This is a great skill to learn and there are many places you can learn it around the world.

The San Francisco Aikikai Club

If you happen to live in San Francisco (or close by) and are interested in learning all about Aikido, then the San Francisco Aikikai Club is definitely the place you should be visiting. It first opened its doors in 1992 and it is still going strong nearly three decades later, which emphasizes just how good a school it must be. In fact, AMAM Magazine named us as one of the best aikido schools in the country.

What Makes Them So Good?

Well, the founders of this school firmly believe that everyone who walks through their doors deserves nothing but the best training in return for their hard-earned cash. Therefore, they are extremely picky when it comes to who they hire as instructors.

They will only hire instructors who are highly qualified and have years of experience under their belts (pun not intended here). Furthermore, they ensure that all of their instructors are very easy to talk to, so if you ever have any questions, they will be more than happy to sit down with you and answer them all.

Let’s Take a Look at the Instructors at This Club

Joseph Vervilles: Verville Sensei started his training at this very club back in 1993, and he gained his black belt six years later. In 2003, he was promoted to Chief Instructor at the club. To learn more about aikido, he often attends seminars.

Alesia Kunz: When she first saw people performing martial arts in New Mexico, she said to herself that she wants to be able to do that. She moved to New York in 1979 and signed up to New York Akikai. She earned her Shodan and then moved to San Francisco, where she started teaching an Aikido school for women. When the San Francisco Aikikai Club opened in 1992, she applied to work there and has been teaching there ever since.

Lauren Mallas: She is one of the founding members of this club, alongside Joel Posluns, Yoshimitsu Yamada, and Mitsunari Kanai. She spent many years practicing this craft in Tokyo, so has learnt from some of the very best in the world.

Phillipe Gendrault: He practiced judo while he was growing up in France. He eventually moved to San Francisco where he discovered aikido. He joined the school and was taught by Posluns, Yamada, and Kanai. He is extremely committed to teaching his students the basics of aikido so that they can carry it out with sincerity and integrity.

Steve Sandage: He started training at this club in 1997. He was also taught by Posluns and he got his Shodan 8 years later in 2005. He began teaching at the club in 2010.

As you can see, all of the instructors at this club are highly experienced and definitely know what they are talking about when it comes to aikido. Therefore, when you are learning at this club, you can be certain that you are in some of the best hands possible.

What Different Classes Are Offered at This Club?

They offer basic, beginner, normal, and advanced classes at the club throughout the whole week. Therefore, it does not matter what level you are at, you will be able to find a class that you can join and learn all about aikido and self-defence.

They offer classes in the morning and in the afternoon, so it should also be very easy to fit a class into your busy schedule.  Furthermore, the prices of the lessons, when you take into consideration the quality of the instructors, are very reasonable. 

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