As a totally new Aikido learner, I found this dojo amazingly welcoming. The master teachers are amazing, and the senior students are supportive in serving as patient and effective partners for new students. This dojo is well organized and clean, with a positive and focused atmosphere for learning. read more

I was looking for a great way to build self defense skills as well as get more balance in my life. I checked them out and they have been the most welcoming studio I've ever visited! And just by being there once, I already learned so much. Great place to practice! read more

Both my children and I have been training at the dojo for over a year now. The instructors are incredibly patient with the kids, taking the time to explain everything clearly while allowing them to still have fun and be themselves. In the adult class, the atmosphere is great. Everyone I've worked with is polite and helpful, always ensuring newcomers are safe and comfortable. Having practiced Aikido before, my belief that this martial art attracts good people has been reinforced by my experiences at this dojo. Not only will you find great training partners here, but you'll also have the opportunity to form lasting friendships. In addition to the excellent instruction and supportive community, the dojo offers a sense of belonging and camaraderie that is hard to find elsewhere. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or a complete beginner, you'll feel welcomed and valued from the moment you step onto the mat. read more

I cannot say enough great things about Aikido Silicon Valley. When I started out they turned my perception of what Aikido is upside down. I appreciated the level of understanding, explanation, and focus of techniques being practiced and applied. This is a great place for martial art beginners and for those with experience in other martial arts. The teachers and students are all genuinely friendly and deeply invested in each other's growth. They'll be there for you through challenging times and cheer for you when you succeed. read more

my son has been at this dojo for 2.5 years. great place for kids to learn discipline, patience when teaching new comers and persistence to gain new skills. instructors are knowledgable, supportive and patient. read more

I trained with Aikido Silicon Valley for about 5 years before life got in a way.. still hope to get back one day. Our dojo had profound impact on my life and I've made lasting friends here. What stood out was the people, both instructors and students, and how we trained. We are supportive of each other but still not short change our training. After a long day a work, when you sit on a mat waiting for the class to start, it gives a sense of peace, and that everyone is equal on the mat. It's a great feeling especially with the work environment in the Bay Area. We partner up and train regardless of skill level because you can always learn from people with more or less experience. If you're considering Aikido or picking up martial arts for you or your family, please drop by and give this place a look. Hope you'll find your home dojo here. read more

My son and I have been members of this dojo for about four years now. I practiced a different style of Aikido for a couple years in college, but I stopped when I first moved to the Bay Area to start my career. When my son become interested in martial arts, I decided it was time to resume my own practice. I am so glad I did, and I only regret that I did not join this dojo earlier. It has become a very important part of my life. The classes are taught by experienced practitioners, ranging from 5th dan to 8th dan in rank. Although we all practice in the same style (the Iwama style), I find the variety of instructors at our dojo to be a real treasure. Witt Shihan's teaching is incredibly clear and powerful. MacAllister Sensei often emphasizes sensitivity to the flow of energy in techniques. Ashby Sensei has a strong martial style, Yoshinaga Sensei is precise, Sato Sensei is subtle and creative. I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to learn from all of them. I will say a little bit more about the Iwama style, because it is different from what you may experience at other dojos. The head of our lineage, Saito Shihan, distilled the highly intuitive style of the Founder into a clear pedagogy, which comes down to us through Witt Shihan. Other styles may emphasize the beautiful flowing movements of Aikido, even with beginners, which can leave you wondering why a particular technique was successful or unsuccessful. With the Iwama approach, you will know why, because you learned the technique starting with a solid, centered partner who is not giving you the benefit of excessive momentum. You will be able to feel the points of resistance and learn to adapt. When the flowing style comes, it will be constructed on a firm, martially sound foundation. I find that this teaching approach suits me quite well. The atmosphere in the dojo is very supportive -- even more than you may perceive at first. At different points in your journey, you need different things. As a beginner, you need guidance about basic footwork and how to fall safely. At an intermediate level, you need more resistance from your partner to test your grasp of a technique's geometry. Occasionally you may need an explanation to get past a specific difficulty, but very often you just need to feel the technique in your body. The instructors and senior students are extremely attentive, skilled at diagnosing your problems, and thoughtful about how to help you through them. You will not find bruisers here, out to prove a point or to demonstrate their superior skills. Everyone is here to learn and to help others learn. What an incredibly rare thing in this hyper-competitive world! Beyond good exercise and great company, practicing Aikido can improve your life in ways that transcend the dojo. Aikido provides a set of tools for managing conflict, physical or otherwise. I have noticed that the way I handle conflict has become calmer, more controlled, more proportionate, and much more likely to end constructively. There is something about training these principles physically in the dojo -- over and over again -- that improves your ability to apply them in other areas of your life. Your mileage may vary, of course, but I find practice to be rewarding in so many unexpected ways. If you are curious about Aikido, let me encourage you to come try it out. Give yourself a few classes to get over some of the initial confusion -- it is worth the investment. After a few classes, you will start to catch a glimpse of what Aikido is all about, and if you're like me, you'll be hooked. But don't take my word for it. Ultimately, Aikido is something that must be experienced. It is not something that you can learn from YouTube or by reading reviews on Yelp. I hope to see you in the dojo soon! read more

I cannot recommend Aikido Silicon Valley enough. Becoming a member of this dojo has changed my life in unexpected ways. As a moderately uncoordinated and non-physical person, taking up the practice of martial arts was not anything I ever thought I could do. Each sensei is incredibly patient and knowledgeable, while the members of the dojo are very supportive and encouraging. Because junior students train with senior students, I've always felt safe and looked out for. My body and mind have both become stronger, and I have unexpectedly fallen in love with aikido thanks to this dojo. read more

Great place to do aikido. Very welcoming and very knowledgeable instructors.

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. read more

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. read more

Always interested in martial arts, I was most intrigued by Aikido for it starting with weapons training right with beginners. Went to visit this dojo and sit in during an hour session, I was most impressed. The class was conducted by David who was a gracious and patient teacher. I would join this dojo in a heartbeat, however I moved out of the South Bay Area unfortunately. There's a significant number of black belts which is a benefit to better training if you're just starting out. Just wanted to give respect and credit where it's due. read more

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 over 10 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 multiple instructors. Their styles differ but all are excellent and it's great having the broad exposure to different ideas and methods. 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. read more

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. read more

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" (http://www.aikiweb.com/language/audio.html) 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. read more

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. read more

I've been training at Aikido of Silicon Valley (ASV) for a number of years and the quality of training is phenomenal. The instructors (senseis) trained in Japan and are actively involved in the Aikido community, nationally and internationally. The school (dojo) has a rigorous training curriculum rooted in the teachings of the founder of Aikido (O'sensei). The instructors pay a lot of attention to details and provide individual feedback, while enabling students to progress at the pace they're comfortable with. One aspect of training at ASV that I find most rewarding is the the high level of commitment and support from senior students (sempis). On any given day, you are likely to be training with someone who has been in Aikido for over a decade or two. Yet, these senior students are still super helpful, patient and go out of their way to help you grow in your Aikido. read more

Surprise and delight is my wholesome experience at Dojo. A casual walk-in two years ago while skeptical of learning martial arts turned out to be long term commitment. Apart from gaining considerable self-defense skills, I improved my ability to focus and became more alert. My progress is attributed to Dojo's training culture with personal attention and mentorship from senior students. I highly recommend Exploratory 9 lessons for new students to kick off this joyful experience. read more

Great place to learn aikido. Sensei Witt is very kind, patient and supportive and the rest of the members are very friendly. I highly recommend starting your practice here if you are new to aikido. read more

Though my first time experience was not good, I went back (since the other Aikido dojo I was attending closed down). The experience was totally different. Though couple of years of Aikido at another school helped, I must admit I was impressed with the attention I received when I tried out again. The teachers, and the person who assisted me was very gentle and patient. I would definitely recommend this school for any aspiring Aikido student. read more

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. read more

I've been a member of this dojo for 10 years now. We provide aikido classes for all ages in a friendly, supportive environment. Aikido has been described as being a lot like dancing - it's the graceful martial art! The founder was still practicing in his 80's, so it's a martial art you can practice throughout your life. We'd love to tell you more. Visit www.aikidosiliconvalley.com and come see for yourself. read more

I started Aikido at this dojo in 2011- with no prior experience in martial arts- or even sports for that matter- wanting to challenge myself and to learn. The instructors at ASV are dedicated and generous in giving of their time, and wealth of talent and experience to students at all levels. They help each student cultivate the art of Aikido to their personal best. By this example, all fellow students train with each other in the same manner. In addition to excellent physical training, I found that learning Aikido as a rather "seasoned" adult (began in my late 50's) helped me hone perseverance, resilience and mental focus. At Aikido Silicon Valley, I have had the opportunity to meet and to train with incredible people who are genuine in their intent to train with rigor, but always appropriate to the person they are working with. It is also lots of fun! Aikido Silicon Valley is a stimulating and welcoming environment to challenge yourself -on many levels - at any age. read more

If you're interested in exploring a martial art, come visit a class! I have been a member of Aikido Silicon Valley since our beginning in 1998. I am very proud of the fact that we are a friendly, open group of people, dedicated to sharing the ideals and philosophy of Aikido with anyone interested in pursuing martial arts training. We are fortunate to have nationally and internationally known instructors - Michael O'Quin, Alice MacAllister, and Bill Witt. When we welcome a new student, the student receives personalized instruction in the fundamentals from a senior student. Our Aikido training is always a challenge to the individual to develop and grow in their abilities by training with other students - not to engage in competition with them to 'win' a higher rank. Everyone in our dojo is willing to share their knowledge and support to contribute to the skills and knowledge of the people they train with. Oh, and you should know that you can safely start Aikido training at any age - from 8 to 80! read more