Special 2022 Summer Pricing for Youth Aikido

This summer we are offering a special discount for kids ages 7-14 to come and learn Aikido with us:

$25 / month for 1 child, or $40 / month for 2 children, for June, July, and August.

Youth classes emphasize cooperation, respect, fitness, and fun.  Classes cover the same basic movements, rolls, and many of the same hand and weapon techniques as in the adult classes, but at a level appropriate for younger students. Youth classes are a great way for young students to practice focus, discipline, and movement. Students learn to practice harmony and cooperation through Aikido techniques.  Parents are welcome to attend class with their children, or sit on the side and watch if they wish.

No special equipment or clothing required! Students should wear comfortable clothing that covers knees and elbows. We practice Aikido barefoot.

Youth classes are Saturdays from 10:00 – 10:45 am.

Questions? Please email instructors@aikidomn.org


COVID Protocols: Due to the close contact nature of Aikido, we require all students to be vaccinated. We train in masks when the Hennepin County community risk levels on the COVID Act Now site are at yellow or orange.


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Kobukan response to COVID-19

See our top instructor, Kristin-sensei’s communication about our response to COVID-19 and closures planned to help keep our community safe.

Osu!
In order to do our part in the COVID-19 response, Aikido Yoshokia of Minnesota will be suspending all training classes at the Kobukan dojo effective immediately.

We know that remaining physically and mentally healthy is important during these difficult times. To help our students and families do so, our instructors will be constructing lesson plans that will be video recorded and sent to our students so they can practice in their homes.  We are also developing ways to share our experiences of home training with one another to help motivate and support one another. 

Please watch for details in the coming weeks. And thank you for continuing to support our dojo as you are able. While we cannot responsibly offer our usual classes, we hope students and supporters who can continue to pay dues and make donations will continue to do so. Dues can be paid here, and donations made here.

Thank you and Osu!
Kristin Maier

Bring harmony to your new year, try a free Aikido class on Jan. 4, 2020

Add the practice of harmony to your new year.

Ever wondered if Aikido is for you? Come try out a beginning Aikido class this Saturday for free. Aikido is a Japanese martial art that focuses on balance and creating harmony with another person. Our classes include strength and flexibility training, solo techniques, techniques with a partner, and weapons techniques.

Join us Saturday Jan. 4, 2020 for free Aikido classes:

  • Youth class (ages 7-14) is from 11:00 – 11:45 Saturday morning
  • Adult class (14+) is from 12:30 – 1:30 pm.

Wear loose-fitting clothes (long pants and sleeves recommended), no other equipment or uniform or experience is needed.

If you enjoy the class, we would love to have you continue training with us. Our Introduction to Aikido session runs on Saturdays through Feb. 29, 2020. Our Youth classes run on a monthly basis. We also offer all-level (appropriate for beginner) classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:00 – 8:00 pm.

Aikido Yoshokai of Minnesota is a welcoming dojo in NE Minneapolis committed to supporting all students in their study and practice of Aikido.
For more information about our classes, check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

New class! Introduction to Aikido, starting April 6, 2019

We have a new 8-week class, Introduction to Aikido!  The class runs for 8 weeks, from April 6 – May 25, 2019.  It will meet on Saturdays from 12:30 – 1:30 pm.  The cost for the 2 month session is $95.  You can register here.

This course is intended for beginners who would like to learn more about Aikido.  Learn about the philosophy of Aikido as well as movements, safe falls, partner techniques, and weapons techniques.  No special equipment or uniforms required.   We hope you’ll join us!

If you are interested in starting Aikido, but cannot make the Saturday class, fear not! You are also welcome to join our beginner/all level classes on either Tuesdays or Thursdays from 7:00 – 8:00 pm.  Cost for those classes is $50 per month for one class a week, or $65 per month for unlimited beginner / all level classes.

Read more about starting Aikido and the introductory class.

Recap of April and May Events

It has been a busy couple of months at Kobukan!

We did indeed start classes at the beginning of April, and we’ve been slowly getting settled into our new space and figuring out the quirks like in any new place. Number 1, no overhead buki strikes under the garage door track!

We had just about 3 weeks of classes before Akira-sensei visited for his previously planned Minnesota Clinic Weekend. We were excited to host him and other visitors from Michigan and Ohio at our new space and try out a couple of neighborhood restaurants on the Saturday. Sunday, we were in Northfield at the Carleton College Aikido Club, the Kyobukan, as in the past few years. It was a great weekend!

We do have awesome neighbors in the Waterbury building, and that is a welcome bonus! (Our special thanks to Antioch Church, Monkey in a Dryer, and Geek Partnership Society for their help!)  We also have an active property manager, and the entire Waterbury building participated in Art-a-Whirl weekend! We weren’t sure what to expect, and we didn’t have much time to plan with Akira-sensei’s visit and just moving in, but we had a great time. We opened up the garage door for people to stop in and watch us practice or during our normal classes.  Saw some old friends, and hopefully made some new ones! In addition to our art in motion, one of our students, Tilde-san, displayed her pottery. And, she just graduated from the Fine Arts program at the U of MN — congratulations, Tilde-san!

Now that the big events are out of the way for a while, we’re looking forward to doing a little painting in the dojo. We’re also planning an adult Kyu test for this summer, so stay tuned. Osu!

 

Big news: a new location!

We are excited to announce that the Kobukan Dojo is moving to Northeast Minneapolis!

We will once again have our own, dedicated dojo space in the well-maintained (and very safe!) Waterbury Building in the thriving Northeast Arts district. We are on target to start classes at the new location next week!

We also send a big Thank You to the Blaisdell YMCA for making Aikido part of their program offerings for the last 3+ years. It has been great to see Blaisdell Y’s community programming expand, but Aikido class time has been getting tight, so this move opens new possibilities for us to support our students in their Aikido study with additional class options. It is an exciting time for Yoshokai Aikido in Minnesota!

 

Kobukan News

Osu!

The Kobukan Aikido Dojo is hoping to move to a new location. This will allow us to hold classes on our own schedule as well as better host events when Akira Kushida-sensei comes to town.  Please watch this space for more information!

Osu!