Heaven and Earth Aikido

Whether you are a dedicated practitioner of aikido or just want to have fun, Heaven and Earth Aikido (HEA) is for you.
My son joined HEA after trying other martial arts. He instantly took to aikido — it spoke to his nature more than the «harder» martial arts like karate and tae kwon do. He loves rolling around the mat while simultaneously learning important life lessons like how to fall correctly without breaking a limb. Self-​defense is also emphasized, mostly in a «protect yourself and run» defensive sort of way. Sensei Brian and Sensei Rick have patient but firm demeanors that make them perfect for working with the kids. They are able to captivate the class and keep them focused, while letting them blow off steam and have fun. Perfect case in point: shikko dodgeball — the kids learn how to move and control their bodies while playing dodgeball, all the time on their knees!
After watching my son practicing aikido for about 2 months, I decided to join. Being somewhat overweight and with bad knees, I had assumed that any sort of martial art was no longer an option. To my surprise, I quickly found out that aikido works well for any age and physical condition. Aikido now offers me a wonderful release after a stressful day at the office. It feels good and I am proud to say that I am seeing results at my waistline. My energy level is also significantly improved.
All of the teachers and other students at HEA are very personable and supportive. This promotes an atmosphere of comradery and motivation, rather than one of competitiveness that you might find with other martial arts or at health clubs. The fact that HEA offers multiple training techniques all for the same monthly cost is also unique and a great way to shake things up — want to supplement your aikido training with weapons (swords or staffs) or qigong (similar to tai chi)… then head on over to HEA.

Aikido is a wonderful, soft alternative to Karate/​Tae Kwan Do. Sensei Ericksen is amazing and classes are offered for kids, families and mobility impaired. I would encourage anyone with a curiosity or interest in Aikido to drop by the dojo and watch a class and meet Sensei Ericksen.

Heaven and Earth Aikido is helping our daughter become a strong woman, both physically and mentally.
It has been 4 weeks since discovering Heaven and Earth Aikido for our daughter. In that time, not only has she learned Aikido techniques, she has learned life lessons. As a parent, I cannot say enough about Sensei Ericksen’s teaching methods and philosophy being a gift to his students. He teaches not only Aikido skills, but engenders respect in a quiet manner, both in the teacher-​student relationships and the student-​student relationships. My daughter is treated as a valuable member of the dojo by everyone there. She is gaining confidence, not only from being able to protect herself when encountering a much bigger adversary, but by being mentored by the other students, as each student takes the role of learner and teacher that extends beyond lessons learned on the mat.
There is quiet laughter, smiles, and lots of sweat as students train. For younger kids, there is serious instruction that is laced with humor and fun. When the weather is good, classes are held outside so that students can extend their Aikido practice to being in harmony with nature.
Heaven and Earth Aikido creates a family atmosphere where all are welcome, regardless of age or skill level. Sensei Ericksen expands upon this by having family movie nights, taking field trips to train at other Aikido dojos, setting-​up dojo-​wide charity events, providing opportunities for students to give back to the community and the dojo, and creating an atmosphere that feels, as my daughter says, «like I’ve found a home filled with friends.»
I do not think we could have found a better place for our daughter.

Aikido has been on my bucket list since I took an introductory course on it as a college freshman. This year I opted to finally get started with it, after I spotted H&E here on Unilocal being close to home. Having studied Zen Buddhism and Bushido while younger, the core philosophy of Aikido very much catered to what I was seeking in a martial art. In my 2 months of practice I have found Sensei Ericksen to be an experienced and patient teacher with a unique style (no two classes will ever be the same outside of ritual), but he is also an admirable human being on a personal level which I find very important in a coach of any kind.
One of the coolest aspects of practicing Aikido at H&E is the variety of students. I have practiced with young children as well as senior citizens. The dojo is filled with a wide variety of friendly students and instructors, and is open to learners of any age, gender, or athletic level. Some of Sensei’s key teaching philosophies is that students should constantly practice outside of their comfort zones, and you will also find yourself teaching others while learning. This real world grounding towards training and communal learning format is time tested across generations and simply a more positive experience.
For those out there seeking a novel way to get in more exercise I can certainly attest that classes will be a workout. Sensei will never ask you to do what you are physically unable to, and is a keen observer for any health concerns or nagging injuries. That being said, he has no qualms pushing you to your limits, wherever they lay that day. 2 months in, I have yet to not be sore after a class, and I am usually breaking a healthy sweat before warm ups have finished.
For anyone on the fence on taking martial arts, or not convinced of the practicality of learning a self defense technique centered on not harming one’s aggressors, I would invite you to try some classes and see how you feel afterward. There are a number of elements to physical fitness, and in my 2 months of classes at H&E I have found all of them challenged so far.

It’s great to have aikido nearby! Awesome
Location. Plenty of parking nearby too. Sensei Ericksen is a long time practitioner and a direct Student of 2 of the world’s top Shihans of Aikido. He is very knowledgeable and a wonderful instructor. The students and instructors are friendly too. I highly recommend this place if you want to learn authentic aikido!