Mountain View Aiki Kai

I have trained with Sensei Lunia for several years. It’s a difficult and challenging art.
Personal growth is never easy. It takes insight and dedication. Most of work is done by the student with guidance of a skilled instructor. Sensei Lunia shines in this regard.
What type of person are you and what do you to make of yourself. This Sensei wants to find out where you are and what are you going to become. Martial arts are about personal expression. Don’t believe me go watch Bruce Lee’s earlier interview’s.
So if you want to learn how to throw a punch or a kick. Well you’ll learn that here. If you want to learn are you a puncher or a kicker? Are you a grappler? Are you at peace or in dynamic motion? Does your brain work through sudden insight, or careful examination? Come find out!

Unusual set up + peculiar master = …
It’s been a year since I started training at this dojo and I’m yet to make sense of this place. Although my initial plan behind joining the dojo was to just learn a martial art, training here has changed my life profoundly:
— I went from being drowned in work, unsatisfied and barely managing to deliver projects on time to drawing healthy boundaries with it, proactively leading projects and delivering them beyond expectations.
— Despite being acrophobic enough that I couldn’t look down from the third floor of a building, on two separate shugyos (training in nature), I’ve rappelled down a canyon about 300 feet and hiked up to the plateau on Mt. Conness in Yosemite.
— For a couple of years, my relationship with my mother had turned to being just cordial and we were barely on talking terms. I’m learning to have compassion for my mother’s world and we’ve now gone back to having a loving relationship where we care for each other, even when we disagree.
— I also went from being hesitant about embracing commitment to proposing to my loving girlfriend. The fact that almost everyone from the dojo drove 50 miles each way to attend the small engagement party is testament to how close knit this community is.
— My primary intent behind learning the martial art is to stop having to think through everything and instead unlock my creativity to be more spontaneous. Towards that end, as a part of the dojo activities, I’ve designed three separate websites with another dojo mate (although I had never built or designed a website before).
These are just the obvious changes that have happened in my life. The sense of belonging, deeper relationship with the community, opening up to life and other spiritual changes are harder to articulate in a Unilocal review.
Much of that, I owe to the way Lunia Sensei teaches and has set up the dojo. He is a strange man. Although he can evoke fear (if he wants to) even when he barely moves, he is one of the kindest souls I’ve met. The kids in the dojo love being trained by Lunia Sensei. His skill in the martial art is exceptional. He distills down his insights from neuroscience, mythology and somatics to teach us the martial art more effectively. I deeply respect that his motivation is for each of us to be better versions of ourselves everyday, instead of competing with others or trying to be imitations of someone else (including himself). His instruction puts emphasis on commitment and contribution.
Vilaire Sensei, the head of the tradition teaches here regularly. His classes are filled with stories of tradition and extreme practical applications of the art for self-​defense.
Thul Sensei, a high ranking practitioner of the art, assists Lunia Sensei in the dojo. He is approachable, humble and trains with even the most junior students in class. His clear instruction on form makes it easy for junior students to learn from him.
There are also things to consider:
— It is a huge commitment in terms of time and effort. As other reviewers have noted, there are plenty of writing and reading assignments too.
— The teaching style here is old school and hence, _​intense_​. With kids, you can certainly expect responsible instruction but not mollycoddling.
— I cannot imagine this being a weekly-​two-​visits-​to-​the-​dojo sort of place. The training and work with the dojo will integrate into all aspects of life. That also means facing uncomfortable truths about ourselves.
— Although there is certainly a fitness component to training at this dojo, the focus of the training is on holistic well-​being and not much on weight loss, muscle building etc.
If you’re feeling stuck with some aspect of your life or any of the above piques your curiosity, drop by. I wager that it will change your life.

My friend, who summited Mount Everest, told me about Sensei Mahipal Lunia and Mountain View Aiki Kai. I thought, well, if a guy tough enough to meet the challenge of Everest recommends this as an outstanding martial arts class, this must be good. Actually, it is way better than what I had originally thought.
I was looking for a class for my teenage son. I told him about this class and he decided to give it a try. It has been an amazing experience for him. My son had not really connected with a single sport or activity prior to this, nor had he been particularly motivated to commit to anything. Sensei Lunia creates a unique martial arts experience where what you learn is far beyond martial arts skills. It is really a class where my son is developing as a person, both physically, mentally and spiritually. He is gaining confidence and strength. For the first time ever, he is self-​motivated and taking personal responsibility for attending and progressing in a sport.
My son told me that a friend of his was thinking about signing-​up and he said to me, «mom, I hope he signs-​up, I have gotten so many insights from Sensei Lunia and I would like my friend to have the same opportunity.»
This class is a gift but it is also a serious commitment. If you are looking for something basic and typical and a chance to get a belt, look elsewhere. If you are looking for a real opportunity to grow and develop through this art, you have found what you are looking for.
I would also add that Sensei Lunia runs this school as a non-​profit and donates the money he earns to charity. His goal, which I find inspiring, is to provide a true martial arts training to his students and improve the world at large as part of that process.

I spent 2 years with Mountain View Aiki Kai but am no longer with the school due to distance. Instructor is very well trained and proficient at teaching to individuals strengths and weaknesses. The art is functional for real life combat and thus requires the student be willing to put in work. My training included reading and writing assignments which I found beneficial.
My personal experience with Mountain View Aiki Kai was very positive. The instruction was based on natural principles that I have been able to apply to all areas of my life. My time with MVAK occurred during a pivotal time in my life and I truly believe the training benefited me consideribly during this time.

My son is home-​schooled, so I was looking for a community where he could learn social and communication skills while developing his physical coordination. Under Sensei Lunia’s tutelage at Mountain View Aiki, C.J. got the best of both worlds. My son had structured opportunities to interact with his juniors, peers and seniors in order to develop respect and leadership skills. The physical training incorporated both fine and major muscle control while developing his whole body coordination. I was thrilled that both of my prerequisites were fulfilled, but there were additional benefits he received from his time at the dojo that I didn’t expect. This particular art emphasizes the study of natural laws and helps students incorporate those principles into their every day decision making. My son who is now eight years old got exposed to deep philosophy that was taught in a manner that he could relate to and internalize. He will carry those understandings with him for the rest of his life. I cannot recommend this dojo highly enough. They are a principle based organization that is run as a non-​profit, so they are never forced to compromise their values for money’s sake. The training is rigorous, but they have a supportive community with a diverse following and your children will find that the dojo is a place of appreciation and love where they will be accepted with open arms.

I have to admit that when I was picking up a dojo for my son I made a couple of mistakes. Tried two places before I found Mountain View Aiki Kai. The first one guaranteed my son a black belt if I signed up and paid the fees upfront and the second one was close to my son’s after school and hence very convenient. However they both did not last long. I then discovered Mountain View Aiki Kai and I have to say I have found a place which my son now really enjoys going to. Some martial arts instructors are in business simply to get your money and could care less about your progress in the art they teach but Sensei Lunia is very passionate about his art and takes a lot of pride in teaching the same. This is the only dojo I found that focuses not only on how to have better technique, but how to be a better person as well. One thing to note about this school is that, they will not give you a belt or let you take a belt test if you are not ready for it.

Si buscas Paz interior y aprender a dominarte a ti mismo esto es para ti! Las artes marciales es un bono extra.
Yo e estado en esta clase 4 años y e aprendido que el primer paso para La Paz es estar preparado para la guerra.

Esta clase es algo que cuando empiezas no podrás parar y a lo largo te darás cuenta que sólo te puede beneficiar, para mi en lo personal me a traído disciplina y e aprendido a respetar la naturaleza así como a mi mismo a enfocarme en lo que realmente vale la pena.
Sólo quiero dar gracias a mi Sensei Mahipal por esta gran oportunidad.

When I left the USA to go to university, training with sensei Mahipal Lunia was one of the two things I missed the most and was the saddest about leaving! I trained with him at Mountain View Aiki Kai for about 6 months, then I left the USA. When I found this dojo I realized it was unique, but had no idea just how much! They were training outside at a park when I walked up to them to watch and wait to speak with the instructor (Mahipal) my first time, 2 students and the sensei back then. Mountain View Aiki Kai is more than just martial arts training, but mental as well. I have told sensei Lunia that his classes ruined martial arts for me! haha Since then it has been hard to find a dojo that seems «real» to me; the training outdoors and the discussions we had I have not since encountered. It is a dream of mine to begin training again with him. It has been about 5 years ago, and sensei Lunia and I still speak every now and then. This is a real and deep-​rooted martial arts system practiced in the outdoors, creating a feeling I have not since had when training.
If you are even considering to begin, or continue, any martial arts training then I could not recommend this dojo more! Physical and spiritual work and very effective self-​defense techniques along with the atmosphere and the person of sensei Mahipal Lunia make me give this dojo a ⁶⁄₅ stars!

In summer of 2010 a buddy invited me to check out his dojo and explained that it was a «serious» martial art. I had no idea what to expect, but I was interested in learning some real fighting techniques, so I went to check it out. The Sensei interviewed me before I could join the class to find out what I was looking for. I had a casual interest when I joined Mountain View Aiki and there was no way for me to know that studying an ancient art would impact my life to the extent it has. I did get what I was looking for which was an effective self-​defense system from an elite instructor, but that was just the beginning. I’ve developed great friendships within the dojo. I’ve developed many character values that I didn’t previously have. I developed a love for nature during our wilderness backpacking/​training trips. Most importantly; I felt encouraged to pursue my purpose, my truth, my path. In my opinion that is the underlying essence that Mahipal Lunia Sensei teaches throughout his four national and international dojos. I highly recommend this art and this particular dojo especially. If you are looking for a unique way to get physically and mentally healthy at the same time; then schedule an interview to find out if this group is right for you.