Pasadena Aikikai School of Aikido

I go to this Japanese Cultural Center for Kyudo, but this time I came for the 50^th Anniversary for the Pasadena Aikikai last weekend. This group is wonderful. I intend to return to train with them in Aikido.

My name is James. After going to 2 other LA area dojos, I’ve settled here, and been a student for just about a year now, and love it.
Short version:
Small class sizes
Focus on fundamentals and proper form.
Good, diverse teachers (learn the same techniques different ways)
Low Price
Classes 2 days a week (Sunday/​Wednesday)
Longer Version:
First, I want to address the price note I made above. I’ve been to a number of McMartialArt schools where $ 50 a month buys you a babysitting service for your kid, belts with token «tests» and «self-​esteem» This isn’t like that.
Pasadena Aikiki is inexpensive because all of the staff are volunteers and the Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute allows them use of the space very inexpensively due to their contribution to Japanese culture in the Pasadena area. Both of these should tell you a lot, not just about the price, but about the integrity and seriousness of the instructors. This seriousness about the art (but seldom about themselves) comes out in their instruction as well.
We’re a small school, most of the classes I’ve been to have had well under 10 students (4 – 8 on an average day) which means personal attention. I’ve often had senior students sit with me during warmups and show me how to do the basic grabs, falls, etc. Unlike a number of other systems I’ve studied, just about everything in here is paired practice, so you get really used to working with other people of all sizes and shapes. I am not a subtle person, and I have a hard time making these types of moves on the mat, but I’ve found the instructors and senior students here to be really great, and I’m making progress. =)
Literally, AiKiDo is the Do (Tao, path, way,) of Ai (blending, love, harmony) Ki (Chi, life energy, force, power) or way of blending energy. Aikido is a «soft» art, with lots of joint manipulation, and plenty of falling, as opposed to «hard» arts with lots of kicking and punching. It focuses on finding the attackers intent, learning to move around them, and letting them expend their energy and put themselves off balance. It’s challenging. It’s subtle. It’s like nothing else I’ve ever done, but when it’s done right, it’s one of the most beautiful arts I’ve ever seen.
I’m a student. I pay to show up. No one gave me anything to do this review, but a year in, I also feel like I’m part of a community, and promoting them is promoting my home. If your interested in finding out more about what Aikido is, or finding a home dojo in the Pasadena/​San Gabriel/​Sun Valley/​Sunland-​Tujunga area, please come on out and see if we’re a good fit for you. =)
Thanks.