Our Dojo

Founded in 2015, we are the official Southern California branch of the Aikido Ômeikai Kimori Dojo in Nagoya, Japan and Silicon Valley Branch in San Jose, CA. We are registered with the International Aikikai Federation.

We train to embrace the challenges found both inside and outside our classes, and strive to reconcile conflicts with minimal effort and stress.

It is our sincere wish that everyone who trains with us will enjoy Aikido practice, and discover the depths of the art through regular practice. Our doors are open to local students, visiting Aikidoka, and our friends at regional/international dojos. 

What is Aikido

Aikido is a non-competitive Japanese martial art of self-defense. We train to settle conflicts without violence or unnecessary harm. Developed early in the 20th century by O-Sensei, Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969), Aikido derives from several traditional martial art forms.

Rather than focusing on fighting, we practice to improve our overall well-being and enrich our lives. We train to move, redirect, and neutralize an attacker’s strike and balance. With regular practice, you will gain improved fitness, flexibility, balance, and situation awareness.

Instructors

Sawada Toshiharu Shihan (8th dan)

Sawada Shihan is the Chief Instructor and Founder of Aikido Ômeikai Kimori Dojo in Nagoya Japan. He began his training in 1965 after entering university.  He continued his practice under the guidance of Kazuo Chiba Shihan, Norihiko Ichihashi Shihan, and Nobuyuki Watanabe Shihan.

Matsuoka Hiroshi Sensei (6th dan)

Matsuoka sensei began training in Aikido in 1975 in Japan.  He moved to the United States in 1987.  In 2002, he began his association with Sawada Shihan and subsequently opened a branch dojo — Aikido Ômeikai Kimori Dojo Silicon Valley in Sunnyvale, CA.

Alex Natelli Sensei (4th dan)

Natelli sensei started his Aikido training in 1998 in San Jose, CA. From 2002 to 2011,  he continued training Nobuo Takase Shihan (7th dan), chief instructor of Aikido Shinryukan and director of New Zealand Aikikai. In 2011, he returned to the United States, reconnected with Ômeikai Kimori Dojo, and founded this branch.