Berkeley Aikikai

My body has matured a lot from practicing here, and incidentally, so has my mind.
When I first started here, it was interesting how we had to walk down the hallway to go into the dojo. Unlike other martial arts places, there is no front window that lets people peer inside and see what we are doing. It helps to cultivate a spirit of mutual respect between people, the spectators and the practitioners.
As for the art itself, aikido isn’t easy to master no matter where you go. It isn’t a series of scoring points by punching and kicking, or of potentially breaking bones because you blocked too hard. Instead, it is learning to turn the energy of the attack from your partner against them. It is an art of enlarging your awareness of space (larger opponent needs much less distance to attack), time (don’t dawdle too long), and intent (be ready to shift your movement and center depending on where the energy is going).
A beginner will spend a lot of their time break-​falling and taking ukemi (being the recipient of either a throwing or a pinning technique). The kind of break-​falls you learn is complex and goes beyond just remembering not to land on your wrist.

This is an aikido school that has been a hidden gem in the Bay Area for many many years. When you walk down the long hallway to get to the expansive space in the back, it’s like going to another world. If you are looking for something that’s more than a workout, more like a way to connect with people and learn about yourself, aikido is a great process for this.
The dojo is very welcoming and is good for people in all stages of their practice, but especially if you are looking to start doing a martial art, by all means take your time and get a framework for comparison but make this your last stop; it’s a very special space filled with energy and commitment. I’d certainly still be training there if I still lived in the area.
Another positive for me is that there are so many strong female practitioners at Berkeley Aikikai. You can practice well there with a diversity of partners.

this is the only place for aikido, no long winded talk, the first time i came here shibata sensei was performing throws, i remember his forarms were huge, ocasionally i visit from time to time. i wish i lived closer i train here every day truely authentic japanese fighting style and challenging. the iaido here is great too. sword practice.

I have heard very good things about this teacher and dojo. I stopped in to watch the lunch class one day, and they were very nice. I hope to workout here sometime. The teacher has a very good reputation, and has been highly recommended to me.

Throw
Roll
Tumble
Fall
This is one of the best places to learn this humble yet effective art in the bay area. Students of all shapes, sizes, ages and from all walks of life are treated exactly the same here and all are taught the precise moves with loving care and joy. The instructors and sub instructors are so attentive, caring and skillful here. Yet they have so much patience and temperament in helping those who are just starting down the path of learning.
What I love about this place is that it is not the robotic crank em out type of place. Instead it is humble and peaceful. Each instructor and student work toward the same common goal of development.
One never has to feel as though they are doing poorly or can’t keep or dazed and confused because these people love what they do and helping, teaching, perfecting and showing you a hundred times is all done with a smile and a ton of encouragement!
According to the Aikido foundation «Aikido is a Budo (martial art) created by Morihei Ueshiba. After the Founder’s passing in 1969, his son Kisshomaru Ueshiba was inaugurated as Aikido Doshu. At present, Moriteru Ueshiba, grandson of the Founder, has succeeded his father as Aikido Doshu. The Aikikai Foundation, officially recognized by the Japanese government in 1940, was founded in order to preserve and promote the ideals of the true Aikido created by the Founder. As the Aikido World Headquarters, it is the parent organization for the development and expansion of Aikido throughout the world.»
The Berkeley Aikikai is the headquarters of Aikido Un En Kai which is directly affiliated with the Aikido Hombu Dojo, Tokyo, Japan.
In the Berkeley location main people are:
Advisor: I. Shibata, 7^th dan, Shihan. who is also the director of Aikido Un En Kai
The Chief Instructor: is Marianne Shibata, 6^th dan, Shidoin. –She is awesome.
So if you have interest in this great art feel free to visit as visitors are welcome to observe.