Aikido teaches awareness,
gentleness and self-control.

Aikido Hakodate Dojo

Aikido Hakodate Dojo is affiliated with the Aikikai Foundation — the world's leading organisation for the promotion of aikido — and is the only officially recognised dojo in Hakodate where practitioners can earn formal Aikikai dan and kyu ranks. We are also a member of the Hokkaido Aikido Federation and the Hakodate District Martial Arts Liaison Council, an association of martial arts organisations in the Hakodate area.

Training sessions are held twice a week. Practice is typically conducted in pairs, with each practitioner taking turns in the roles of tori (the one performing the technique) and uke (the one receiving it). Aikido has no competitive matches; instead, practitioners take gradings to advance to higher levels. Gradings are normally held twice a year — in June and December — at the dojo. All practitioners are enrolled in Sports Safety Insurance.

Members are welcome to participate in seminars led by an instructor (shihan) from the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, organized by the Hokkaido Aikido Federation (held twice a year, in spring and autumn), as well as training events for elementary and junior high school students (held once a year). As a dojo, we also take part in the annual martial arts demonstration organized by the Hakodate District Martial Arts Liaison Council.

Visitors and Trial Sessions Welcome

Aikido is open to everyone — from elementary school students to adults — and you can start at any time. We warmly invite you to come and observe or try a session, and hope you will experience the joy and depth that aikido has to offer. No prior martial arts experience is necessary; we will guide you with care. Those with prior experience in martial arts are also very welcome to stop by. One of the great pleasures of training together is the friendships and connections that naturally develop.

Regular Training Schedule

• Thursday — 7:00 to 9:00 PM — Hakodate La Salle Junior and Senior High School Judo Hall

• Saturday — 6:00 to 9:00 PM — Hakodate Arena Budokan

• Training runs year-round, though sessions may occasionally be cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control.

• Saturday sessions may sometimes be held at Hakodate University Budokan instead, with a different start time.

• We recommend contacting us in advance if you are planning to visit or try a session.

• On Saturdays from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, a session is held specifically for elementary and junior high school students. Adults are also welcome to join this session.

Train freely, and with joy

Oikawa Zenta Sensei (Dojo Head)

Aikido is a modern martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba (1883–1969), who mastered the secrets of various traditional Japanese martial arts and, through years of austere training, transformed them from mere technique (jutsu) into a path of personal development (do).

Aikido does not seek to overpower others through brute force. Instead, practitioner and partner take turns as blade and whetstone, each sharpening the other — learning the samurai's art of moving and thinking, and rediscovering the Japanese spirit of harmony (wa).

Those who train naturally want to improve. Yet one of the profound strengths of aikido — with its focus on kata practice rather than competition — is that even a beginner can find genuine enjoyment at their own level. There is always something to discover, wherever you are in your journey.

Once or twice a week, give yourself the gift of stepping completely away from the noise of daily life. You may find that just beyond your perceived limits lies a world you never knew existed. Often called "moving Zen," aikido may offer quiet but meaningful insights into your everyday life.

Taijutsu, Sword, and Staff

Aikido is often associated with throwing and grappling techniques performed one-on-one or against multiple opponents — but it also includes training with the sword (ken) and the short staff (jo). Handling these weapons, which most people are unaccustomed to, heightens body awareness and encourages better posture. Sword and staff techniques are deeply connected to empty-hand (taijutsu) practice, and understanding this relationship is key to mastering the art. Above all, it's a lot of fun.

Hakodate Dojo places great emphasis on sword and staff training. Beginners are welcome to borrow equipment from senior members, so there is no need to worry about coming unprepared.

Kyu Grades and Dan Ranks

Gradings are conducted in accordance with the Aikikai examination guidelines. Those new to aikido begin by working toward 5th kyu.

For example, the eligibility requirement for a 5th kyu grading is having trained for at least 30 days after joining the dojo. The examination covers techniques such as shomenuchi ikkyo (a front strike with a first-control response), katatedori shihonage (a wrist-grab four-direction throw), shomenuchi iriminage (a front-strike entering throw), and suwari waza kokyuho (a seated breathing exercise).

Contact Us

Inquiries are accepted via Google Form.

• Hokkaido Aikido Federation

• Aikikai Foundation