St. Louis Ki Aikido

"Over a decade ago, I found an aikido class being offered by a rec center close to me and decided to give it a try. The initial classes grabbed me and thirteen years later, I'm still taking classes and loving it! The martial arts/self defense aspect is only one part of Ki Aikido. We train the body and mind. This has helped me immensely in my daily life. Also, the dojo is like a family. We've had ups and downs yet we all still support each other and the dojo. I would highly recommend anyone that has an interest in physical fitness, self defense, and self improvement come join us! I'm looking forward to many more years of training!"

"I used to practice Aikido with St Louis Ki Aikido. Like many other reviewers, what I learned there extends to my everyday life helping me extend my Ki to be more aware of what's happening around me. Would recommend this to anyone who would like to live a healthier and more balanced life. Thank you to all the wonderful instructors, especially Tom and Alice for their guidance and patience when teaching the class, and all the other members who helped me learn this method. This is like a big family learning and practicing together."

"A great place to practice Aikido - Classes are welcoming and easy to be a part of even if you don't have previous experience in martial arts. Highly recommended!"

"As an automotive technician in my late fifties, I wasn't moving well and decided to return to martial arts in hopes of improving my reflexes and range of movement. Having done Judo in college, I thought it might be a good place for me to start. But then I found Ki Aikido, a martial art for daily life. This martial art has more to offer than just the techniques and weapons. The St. Louis Ki Society's dojo has a long and rich history. The teachers are dedicated, and there is a great deal of talent to draw from. Fifteen years later, and I am now blessed with the gift of movement. When you review the videos, you may think they look fake, but it is more that they are "orchestrated." We are taught to "go with the throw" so that no one gets hurt. It is more about learning the art of following the momentum of the throw, and there is power in this art when it is done with skill. After a number of years of practice, I "attacked" an instructor hoping to resist his programmed response to throw me. Alas, his skill was such that I felt fortunate to only get the wind knocked out of me."

"I feel lucky to train in a dojo with a clear mission that is a not-for-profit. As a traditional martial art, the practice extends beyond the dojo to everyday life. Ki Aikido helps me become aware of my own body while also having fun exercising. The students and instructors play a vital part in building a community, which has been bringing me back to train the last five years. Everyone nurtures training in Aikido & meditation."