Aiki Budokai of Boston

"For me, Aiki Budokai is about 'kokoro' (heart/spirit). It's really a fun place to sweat with friends and practice sincerely."
- Caroline Yates, first member

"The thing that makes me show up for practice after a 10-hour work day, besides the obvious wish to learn more, is the supportive and constructive environment created in the dojo by the people there."
- Aida Cavalic

Since 1996, Aiki Budokai has offered instruction in traditional Japanese martial arts. Founded as Kenbukai (Warrior Arts Study Society) in Natick, MA, we have attracted a small, dedicated group mixing gender, diverse backgrounds and experience levels (ranging from beginners to yudansha in other arts). We offer instruction in all forms of the warrior tradition: martial, cultural, and healing arts.

Initially, we just practiced wherever we could find space (backyards, offices, living rooms). In July 1998 we moved to Allston (a Boston neighborhood with a large Asian immigrant community) when Arawana Hayashi sensei, a teacher of Bugaku (classical Japanese Imperial Court dance), generously offered us space with her Jo Ha Kyu performance group. In December 1999, when Jo Ha Kyu gave up their dojo, a friend of the instructor's found space with Ten Chi Kenpo dojo, also in Allston. Our new hosts have a 600-sq. ft. training area (with 400 sq. ft of mats), open changing room and a shower.

A typical class begins with warm-ups, Kihon waza (foundation techniques), and Ukemi (falling), before moving on to Waza (techniques) and skill-building drills. The final section of class is devoted to weapons or healing. Our eclectic approach to the martial arts reflects instructor Jigme Chobang's nearly twenty years of study; in addition to traditional Aikido, we integrate Jujutsu waza from the Kiraku School. Our weapons work is strongly influenced by Kukishin Ryu, which specializes in polearms of different lengths (bo, jo and hanbo).

The healing arts we practice are Sotai and Shiatsu as taught by Kiku Miyazaki of the Boston Shiatsu School. Sotai is form of structural realignment, which uses one's own muscles to gently re-set joints. Shiatsu not only relaxes tension that often arises as the result of stress, but is also used in our training to develop an understanding of anatomical structure. Finally, we plan to begin having guest instructors soon for Japanese cultural arts seminars, such as cha-no-yu (tea ceremony) and Ikebana (flower arranging).