Aikido Kokikai

Specialties

We teach self defense, awareness, mind-​body coordination, self discipline and ki development through the martial art of Kokikai Ryu Aikido. We are an all volunteer run school serving Rochester for 30 years, allowing us to maintain very low monthly dues. Aikido is different from other martial arts. Ours is deeply rooted in the context of self defense against multiple, larger, and armed simultaneous attackers. We minimize the energy expended on attackers by using their own against them. Aikido is best demonstrated when a small woman is able to effortless throw a large male attacker. Therefore you don’t have to be able to lift heavy objects or even be young for our techniques to be effective. Our techniques are rooted in the battlefields of feudal Japan where there was no time to «spar» with thousands of opponents awaiting you. What you learn on the mat translates well to the rest of your life, for example how to fall (remember winter?) and how to stay calm under pressure (life!).

History

Established in 1984.

The dojo was founded as a club at the Rochester Institute of Technology. As people graduated as small dojo was formed in the community, moving a few times from rooms at RIT, to MCC, to a place on University Avenue, and then finally to a beautiful space in the historic Old Post Office building on Cumberland Ave. Unlike many schools, we have found strength in diversity of leadership in that it produces better, more thoughtful and prepared students. For the majority of our existence, we have had two co-​chief instructors. Currently those are Judy Warner (6^th degree) and Brian Martens (4^th degree).

Meet the Business Owner

Brian M.

Business Owner

Brian Martens, 4^th Dan —

Brian Sensei has been practicing Aikido for over 18 years under Shuji Maruyama Sensei. Currently a Yondan (4^th black belt), Brian Sensei is the Co-​Chief Instructor of the Rochester dojo of Kokikai Aikido. Additionally, he has practiced other martial arts including Tae Kwon Do since the age of 10. Brian Sensei is an experienced instructor in a variety of subjects, from mentoring engineers to Aikido to blacksmithing.