Boston Aikikai

Great place to learn traditional aikido with top-​notch instructors. Friendly and welcoming environment and a great location!

When I decided to get back into aikido in the Boston area, I shopped around a bit before deciding on Boston Aikikai (conveniently located right in Forest Hills for the last two+ years). It felt very alive and unpretentious to me; everyone there raved about it and seemed excited to be there. I liked that the power structure did not feel top-​down but cooperative. Sensei Vu Ha (6^th dan as of 2014) is rumored to have the best ukemi around (ability to follow/​fall/​receive a throw) and is amazing to watch. Ha Sensei is also 4^th dan in iaido (art of drawing and cutting with the sword, also taught at BA) and this shows in his clear understanding of and very helpful explanations of aikido techniques as derived from sword movements. He is gifted at tailoring his feedback and works at giving each student what they need. As a teacher, he offers himself tirelessly and yet never places himself above students or has any kind of ego trip about anything at all. The other teachers (including Fiona Blyth, 5^th dan) are similarly wonderful, humble, attentive human beings. This is the place to come if you want to learn about fine-​tuning your technique or discover what makes aikido such a special art. You will quickly appreciate that this is a place where good things happen.

I went to an open-​house back in May, and I’ve been practicing at Boston Aikikai ever since. I’d always wanted to do a martial art, but was nervous about starting, not having experience with one, but the other members and the instructors made any uncertainty disappear. It’s a very patient, welcoming and fun group of people. BA almost feels like a second home now.
While aikido is challenging to learn (mentally and physically), both instructors, Vu and Fiona have an almost superhuman ability to dissect posture and body movements so that each class I’m amazed at how a slight suggestion to drop your elbow more, or tilt your wrist a few degrees, or even just breath differently makes such a difference in the fluidity and power of anything from a throw to a wrist-​lock. They are warm, funny, humble, encouraging and talented teachers. I feel very lucky to have stumbled upon this place :)

I have been practicing Aikido for about 9 years and moved to the Boston area in February. I decided to join Boston Aikikai to continue my practice and it has been wonderful!
The instructors are very talented both as Aikido practitioners and teachers. The people who practice here are very friendly and welcoming and I felt at home right away. I love spending time with everybody both on the mat and off the mat and I’m really glad this is where I’ve ended up now that I’m in Boston.

I have practiced aikido on and off for twenty years, and this is one of the best places I’ve attended, if not the best. The teaching is top-​notch, and the atmosphere is very friendly and laid-​back. The membership is on the small side at the moment, and although the dojo is looking to expand and gain more members, this makes for a lot of individual attention.
We are very lucky to have Vu Ha as our principal instructor. Not only is his aikido technique amazing, but he is very gifted as a teacher.
In addition to exercise, the dojo provides a nice community. People often go out for food and/​or beer after class, and organize trips to aikido seminars outside of Boston.