I love this dojo! Very supportive and nice community. Chikako sensei is the kindest and most patient person ever. She's the best and you'll learn a lot from her. I am very lucky to have found this dojo. read more

Absolutely humbled by the quality of both the martial arts and the people I found at this place. I have no previous experience in any martial arts, and I have found a place full of great teachers and great people. I can progress at my own pace while always gently pushed to do a bit more. Definitely recommended for novices and experts alike. read more

The Dojo - Martial Arts Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Years ago I was looking for a place to study Aikido and found this little dojo that offered classes at a reasonable price. I figured I would learn some cool moves to protect myself with but what I didn't expect was a re-education in what it means to have character, honor, and respect for yourself and other people. The Dojo offers Aikido (Nishio Style) and Ryu Te (Okinawan Karate) taught in a traditional Japanese manor. The level of instruction is top notch within a friendly and supportive environment. Both Robert and Chikako Sensei have amazed me with the knowledge and skill they have shown me through the years. Classes can be hard, fun, exhausting and painful at time, this is martial arts, but I always leave feeling peaceful and refreshed, perfect after a hard day at work. I have learned some amazing techniques, made great friends, and gain a confidence that has helped me in my personal and professional life. It's been over nine years for me studying Aikido and Ryu Te at the Dojo and I have no plans of stopping. Other student have been there for over 20 years. I can't say enough good things about this special place you have to experience it for yourself. If your looking for real martial arts you found it. Come by watch a class, ask question, everyone is always welcome. read more

Before i started training here a few months ago, I had never been involved in any martial arts what so ever. I did some research, and settled on aikido as the art I wanted to learn. They also teach Ryu Te (karate) and iaido (sword) at this dojo. It's been a very surreal experience thus far. All the other students and instructors have been training for several years or decades, and then there's me, the new dude. To my surprise, the instructors and fellow students have been overwhelmingly helpful and patient with my learning process. I feel very fortunate and grateful to be trained by such knowledgable people in a positive atmosphere of growth, learning, and enlightenment. read more

I've studied several martial arts under a number of excellent teachers: BJJ w/Rickson Gracie, Boxing w/Ben Martinez, etc. Chikako Bryner and her Senior Students / Instructors are definitely in that league. Not only are they great at what they do, they can actually teach! It's not always easy to learn Aikido or Ryu Te Karate, but the rewards are well worth it. And you'll be hard pressed to find two other styles of either Aikido or Karate that are this effective as a form of self defense. This is definitely NOT like the chain of karate schools you see and if you're looking for a black belt in a year, this ain't it. (Look up Nishio Aikido and Rye Te Karate.) The quality of the instruction and the community atmosphere seems to attract a special breed of student, too. I've been training there for almost a year, and I've yet to come across any meat heads or show-boaters. Given the effectiveness of the two styles, it's pretty amazing how chill everyone is. (Off the mat, I've found out many of the students are doctors, engineers, researchers, producers, etc.) While I've hear The Dojo has been there for 15 - 20 years, they have done little to promote it, which also may explain why it has flown under the radar for so long. If you want to learn two genuine martial arts, blow off some steam, or get a solid work out that is just as engaging mentally, I highly recommend The Dojo. 5 stars plus! PS As I mentioned, they do little to promote the school so it may take a call or two to reach someone. PS2 The pricing is very, very reasonable, especially given the quality of instruction. read more

I've been lucky enough to start with this dojo in the late 90's, but then I took some time off before coming back to The Dojo in 2012. What was amazing to me was that I hadn't lost a step; it was like getting back on a bike. At this dojo, the teaching is equal to none and your body will never forget what you've been taught. And the best part, there is no end to how good you can get. It's a life-long art that will benefit your body, mind and soul immensely. The reason why is the people. First and foremost, is our sensei Chikako Bryner. You will never meet a more genuine, modest, exciting and fun person in your life who will amaze you with her extraordinary skill. But most important is her ability to teach. She has that hard-to-find, rare combination of courtesy and power. Most teachers of martial arts have one or the other, but never a combination of both and at the level in which she imparts instruction. The Dojo focuses on etiquette, manners and being polite, but at the same time, this style of Aikido (Nishio Sensei style) is wicked dangerous. The attacker, the enemy, is given an opportunity to save themselves and stop the attack, but if they continue this style of Aikido allows for more lethal measures, especially when it comes to multiple attackers or them being armed. Yes, this doesn't happen overnight, and if you don't make at least a year-long commitment, three time a week, then I wouldn't recommend this style. However, once the techniques become ingrained and body memory begins to take over, only then do you start to realize the power of such an art and your own refinement of techniques wherever your skills will take you. Remember, this style is self-defense. It is not sport karate, boxing or UFC. In that vein, we practice along those lines and sometimes, as an observer or participator, the learning of these techniques might seem unnatural, stiff or perceived as being not suited for a real fight. However, every time I train with black belts in class, there is no doubt in my mind how effective these techniques would be in real-life situations. In addition, because the dojo is small, it forces students to become more aware of their surroundings, which is the first step in avoiding and/or escaping confrontations. In closing, if you are that type of person, please come and join. You don't need to observe. Make a commitment and change your life forever. read more

I have been training aikido for over 12 years now. I've been at The Dojo for about 3 years. When I moved here to Los Angeles, I shopped around for dojos and this one was my favorite by far. The first thing I noticed when I came to visit this dojo was the attention to detail that the Bryners have when they teach. Because of that level of detail, I feel I learned more in the 3 years here than the almost a decade before that. Much respect to my previous teachers, by the way... Some additional points to what wasn't mentioned earlier is that they do train iaido there on Saturdays early in the morning at 9 am and that will really refine what you learn in aikido. It also helps that Nishio Sensei, the head instructor for this particular style, tailor made the iaido forms we study to link it to aikido. Every practice, they are incorporating sword work and jo staff work into their training regularly which strengthens the empty-hand techniques. If you want to learn solid weapons technique, this is the school for you. I've been attending Ryu-Te class on the weekend as well just to keep in shape. It's an Okinawan karate founded by Oyata Sensei and there are a lot of similarities to that art and aikido, surprisingly. Again, great place to learn karate weapons too. Overall, it's a wonderful hole-in-the-wall type of place to train and my experience has been that everyone there is willing to teach, learn, and teach what they've learned. read more

The Dojo - Martial Arts Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I have studied martial arts around the world, under wonderful instructors, with beautiful aikido skills, from my childhood in Eastern Europe, to London with Kanetsuka Sensei (Yoshinkan), to San Diego with Chiba Sensei (briefly), West LA with Pablo Vasquez (both USWAF Aikikai), and others in between. In my humble opinion, no other style has come anywhere near the Nishio Aikido style, which is the style taught at this Dojo, when it comes to structuring the art, explanation and direct linking of each technique to its weapons origin. This approach takes the art from mystery and unanswered questions, to a precisely detailed, meticulously mapped method of teaching, and understanding. Nishio's dedicated life work brings much needed logic to the study of this most beautiful art, while staying true to its martial origin, and in doing so, making sure it stays effective in the unlikely real life need of self defense. Unfortunately, I came across too late to meet Nishio Sensei personally, but the instructors and most senior practitioners have learned from him, and since his passing, from Yoshida Sensei, who comes every year from Japan, and conducts amazing seminars here in Southern California. Chikako Bryner Sensei's (Chief instructor at The Dojo) knowledge, form and ability to teach, combined with her wonderfully disarming personality, makes her the ideal instructor. Most dojos teach weapons only minimally, or not at all, but the Nishio style incorporates the weapon training as part of the on-going curriculum. Hence the free hand- weapons training is perfectly balanced. If you look for, by far, the best aikido instruction on the Westside, do not pass on this one. Weather you are an accomplished aikido practitioner, or have just wondered about studying this beautiful, elegant and time-less martial art, there is no better place to practice. Private classes are also available for a very reasonable price. The dojo also teaches Ryu Te karate, which compliments the aikido training beautifully. Contact the dojo, expand your experience of life, start practicing this beautiful art- one that you can continue to study and grow with for the duration of your life, or just send your kid to the kids' class; they'll grow up smarter and more disciplined, happier, will learn to make better choices, and for sure will do better in school. Call the numbers above and make an appointment, or just stop by and watch a class. :) read more

This is a very family friendly dojo. The people who train here are a great group of people that have the highest level of integrity and spirit. I highly recommend The Dojo! read more