Location: 319 W. Tom Landry St., Mission, TX  78572  and 516 W. Van Buren, Harlingen, Texas
Phone: (956) 369-6423 or through Direct E-Mail
Chief Instructor: Joe Cavazos, 4th degree Society of Aikido Centers (SAC) & Tanakaha Aikido; 2nd degree Aikikai
Head Dojo Instructor: Tim Kikos, 2nd degree Aikikai
Adult Classes: (Mission) Tuesday & Thursday 7:45 pm - 9:15 pm; (Harlingen)Monday 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm, Wednesday 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm. 
Children's classes: currently no classes.
Cost: $50 per month (adults) / $25 per month (students, includes college). Family discounts are available. No contracts - pay as you go!

What is Aikido?

Loosely translated, Aikido means "the way of harmonizing with energy." 

At the core of Aikido are at least two fundamental threads:  a commitment to peaceful resolution of conflict whenever possible and a commitment to improvement of the human-spirit through Aikido training.

Aikido emphasizes evasion and circular/spiral redirection of an attacker's aggressive force into throws, pins and immobilizations as a primary strategy rather than punches and kicks.

The primary strategic foundations of Aikido are:

1. moving into a position off of the line of attack
2. seizing control of the attacker's balance by means of leverage and timing
3. applying a throw, pin, or other sort of immobilization (such as a wrist/arm lock)

Strikes (atemi) are not absent altogether from the strategic arsenal of the Aikidoist, but their use is primarily (though not exclusively) as a means of distraction. A strike is delivered in order to provoke a reaction from the aggressor, creating a window of opportunity, facilitating the application of a throw, pin, or other immobilization.

Many Aikido schools train in varying degrees with weapons, including the jo (a staff 4 or 5 feet in length), the bokken (a wooden sword), and the tanto (a knife, usually made of wood, for safety). These weapons are used not only to teach defenses against armed attacks, but also to illustrate principles of Aikido movement, distancing, and timing.

Staff Members

Upcoming Events

Shudokan Aikido Association Seminar - Houston, Texas
November 7-8, 2009, Daily Classes Monday - Wednesday Nov 9-11

The Shudokan Aikido Association will host a annual seminar featuring Aikikai representative Hiroshi Kato, Shihan, 8th dan.

---

Morihei Ueshiba

Aikido 
The History of Aikido

Aikido was founded by Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969) in Tokyo, Japan in 1942. Ueshiba was born in a rural area of Japan near Osaka and left home in his late teens for Tokyo to seek martial arts instruction. Ueshiba was heavily influenced by Daito Ryu AikiJu-Jitsu - a traditional martial art that dates back 1200 years and by the religion Omotokyo. In 1942, Ueshiba called his art "Aikido".

Largely because of his deep interest in Omotokyo, Ueshiba attempted to cultivate a "spirit of loving protection for all things" rather than techniques for achieving physical domination over others. He organized Aikido; his own system, and established the principle of nonresistance, the non-violent way of self defense. The name Aikido means "The Way of Harmony with the Ki" (life force) and stresses the harmony between mind, body and spirit.

He then began teaching selected pupils, some from noble families, others from the armed forces. He continued his instruction until World War II when he returned to the countryside. Witnessing his countrymen turn their interests from spiritual to material matters, Ueshiba eventually decided that he could encourage a rebirth of the spirit through the medium of Aikido. With that thought, he selected his finest students and sent them to spread Aikido throughout the world. 

Holiday Inn Hotel