Self Defense Without Violence, for Adults and Teens

Kokikai Aikido is a modern martial art that offers a unique approach to self defense. Our self defense techniques don't require you to inflict harm in order to keep yourself safe. This takes practice to be effective. Fortunately training is also really fun! 

Take Control 

Taking control of challenging situations requires taking control of yourself. Kokikai Aikido is built on a foundation of principles that will help you stay relaxed, centered, positive and well-positioned to handle whatever challenges you face.

Join Us! 

Please get in touch to ask any questions and schedule a time to visit a practice. Sometimes we may need to limit how many beginners join at once, but we'd be happy to have you if there's room. You can join for a little while to learn some basic skills, or train for years to dive deeper into everything aikido has to offer. We're a relatively small, non-profit, community practice group, allowing for individualized instruction and lots of training time with our Sensei and other senior practitioners. We welcome people of any background, ethnicity, belief, orientation and identity to join us! 

Get In touch: SeattleKokikaiAikido@gmail.com

Times listed allow for changing clothes, setting up the spaces for practice, etc.

Sunday Mornings:  

• Arrive at 9:00am. 

• Leave around 10:30am.  

• Location: Quantum Dojo 

Our practice is not affiliated with our friends at Quantum, but they’ve been most generous in welcoming us to share their beautiful training space.

Tuesday Evenings:  

• Now held from 6pm to 7:15pm at the Rainier Community Center In Columbia City. 

• Separate registration required. Learn More Here!

Thursday Evenings:  - Coming Soon at the Mount Baker Community Club! To get more info and reserve your spot, please email us.

Membership dues:  $50/month for any one day of the week, or $100/month for all practices (3x / per week)

In addition to monthly dues, commitment to regular practice and a small amount of additional support (such as through helping with cleaning or administrative tasks) are valued contributions from each of our members. Our dojo has no paid employees. All administration, instruction and other tasks are done on a volunteer basis by members.

Scholarships - We are a community-based, not-for-profit practice group with the intention of keeping our training widely accessible. If you are interested in participating but dues would create a financial burden, please inquire about a potential scholarship. 

Discounts are offered for additional family members in the same household.

David Zeger Sensei is the chief instructor of Seattle Kokikai Aikido and is certified as a Kokikai Aikido instructor by the Aikido Kokikai Federation. He began training at the Aikido Kokikai Southwest dojo in Tempe, Arizona in 1994 under the guidance and instruction of Veronica Burrows Sensei and David Nachman Sensei. Since founding Seattle Kokikai Aikido in 2004, he has continued his training and instruction through sharing practices in central Seattle. David Sensei brings a curious and methodical mindset to his exploration of aikido, crafting challenging and gratifying training for first-day beginners through advanced practitioners. 

Kristin Engelbrecht-Bleem Sensei has trained at Seattle Kokikai Aikido under the instruction of David Zeger Sensei since 2007. She holds the rank of Sandan (3rd degree black belt) in Kokikai Aikido and draws from a diverse set of aikido influences. She seeks to cultivate an aikido practice that is full of vitality, deep attention, connection to the everyday world, and joy. Her practices emphasize creativity, connection and freedom. Kristin Sensei lives in South Seattle with her wife and pup. 

Some practices are also led by other senior dojo members, typically having more than a decade of practice experience.

Want to get involved but can't make it in to visit a practice yet? No problem! Join our email list to get info and reminders about Aikido in your inbox! You can also find us on Instagram.