East Bay Aikido?

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4-Day Randori & Weapons Intensives - Limited Enrollment, 7 hrs per day training

[AmyGilgan]

I am moving to El Cerrito, California (near the Berkeley border) in a few short days. I would be happy to hear from anyone who trains in the area. I have trained for about a year in Aikikai, but I am open to other styles.

My budget will be very tight, so classes at a community center or a university club might be my best bet.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

--Amy

[ikkainogakusei]

I am moving to El Cerrito, California (near the Berkeley border) in a few short days. I would be happy to hear from anyone who trains in the area. I have trained for about a year in Aikikai, but I am open to other styles.

My budget will be very tight, so classes at a community center or a university club might be my best bet.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

--Amy
I've got no experience with Shibata sensei, but there is always Berkeley Aikikai.http://www.berkeleyaikikai.org/

Or, though the instructor is more Iwama trained, you could try Kayla Feder Sensei at Aikido of Berkeley (which is strangely in Richmond). I have seen her go and I am very impressed.

http://www.aikidoofberkeley.com/

a quote from the website...

"Our chief instructor and founder of Aikido of Berkeley, Kayla Feder Sensei, has been training in Aikido for over 30 years and holds the rank of fifth-degree black belt. She has trained in Japan and has taught throughout America and Europe. Her teaching style supports the individual growth of each student. Feder Sensei began her Aikido training in 1973 at the age of eight..."

Good luck finding a low cost community center teacher though, there is an impressive number of high-ranked shihans here in the Bay Area, so it's hard for the little guys to draw students in the community center. I'm sure they're out there.

:) :ai: :)

[Amelia Smith]

Elizabeth Lynn's dojo is in El Sobrante. I haven't been there, but I went to a seminar she taught a few years ago and it was great.

http://www.eastshoreaikikai.com

I also have a friend who practices at the Y in Berkeley, and she loves it. She just started a year ago or so, and it sounds like a friendly, informal kind of dojo. I don't know about their style, but it's worth looking into: http://www.aikiarts.com (no fee beyond membership at the Y).

Good luck with your search.

--Amelia

[rachmass]

Having trained under (at seminars, not as a student) both Lizzy Lynn Sensei and Shibata Sensei, I can highly recommend both of them. Lynn Sensei has an elegance and power about her that I particularly admire, while Shibata Sensei is undoubtadly one of the most talented and no-nonsense teachers out there.

[p00kiethebear]

We have a student in our dojo who trains with shibata sensei 7 months out of the year. I hear nothing but good things about him.

[L. Camejo]

Of course if you're looking to broaden your Aikido experience there is this place at the University of California, Berkely - not sure if it is near to you though.

http://wctnt.com/berkeleyaikido/

L.C.:ai::ki:

[dion]

Having trained under (at seminars, not as a student) both Lizzy Lynn Sensei and Shibata Sensei, I can highly recommend both of them. Lynn Sensei has an elegance and power about her that I particularly admire, while Shibata Sensei is undoubtadly one of the most talented and no-nonsense teachers out there.
YES! I have trained with both and both are amazing. Do yourself a favor and train with Shibata Sensei if you can. I came close to quitting my job and moving up there to join his program. Very real and hard Akido study.

[Ernest Holland Jr.]

If you are interested in (or attempting to find) inexpensive Aikido Classes in the East Bay

I know of the Aikido Classes being taught at the El Cerrito Community Center (on Moser near the Plaza BART station).

the price is under $45/month
and the classes are great.
I've been practicing there for over ten years now.

for more info visit
http://aikidoh2o.org
(the site is very new :straightf )

peace and nonviolence (through :ai: :ki: :do: ),
:cool: :) :do:
-ernest

[Janet Rosen]

Kayla Feder Sensei at Aikido of Berkeley http://www.aikidoofberkeley.com/ would definitely be my preference in the western sector of the East Bay.