Northeast TN - Looking to Learn aikido

I live in the Tricities area of NE TN. I would like to learn aikido but am unable to locate anyone in my area. Does anyone know if anything is available here. I learned aikido for several months, several years ago in San Diego and would like to recontinue.

The closest dojo l have found listed is Asheville Aikikai in Asheville, NC. I have not been able to contact them. Does anyone know if they still exist?

Mike,

There used to be two dojo in Knoxville, which would be quite a drive. There was also more than one dojo on the NC side of the mountains. I believe they were Tomiki dojo and not listed in the AikiWeb dojo finder.

FWIW,

Mike,

Good to hear from someone in Northeast TN! I grew up in East Tennessee and went to ETSU, oh, a few years ago. Unfortunately, there are no aikido dojos there that I know of. The Asheville dojo is still active...keep trying to contact them if you're really interested. But if you're really, really serious...just hang out there for another 15-20 years. By then maybe I can retire and move back and start up a dojo! (That's the plan, anyway).

Dave

Mike,

I currently live in Bristol, VA and there are no official Aikido dojos in the area. Actually, I have been looking at finding a place to begin training again. I've reached 2nd kyu, but I'm a little rusty. Lets keep in touch and hopefully we can find a place to train. This is a call for anyone in the Northeast Tennessee Tri-Cities region to try and get an Aikido group together. I've found a small gym in Bristol that currently has space for a class, but no one to teach. I'd be very happy to lead/assist a class if we can generate enough interest.

Alain

Hey Alain, where is Bristol? I think I've been near it.
I'm up near DC, in Woodbridge. About an 1 1/2 from Richmond. If you ever get a chance to travel please feel free to stop by. Our hours are on the web. We are an Aikikai shop but have Iwama, Ki, and Tomiki people stop by occassionally to train. Feel free to give me a call.
Asim

Asim,

Unfortunately, it looks like Woodbridge is about 348 miles away from Bristol. Bristol is right on the Tennessee border.

Thanks for the invite,
Alain

Glad to hear from someone in my area. I have found that Asheville Aikikai dojo still operates. It has a web page that it evidently has not updated times on lately since I went on a Saturday and no one was around at the listed time. I am planning a trip there, 1hr 10 min, this Friday to visit

Mike,

If I still lived in Johnson City that would be fine, but Bristol adds another 45 min to the drive and I don't have the time right now to manage that. Let me know how it goes.

Good luck,
Alain