There is a current “debate” as to the value/need for weapon training in Aikido and its importance. Our dojo follows the training curriculum from O’sensei’s personal dojo in Iwama, Japan as laid out by his longest serving student, the late Morihiro Saito Sensei, and as taught and continued by Saito’s student, Saburo Takayasu Sensei, 7th dan shihan.

The practice with the bokken (wooden sword) and Jo (wooden staff) is integral to our practice of Aikido as passed on by the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba. If you watch this video, you will hear Stanley Pranin, the editor of Aikido Journal, and a long time Aikido practitioner and researcher, explain why.