About Us

Portland Aikido is Maine's oldest and largest Aikikai. It was founded in 1985 as an affiliate of New England Aikikai, which is directed by Shihan (master teacher) Mitsunari Kanai, eighth degree black belt and uchi deshi (apprentice) of Aikido’s founder, Morihei Ueshiba. Portland Aikido is a member of the United States Aikido Federation, the premier Aikido organization in the United States with direct affiliation with Hombu Dojo, Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. We also enjoy a close affiliation with Framingham Aikikai, whose directors David Halprin (6th Dan) and Barbara Britton (5th Dan) are students of Kanai Sensei and guest instructors at Portland Aikido from time to time.

Portland Aikido is a nonprofit, voluntary association whose members are dedicated to practice and dissemination of this martial art. Members pay monthly dues, contribute time and other talents to the operation of the dojo, and share a commitment to our practice and our community.

Portland Aikido has trained over 15 shodans (black belt) in its short time, and is recognized as a dojo offering authentic, challenging training. We offer training seven days a week. Classes are taught by Dans (those holding black belt rank). The dojo is conveniently located at Woodfords Corner in Portland.

Getting Started

We encourage you to visit, observe a class, and talk with other students and the instructor. If you need more information before deciding whether Aikido is the right type of practice for you, we encourage you to visit some other sites, which offer additional information about this practice.

Once you have decided to begin, we encourage you to join our beginners’ class, which is offered Saturday mornings (Schedule). The beginners class is an eight week course offered on an ongoing basis, and costs the same as one month’s dues. You are able to join at any time, pay the equivalent of one month’s dues, and practice for two months, not just in the beginners class but in all other classes when you feel ready to do so.