About Us

Kokikai Aikido is a modern Japanese martial art that teaches coordination of mind and body using self-defense techniques to develop one's strongest state. Classes include both men and women practicing on equal footing. Designed to defend against multiple attackers, it is an effective form of self-defense that offers many solutions to aggressive behavior by others.

As a member of our dojo, you will learn to derive maximum effect from minimal effort. Regardless of your gender, strength or size, you will discover how to harness your attacker’s energy, master techniques to stop attacks, neutralize opponents, and safely avoid conflict with grace, agility and dynamic power.

Charles River Kokikai Aikido is an accredited member of Kokikai-Ryu Aikido International serving the Greater Boston area. Kokikai-Ryu is headquartered in Nagoya, Japan and has affiliates located in Japan, Australia, Israel, and throughout the U.S.

Kokikai-Ryu was founded by Sensei Shuji Maruyama, who has taught Aikido since 1957. Sensei Maruyama was one of the esteemed uchi deshi (resident students) of O Sensei, Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido. Sensei Maruyama came to the U.S. with Koichi Tohei and the Ki aikido movement, and then opened schools in the U.S., starting with Philadelphia Aikido in 1968.