Aikido Kenkyukai International USA

What Aikido Kenkyukai International USA does

Aikido Kenkyukai International USA (AKI USA) is a 501c3 nonprofit corporation headquartered in Los Angeles that delivers traditional Aikido martial arts instruction rooted in the direct lineage of Yoshinobu Takeda Shihan and Aikikai World Headquarters in Tokyo. Founded in 1996 by Lia Suzuki after nearly a decade of intensive training in Japan, the organization operates from a single dojo in the basement of the First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles (2936 W 8th St., Koreatown) with 1-10 employees. Its core offering comprises in-person classes for kids (ages 3-10), tweens and teens, and adults, supported by an online Zoom channel that reaches students in at least ten countries.

The business model combines subscription-style monthly memberships (Adults $149/month, Youth $159/month, with auto-rollover from intro courses), one-time intro-course packages tiered from $97 to $297, annual seminars (Summer Seminar, New Year's Seminar, Summer Camp) with early-bird pricing, the Kenshusei/Deshi immersive apprenticeship ($100/week, $360/month, or $4,000/year), visitor mat fees for cross-training practitioners, ancillary merchandise (uniforms, weapons), and tax-deductible donations supporting scholarship programs. Ancillary products include the published book 'The Teacher' by founder Lia Suzuki and a Youth Leadership Team program for teens.

Beyond paid instruction, AKI USA operates a community-outreach arm that has delivered over $65,000 in scholarship services to veterans with PTSD, jail inmates, recovering addicts, low-income children, and other underserved populations since founding. Strategic partnerships include Aikikai Hombu Dojo (Tokyo), Boulder Aikikai, Aikido For Veterans, First Unitarian Church, and the recently launched (February 2026) Guardian Girls Aikido initiative with UNFPA, Guardian Girls USA, and rYojbaba Co., Ltd. Distribution is hybrid: a single physical dojo in Los Angeles supplemented by live interactive online classes and annual in-person seminars.

Name

Aikido Kenkyukai International USA

Legal name

Aikido Kenkyukai International USA

Website

https://aki-usa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AKI USA is a 501c3 nonprofit dojo in Los Angeles, founded in 1996 by 7th-dan Aikido instructor Lia Suzuki, offering traditional Aikido classes for kids, teens, and adults via in-person training, live Zoom classes, and annual seminars, with a social impact arm serving veterans and underserved communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Martial Arts Training

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Traditional Martial Arts Schools (Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, etc.) (HSADADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Kids & Youth Martial Arts Programs (HSADADAG)

Keywords

• Martial arts training
• Aikido instruction
• Youth martial arts
• Aikido seminars
• Online aikido classes

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Ongoing monthly membership fees for regular class attendance. Adults $149/month, Youth $159/month with auto-rollover from intro courses.
2. Intro Course Packages: One-time purchase intro courses (4-week adult, 8-class kids) that serve as customer acquisition with optional auto-rollover to membership. Includes uniforms and weapons.
3. Seminars and Events: Registration fees for special seminars (Summer Seminar, New Year's Seminar, Summer Camp) with tiered pricing for full and partial attendance.
4. Visitor Mat Fees: Mat fees for visiting practitioners from other dojos: monthly ($120), weekly ($45), or single day ($20) options.
5. Kenshusei/Deshi Immersive Program: Intensive apprenticeship program with weekly ($100), monthly ($360), or annual ($4000) payment options. Includes teacher training and dojo business management.
6. Merchandise: Sales of uniforms, weapons (Bokto, Shoto, Jo), weapons cases, apparel, and books including 'The Teacher' by Lia Suzuki.
7. Donations: Tax-deductible donations as a 501c3 nonprofit corporation (Tax ID: 26-3847946), with specific campaigns for scholarships and community programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Aikido Kenkyukai International USA (AKI USA) provides traditional Aikido martial arts instruction in the Takeda Shihan lineage through in-person classes at its Los Angeles dojo, live interactive Zoom-based remote training, structured 4-week introductory courses for kids, tweens/teens, and adults, annual seminars and summer camps, and a Kenshusei/Deshi immersive apprenticeship for serious students. As a 501c3 nonprofit, it also runs scholarship and community outreach programs serving veterans, low-income families, and other underserved populations, and sells related merchandise such as uniforms, weapons, and a published book.

Product overview

Aikido Kenkyukai International USA is a nonprofit martial arts training organization offering traditional Aikido instruction through multiple channels. The core offering consists of in-person classes for kids (ages 3-10), tweens & teens, and adults, with structured 4-week intro courses available in Basic, Essential/Standard, and Premium tiers. The organization hosts recurring seminars including the Aikido Summer Seminar (May 28-31, 2026) and New Year's Seminar (January 8-10, 2027), plus the 30th Anniversary Summer Camp (July 15-19, 2026). Premium programs include the Kenshusei/Deshi Immersive Apprenticeship for those seeking intensive training and instructor certification. Ancillary offerings include a published book "The Teacher" by Lia Suzuki, weapons and uniforms, visitor/mat fee options, and online/remote training via Zoom. The organization also operates charitable scholarship and community outreach programs serving veterans, youth, and underserved populations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adults 4-Week Intro Course A 4-week introductory Aikido course for adults that teaches basic footwork, techniques, safe falling and rolling, uniform etiquette, dojo protocols, breathing techniques, and Aikido philosophy. Available in tiered packages that include a uniform and weapons, with optional auto-rollover to ongoing monthly adult membership.
• Tweens & Teens Intro Course Introductory Aikido course for tweens and teens focused on building confidence, fitness, responsibility, accountability, and a sense of belonging. Offered in tiered packages (Basic, Essential, Premium).
• Kids Martial Arts Intro Course Introductory Aikido course for children ages 3-10, held Tuesdays and Thursdays, focusing on confidence, self-esteem, discipline, and respect in a safe, fun environment. Includes uniform and wooden bokto at certain tiers.
• Ongoing Aikido Classes & Monthly Membership Recurring in-person Aikido classes at the Los Angeles dojo for adults, kids, and tweens/teens, billed as ongoing monthly memberships (Adults $149/month, Youth $159/month) following completion of an introductory course.
• Aikido Summer Seminar Annual multi-day Aikido seminar hosted in Los Angeles featuring guest instructors including Hiroshi Ikeda (8th dan), Lia Suzuki (7th dan), and Bruno Gonzalez (6th dan), with tiered registration pricing and virtual attendance options.
• New Year's Seminar Annual New Year's seminar held in Los Angeles with Lia Suzuki Sensei, combining Japanese New Year rituals, purification and renewal practices with intensive Aikido training sessions.
• AKI USA Annual Summer Camp Annual summer camp event that combines all-levels Aikido training, young people's training, a teacher training practicum, and a special demonstration, used to mark organizational milestones such as the 30th anniversary in 2026.
• Kenshusei/Deshi Immersive Program Intensive immersive apprenticeship program under Lia Suzuki Shihan for serious students who train a minimum of 5 days per week, including teacher training, dojo business management training, and a path to AKI USA instructor certification. Priced weekly, monthly, or annually.
• Visitor Mat Fees Drop-in training access for visiting practitioners with active membership at other Aikido dojos, offered as a single-day mat fee, weekly pass, or monthly unlimited pass.
• Online/Remote Training via Zoom Live, interactive Zoom-based Aikido classes and an online student portal with video series, seminar replays, and testing requirement videos, serving international participants who cannot attend in person.
• Weapons and Uniforms (Dojo Store) Direct sales of Aikido equipment and apparel through the dojo store, including Bokto (wooden training sword), Shoto (short sword), Jo (straight staff), weapons cases, and uniforms.
• "The Teacher" Book by Lia Suzuki Published 110-page book "The Teacher" by Lia Suzuki (interviewed by Simone Chierchini) from The Aiki Dialogues series, covering Aikido teaching philosophy, body alignment, and related topics.
• Scholarships and Community Outreach Programs Charitable scholarship and community outreach programs delivered by the nonprofit to veterans with PTSD, jail inmates, recovering addicts, mental health patients, at-risk youth, and low-income families, supported by tax-deductible donations (Tax ID: 26-3847946).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $65,000 in scholarship services provided to underserved populations since founding
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Guardian Girls USAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2026Guardian Girls Aikido is a self-defense and empowerment initiative led by seventh-degree Aikido practitioner Lia Suzuki for women participants. Originally launched in Bogotá, Colombia in February 2024, the program has expanded to Japan, Peru, Turkey, and now the United States at the Terasaki Budokan in Los Angeles. rYojbaba's participation supports ESG-related efforts and relationship cultivation with potential U.S. partners.
• UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2026Global UN agency partnered with Guardian Girls USA and rYojbaba to launch the Guardian Girls Aikido program. The program focuses on self-defense and empowerment for women and girls.
• Aikikai World Headquarters (Tokyo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial affiliation with Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo. Lia Suzuki holds 7th dan rank recognized by Aikikai. Organization operates under the Takeda Shihan umbrella connected to Aikikai.
• Boulder AikikaiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDojo founded by Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan (8th dan). Guest instructors from Boulder Aikikai participate in AKI USA seminars. Collaborative teaching relationships.
• Aikido ShimbokukaiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization founded by Lisa Tomoleoni Sensei. Hiroshi Ikeda serves as Vice President. Collaborative relationship for Aikido promotion.
• Aikido For VeteransminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit project helping military veterans returning from war ease transition through Aikido practice. Lia Suzuki serves as founding member and active advisor. First seminar held in Boulder, Colorado for veterans with PTSD.
• First Unitarian Church of Los AngelesminorOthersHost location for AKI USA dojo. Organization operates from the basement of the church facility at 2936 W 8th St., Los Angeles.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Aikido Journal: Long-running Aikido media and publishing outlet (print magazine and online content). Ecosystem participant that reaches the same practitioner audience and publishes on lineage, technique, and teaching philosophy.

Direct peers

• Aikido West: Long-established Aikido dojo in the Los Angeles area offering traditional instruction for kids and adults. A direct local competitor serving the same LA metro market with similar dojo-based classes and memberships.
• Boulder Aikikai: Dojo founded by Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan (8th dan), with guest-instructor relationships to AKI USA seminars. Operates a traditional Aikido dojo with similar membership/seminar economics in Boulder, Colorado.
• Aikido of San Diego: Southern California Aikido dojo offering traditional instruction for adults and youth. Operates a similar membership-based dojo model in a comparable West Coast metro.
• Aikido in the Schools: Nonprofit Aikido education organization led by Charles Colten, a recognized peer of Suzuki Sensei. Comparable mission-oriented Aikido instruction targeting youth, directly overlapping AKI USA's community programs.
• New York Aikikai: Major U.S. Aikido organization affiliated with Aikikai Hombu in Tokyo, offering traditional Aikido instruction at scale. Comparable as a traditional Aikido instructional organization with similar lineage credentials.
• Aikido Eastside: Aikido dojo led by George Ledyard, who is quoted as a peer instructor on AKI USA's site. Operates a comparable traditional Aikido training model with membership-based classes, making it the closest same-metropolitan-area functional peer.
• Aikido For Veterans: 501c3 nonprofit founded with Lia Suzuki as a founding member; uses Aikido to help veterans with PTSD. Closely aligned nonprofit peer sharing both leadership and the underserved-population mission.
• Aikido Shimbokukai: Aikido organization founded by Lisa Tomoleoni Sensei with Hiroshi Ikeda as Vice President. Active collaborative teaching relationship with AKI USA, making it a directly comparable peer in traditional Aikido promotion.

Emerging players

• Tenzu Aikido: Aikido-focused online instruction platform. Comparable as an emerging digital channel for Aikido training, intersecting with AKI USA's online Zoom offering but not yet at established-dojo scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AikidoKenkyukaiInternationalUSA

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aikido Kenkyukai International USA