Conrad (here demonstrating shi ho nage) has been practising aikido for 28 years and is dojo cho and senior instructor at Riai Aikido Wellington City.  He loves everything about aikido, but especially the ‘neuroscience’ of aikido – operating below the radar of an attacker's consciousness.
City Dojo, Wellington
Latest news:
- COVID 19 – At Orange (and Red) City Dojo is open and (by law) requires My Vaccine Passes for entry, for students and whanau / spectators
- Teachers are all double-vaccinated, as well as qualified through Aikikai in Japan
- Beginners – you are our future so welcome anytime: our next formal beginners’ course starts Monday 14 February – book it in (flyer)
- Juniors – we’re rebuilding the strength of our kids and teens classes post-lockdown: come and join us! (flyer)
- More detail in the tabs below
Training at City Dojo – 35th Riai Aikido Festival with Nadeau Shihan, 8th Dan. Our mat space is even better now
Riai Aikido Wellington has being going strong since 1993, a friendly club with internationally certified aikido teachers.
Our City Dojo in Kaiwharawhara is a well-appointed and beautiful dojo, with a huge tatami mat training area.
We welcome beginners to black belts, and run adults, teens and kids classes, as well as periodic seminars.
If you are a beginner, now is always the best time to start learning the fascinating, beautiful and powerful art of aikido: check out our Adult beginners, Aiki Teens or Aiki Kids tabs.
We maintain close ties with our ‘sister’ dojo Riai Aikido Belmont in the Lower Hutt.
Class times as follows: the fancy table at the bottom of this page sometimes fails – these are the actual times 🙂
| Monday pm | Wednesday pm | Friday am | Saturday am | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juniors (during school term) | 5:30 - 6:30pm Aiki Kids | 5:30 - 6:30pm Aiki Teens | ||
| Adults beginners | 6:30 - 7:30pm | 6:30 - 7:30pm | ||
| Adults intermediate and advanced (5th kyu orange belt and above) | 6:30 - 8pm | 6:30 - 8pm | 6:30 - 7:30am | 9 - 10:30am |
| Free-training | 8 - 8:30pm | 8 - 8:30pm | 10:30 - 11am |
This page covers non-routine events at City Dojo. See our main page for routine training times, and see the Riai Aikido events page for events happening elsewhere.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| December | |
| Friday 3rd | Move to Covid-19 Orange, My Vaccination Passes required |
| Saturday 11th | Seminar am and end-of-year celebrations pm |
| Wednesday 15th | Kyu grading and last class of 2021 |
| January 2022 | |
| Monday 17th | First class of 2022 (tbc) |
| Monday 24th (Wellington day) | Dojo open |
| February | |
| Monday 7th (Waitangi Day observed) | Dojo open |
| Saturday 12th | Workshop and San Dan and 1st Kyu grading with Henry Lynch sensei 6th dan, followed by start of year celebration |
We welcome beginners with our without prior aikido or other martial arts experience.
The first free lessons are free: the best way to find whether aikido is right for you is to try out a class, so come along and have a go, 6:30pm Mondays and Wednesdays. Please contact our Dojo Cho Conrad on 021 843 467, or just turn up and say hi.
We have loan gis (the white pyjamas), or just wear comfortable clothing like track pants and top.
We run a focused beginners course, next one starting Monday 11 October – see our flyer. If you miss the start of the course, simply join part way through it, or contact us for when the next one will start. The cost of the beginners course is $150 which includes all costs up to and including your first (yellow belt) grading, typically 3 or 4 months if training regularly. For unwaged or students, $100. Expires after six months.
Membership entitles you to train at City Dojo in any class, grading or seminar open to your grade, as often as you like. Some seminars may require an additional fee.
| Adults (graded) | Membership is by annual fee of $650, or $325 if unwaged or a student. Annual fees are to end March and must be paid by end June. The annual fee is pro-rated if you start part way through the year.
Your annual fee can be paid in monthly instalments, by automatic payment only: $60 per month, or $30 if unwaged or a student |
| Juniors | Aiki Kids and Aiki Teens $80 per school term. The same rate applies to youths in the adult (graded) stream, while still attending school. |
| Family | A 10% discount applies where there is more than one member (junior or full adult) from the same immediate family. It does not apply when a member is using the adult beginners package or are unwaged or a student. |
Your fees cover rentals for our beautiful dojo plus equipment costs: our instructors give their time freely.
Our bank account number is 03 0502 0283 995 00
For existing members, see also our members-only page here.
At City Dojo we offer a fun, educative and popular Aiki Kids class for children. Learn a non-aggressive self-defence, and improve your co-ordination, fitness and confidence.
Students can be aged from 6 to 12. Sometimes we start students younger, at the teacher’s discretion, safety being our primary concern. Elder children can graduate to our Aiki Teens classes.
Or Aiki Kids class is held at 5:30 to 6:30pm every Monday during school terms. Parents are invited to join in to both help the kids and learn some aikido themselves. Our Aiki Kids Manual describes our syllabus and more.
For more information contact the our Aiki Kids teacher Jason on jayf.t@xtra.co.nz, or just turn up and ask.
The first three lessons are free so join in and see if you like it. Then, the cost is $80 per term. There is also a 10% family discount for two or more club members (whatever age).
Our school terms timings are:
| 2021 | First class - week beginning Monday | Last class - week of Wednesday |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | 8 February | 14 April |
| Term 2 | 3 May | 7 July |
| Term 3 | 26 July | 29 September |
| Term 4 | 18 October | 15 December |
Here’s an interesting article Riai Aikido – A gentle art for kids from our Auckland dojo.
Come and join us!
At City Dojo we offer a fun, educative and popular Aiki Teens aikido classes for elder children. Learn a non-aggressive self-defence, and improve your co-ordination, fitness and confidence.
Students can be aged from 13 to 17. Sometimes we start students younger, at the teacher’s discretion, safety being our primary concern. Elder children can graduate to our adults classes.
Or Aiki Teens class is held at 5:30 to 6:30pm every Wednesday during school terms. Parents are invited to join in to both help their children and learn some aikido themselves.
For more information contact our Aiki Teens teacher Victor on 021 959 068 or victor@aikido.org.nz, or just turn up and ask.
The first three lessons are free so join in and see if you like it. Then, the cost is $80 per term. There is also a 10% family discount for two or more club members (whatever age).
Our school terms timings are:
| 2021 | First class - week beginning Monday | Last class - week of Wednesday |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | 8 February | 14 April |
| Term 2 | 3 May | 7 July |
| Term 3 | 26 July | 29 September |
| Term 4 | 18 October | 15 December |
Come and join us!
Visiting aikido from all aikido styles and clubs are welcome. We have changing rooms in the dojo, and if you’re travelling without your gi we have loan gis too.
No charge for occasional visits, but if you’d like to come more regularly we’d appreciate a $10 mat fee per class.
Our members’ safety is our top priority. My Vaccine Passes required, including all visitors. Our teachers are all fully vaccinated. Please scan in on our QR code too.
If sick, stay at home or, better, get tested.
Check us out
City Dojo is located in the first floor of the big yellow Animates building at 132 Hutt Road, Kaiwharawhara (entrance from the carpark corner).
Please contact us using the form below, or phone or text Conrad on 021 843 467 or just turn up and say hi 🙂
Victor (here demonstrating Sankyo) has been training with Riai Aikido Wellington City for 14 years. Victor is passionate about exploring the dynamic relationships in aikido producing effective yet flowing techniques. Victor is assistant teacher for adults, and teaches our Aiki Teens classes.
Nick (here demonstrating nikkyo) teaches Riai Aikido Wellington City's adult beginners courses
Jason (here demonstrating yonkyo) teaches Riai Aikido Wellington City's Aiki Kids classes
Riai Aikido Wellington hosting the 35th Riai Aikido Friendship Festival with Nadeau shihan at City dojo, October 2016