A very friendly and respectful environment. Sensei Dan has changed the way I think about strength and power.And the mats are some of the most comfortable Ive ever been dropped on -- makes a world of a difference.

My daughter trains at Budo Dojo and she loves it! She looks forward to every Tuesday and Thursday because of the other kids and her Sensei. Sensei Dan keeps the class fun and the kids get a great work out.

I drove by this place and saw people practicing with swords. It looked so cool, and since I wanted to practice a martial art (Ive had 3 months of boxing and 3 months of Jiu Jitsu training before) I started researching Aikido. The concept of Aikido sounded absolutely fantastic. The prices of this place were good, so I went in for a trial session. There was lots of throws (where you were told to let a 12 year old throw you). A gentleman in his 50s was instructing that day, but by the end of the session, I wasnt convinced that this was a real martial art, so I asked the instructor if he could block a jab to the face. He told me to throw at him, so I did, but I stopped millimeters away from his face because he obviously wasnt able to block or intercept it. We then proceeded to have spar as he egged me on to punch him. His face was so open it wasnt even funny, but I didnt want to hit an old man in the face (even if he has been training since the 90s), so I punched him in the body. Light jabs, straights, hooks, everything was landing with no resistance. I told him I know you dont want to hurt me, but show me something. Suddenly I felt a sharp pain between my legs, and I looked down to see that this instructor had just kicked me in the groin. He then kicked me there again. I got mad at this point and landed a few high kicks to the body (avoiding his completely exposed head) which all landed cleanly. He then dropped his hands and in a show of bravado after not landing a single strike on me, or blocking any of my shots, and yelled bring it on. I didnt want to hit an old man who wasnt defending himself, so I stopped fighting, and offered my hand to him to shake saying good fight to which he reacted by swatting it away (his only successful move that day), and bumped into my shoulder and told me to get the hell out of here. I should also note that before we sparred he spent 15 minutes telling me about how Aikido teaches self discipline, self control, anger management etc. Well I left heavily disappointed since Aikido isnt a martial art. Its closer to yoga than real martial arts, and the philosophy of discipline and respect is also a complete joke as this master demonstrated. This is probably a good activity for kids, but its useless if you actually want to learn self defense. The most surprising thing about all this is that the instructor himself seemed surprised at how helpless he was. I dont think he had ever sparred without his opponent flopping themselves on the floor for him before. To be completely fair though, it is possible that it was this particular instructor that couldnt fight. If youre thinking about joining this place ask to spar someone—judge for yourself, and keep in mind that an expert (anyone with 10+ years training) should be able to destroy an amateur with virtually no effort. Especially someone as small and unfit as I am. I recommend not wasting your time and money on this place and to join an MMA gym instead unless youre learning to dance and not fight.

Budo Dojo has been an excellent source of Aikido instruction. As a new student I found the Dojo supportive and welcoming making it easy to jump right in and focus on the techniques and personalized instruction that help me grow with each class.

Great place to train. Respectful and safe. Martial focus.

The sacred martial art of Aikido is well respected, well preserved and well taught at this highly regarded dojo. The main Sensi Dan Penrod teaches a way that is both easy to digest and a pleasure to learn. He is so easy to get along and communicate with that you almost forget that he is a well trained blackbelt that could literally put almost anyone on the ground in less than a second. He is a true master of the art, even though hed likely never call himself a master. Honestly the most amazing aspect of Aikido for me is how such massive movements can happen on such big opponents with such little amount of force. It almost looks like magic but actually its well executed and habitually practiced methods that does it. If youre considering Aikido, or any martial arts at all, swing by this dojo and see what it has to offer you. ∆

I visited Budo Dojo for the first time this week and was delighted with the warm welcome I received. In the course of a twenty year martial arts career, I trained in dozens of dojos here and abroad, including for many years at the home dojo of the chief instructor.Because I hadnt trained in a long time, I arrived in street clothes with no intention to train. I was mostly just curious to see how people in my old school were now practicing. I also really love aikido in and of itself.Well, it didnt take long to see that the instruction was exemplary and the practice was being conducted very skillfully. I instantly recognized the authenticity of the movement, of the instruction, and the attitude of the practitioners. Since the practice wasnt going too fast, I asked to join the class - incognito. The result was I had tons of fun, improved my technique and felt very welcomed. Even though Im 57 and rusty. It was a total thrill.As a result of my experience, I most highly recommend this dojo to newcomers and experienced practitioners alike. If I can jump on the mat after 18 years and feel safe then so will most beginners. Advanced students will find the sensei has much to offer from his wealth of experience. Dans explanations were clear, sensible and very helpful and they were delivered with a lot of understanding of the needs of each student. Overall there was a lot of respect, which is very important in budo.If you are lucky enough to be near the Beaverton area, and have any interest in martial arts, I highly recommend you check out Budo Dojo. Aikido is a wonderful art and this is a true place of the Way.