This is a very welcoming dojo with a highly knowledgeable founder and lead instructor. All instructors are wonderful to work with. We take to the mat with rolls, grips, and throws, as well as weapons training with bokken and jo. Inviting international group.

Where do I begin. I started as a student and payed on a month to month basis, agreeing to sign a contract and have a third party withdraw $150 from my account every month on the 25th. I was fine with that since I didnt own a car or wasnt paying rent. I only worked full time. They recommended a lot of things like bringing my siblings even though I just started, buying weapons later on from them, buying clothes. The starting classes were nice, going through the basics just as anyone new would cope with a new martial arts. Then months passed by. When people higher than me practiced with the teacher, he kept saying Oh, just go practice with your rolls Rolling is like a 2nd grade thing to learn in aikido. I did it plenty of times and thought I was sufficient in it. This bothered me a little, because when a higher belt wanted to show me a cool technique, the teacher would glance and say dont do that with him hes too new then he would walk over, do the move with him, and tell me to go and do some basic stuff on my own. I always felt like he never trusted me because I didnt sign a lease saying that I would stay in the contract for a year. I eventually (seriously, almost a year later) got to learn a few things with weapons and a few cool moves, but I just felt like he stretched it out just to make some more money. I had more responsibilities like I owned a car and was trying to rent a place. I told him about it. Although he knew I was a college student, he had a sign for a few months saying New Student Price so I kind of hinted to him about it, saying that yes Im still in college, & I pay for other things. I cant pay an outrageous amount of $150 a month just to come to class once a week. He said okay and basically waited until the next billing which was a week later, lucky for him, I can hardly come because I only came once a week at this point because one day was open too early and the other he cancelled on purpose permanently because I was the only one showing up. I hardly came to class at this point, only emailing him (never answered his calls, unsurprisingly) So I came unexpectedly, and talked to him outside being straightforward that I can not pay for the classes. He tried to talk me down to a couple bucks off the price, which I cant pay for only coming to class 4 times a month. I tried canceling and he gave me the number to the third party to cancel. I called and they said I dont know why he gave you our number, he is suppose to cancel it so I emailed him again (at this point I was charged for $450 for 3 months not coming to class this whole time) he said you did not hand me in writing a paper that says you want to quit, even then, I still have to hand you a receipt and then you have to wait 30 days for the process to be done, because thats whats in your contract No refund of the money that was lost during the continuous transactions of me not being there. So I finally went to my bank and had to report it to them. Do not go here, unless you have some type of relationship with this man. He will take your money whether or not it is for your kids or yourself. I regret it so much. He knew my situation and only cares for the people that sign the contract for a year or more. The only people that have reviewed on here are the assistants. Go ahead and go in person and test everything that Ive said. You will be disappointed.

There is a strong presence of Chi felt through and through around Sensei Jacyna, an honorable teacher of the very elegant yet extremely effective Kobayashi Aikido. He continues to be a mentor and a great source of inspiration in both my life and Aikido practice. Highly recommended for an aspiring martial artist looking for the True Path or a seasoned Aikidoka ready to take their practice to a whole new level. Be prepared, as this may very well be a journey of your lifetime.

In Aikido Academy of Los Angeles people practice the most efficient, dynamic and fluid Aikido style named after Hirokazu Kobayashi Shihan. This is a very unique old school budo dojo. Students help each other during classes, and that is how they grow as one under professional supervision of Sensei Michael Jacyna.If you want to spend your time, energy and efforts with the most outcome, this place is for you. Sensei Michael Jacyna is one of the best instructors of Aikido on U.S. soil who has been trained under supervision of legendary Aikidokas with a true budo life style approach. Sensei Michael Jacyna also organizes complimentary seminars and workshops. He brings top level Aikidokas to our community from all over the world in order to present his students broader view of the subject and to build stronger bond withing Aikido community in U.S.Practicing in Aikido Academy of Los Angeles makes you become a better person and builds solid foundation for a strong character necessary for survival in modern days.