News & Events

North County Aikikai (NCA) strongly reaffirms its commitment to the sanctity of all life, the respect for all peoples, and the principles of Wholeness, Connectedness, Openness, and Centeredness as means for growth and development as martial artists, and as human beings. We believe…

• That ikigai — our “reason for being” includes our care for ALL others, from ALL walks of life — Black Lives Matter.
• That kensho — when our own nature is truly revealed to us through practice — requires acknowledging and addressing our common humanity including how we have been prejudiced and racist in our thoughts and actions.
• That kuzushi — which typically refers to the breaking of balance and the integrity of positioning of an opponent — also applies to the dissolutioon of institutional injustices that perpetuate racism, police brutality, redlining, food deserts, and a host of other societal ills.
• That shiai — improving ourselves by testing and refining against others for mutual benefit — is how we learn and grow together, both on and off the mat. There is no “other;” we are all reflections of one another in our training, whether we be black, brown, LGBQTIA, Asian, white, and everything in between.
• And that true nagare — flow — is only achieved together — all races, all identities, all genders, all cultures, all ranks, all peoples.

This is Aikido. NCA promotes the peaceful resolution of conflict in our lives and our communities through rigorous reflection and practice. All are welcome.

“True victory does not come from defeating an enemy; true victory comes from giving love and changing an enemy’s heart.” – O Sensei