WELCOME TO GASSAKU AIKIDO
A collaborative martial art community for mind and body fitness
We are dedicated to the preservation and transmission of the art of Aikido. From Japanese, Gassaku (合作) can loosely be translated as “joint work”, this is to honor the uniqueness of Aikido key principles of non-violence and collaboration. Aikido practitioners develop themselves mentally, physically and emotionally through intense practice in which one take turn in applying (nage) and receiving (uke) aikido techniques. An essential element of aikido practice is that it is a non-competitive martial art. Mutual growth is achieved through cooperation between practitioners, regardless of differences in age, gender, and physical or technical abilities.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Thierry Diagana
I started Aikido in San Diego (US) in 1996 with my first teacher T. K. Chiba Shihan (8thDan). For 5 years, I intensely studied Aikido at San Diego Aikikai and then moved to San Francisco and furthered my study under the guidance of G. E. Nomura Shihan (7thDan) at the Aikido Institute of San Francisco. In 2007 I moved to Singapore and was assistant instructor and co-founder of the Mumei Shudan dojo with Chief Instructor Serge Beraud (6th Dan Aikikai). In 2014 I received a Birankai Shidoin certificate. I returned to the San Francisco Bay Area in the summer of 2017 and live in Berkeley with my wife Melissa and our three children. I was promoted to 6th Dan Aikikai in 2021.
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MEMBERSHIP FEES
The membership fees (shown in $ in table below) are due at the first class of the month. Beginners only need to purchase a training uniform or Gi that we can help procure upon request. Training weapons (Bokken, Tanto and Jyo) are only required for students with some training experience and can also be procured upon request.
