Self-defense classes · Philadelphia
Self-defense through awareness and composure.
Adults, no experience needed. Upstairs in Brewerytown. Your first class is free.
Book my first class →What self-defense means here.
Most of self-defense happens before anything physical: noticing what’s going on around you, and staying calm when something goes wrong. That’s what aikido trains first. You practice being grabbed, again and again, until a hand on your arm doesn’t make you freeze.
From there you learn to get out of grabs, move off the line of an attack, take someone’s balance, and control a joint without injuring anyone. Some days you train against resistance, some days it’s more flowing.
Pick your day.
Class runs four days a week. Your first one’s free. Come whichever fits your schedule.
- Wednesday7:00 – 7:50 PMAikidoStart here. Our fullest class of the week.
- Monday7:00 – 8:00 PMAikido
- Saturday11:00 – 11:50 AMAikido
- Thursday7:00 – 7:45 PMAikido
We’re upstairs at 2515 W Girard Ave, Studio A. Use the door just to the left of the Koa Strength entrance, then head up the stairs. Arrive 10-15 minutes early. Doors lock when class starts. We’ll meet you at the top. Zazen follows some classes, and you’re welcome to stay for it. Misogi is something you build up to.
What you’ll practice.
- Staying calm while someone has hold of you.
- Getting out of grabs: one wrist, both wrists, the shoulder, and from behind.
- Moving off the line of an attack instead of standing in front of it.
- Joint locks and pins that control someone without injuring them.
- Falling safely, forward and backward, until it’s automatic.
- Distance and timing, trained with the wooden sword and staff.
Why train here.
Calm under pressure.
Partners grab you, week after week, until a hand on your arm stops setting off a freeze. Keeping your head is most of self-defense, and it only comes from practice.
Control, not injury.
Locks and pins are practiced on a partner who’s trusting you, so you learn to take someone’s balance and control them with care, not force.
Falling safely.
The first thing you learn here is how to fall, so hitting the ground stops being something to be afraid of.
5.0 on Google · 40+ reviews
Mark M.“Lemon Hill Aikido is an excellent place for practical martial arts training. The practice is dynamic and exciting. The Sensei has strong, powerful technique but is a patient instructor. If you’re the type of person who strives to be better today than you were yesterday, this is the place to do it.”
Faina I.
“My partner trains at this dojo, and it has had a tremendous effect not only on his physical ability but his confidence and his general demeanor. The practice covers not only your body but also your mind and spirit.”
What it costs after.
$100 a month for unlimited classes, every discipline included. $20 a class if you’re visiting from another dojo. Ranked members also pay $75 a year to Birankai, the aikido federation we belong to.
If dues are the thing standing in the way, ask about a scholarship. That’s what it’s there for.
Questions.
Is Aikido effective for self-defense?
Yes, if you train it honestly, and it takes time. You’ll build awareness, stay calmer under pressure, and learn to fall without getting hurt. There’s no competition in Aikido, but we take the training seriously.
Do I need any experience?
None at all. Everyone started at zero at some point, and the mat is a mix of people who’ve trained before and people who haven’t.
How fit do I need to be?
Come as you are. Training is rigorous, but we meet each student where they are. You’ll build fitness naturally through practice. We have members of all ages and fitness levels.
What should I wear?
Wear sweatpants and a t-shirt (or change at the dojo). We train barefoot.
Where do I park?
Girard Ave is metered. Free street parking is usually easy to find a block south, around Robert Morris School at 26th and Thompson.
From me
“If you want to train, this is a good place to train. And I hope you train with us! But I won’t try to convince you.
When I found my teacher’s dojo in Brooklyn, nobody had to sell me on it. I watched and knew. So come watch a class, or better, take one.”
Cruciani Sensei, Chief Instructor
Come train Wednesday.
Your first class is free, and no experience is needed. Booking takes about a minute.
Book my first class →Upstairs at 2515 W Girard Ave, Studio A, Philadelphia. Door to the left of the Koa Strength entrance. Questions? Text (971) AIKIDO-1.