As a couple who both practice Aikido, people often ask us, “So, at which dojo did you meet?”

The answer always surprises them—because our story didn’t begin in a dojo at all.

We first met 25 years ago on a roadside in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia.

Back then, I wasn’t practicing Aikido yet.

It was only after we got married that Mike, who had already been training for six years, encouraged me to step onto the mat.

His very first dojo was with the Kochi Aikido Group, and ever since, we’ve often said to each other, “Someday, let’s go back there together.” But like many dreams, the years slipped by and it never seemed to happen.

Thank you for visiting Aikido Travel.

We are pleased to introduce the overseas seminars scheduled for the second half of 2025 by Shihan Etsuji Horii, President of Aioikai.

Currently ranked 7th dan, Shihan Horii trained for about 10 years at the Aikido Hombu Dojo Instruction Department. He has served as a director of the All Japan Aikido Federation and continues to teach at dojos both in Japan and abroad.

Official Website

From September 2025 onward, seminars are planned in five cities across Asia and Europe, offering a unique blend of keiko (training) and cultural experiences.

September 2025 | Hanoi, Vietnam | Aikido Seminar with Shihan Etsuji Horii

Thank you, as always, for using Aikido Travel.

Some of you may have already noticed, but our seminar page has recently been updated!
To make it easier to navigate and understand, we’ve implemented two major changes:

Hello!

The heat is still lingering, but exciting updates about overseas seminars continue to arrive.

In this post, we’re happy to share the Aikikai Hombu Dojo instructors' overseas seminars scheduled for October 2025, arranged chronologically. We hope this information helps those planning to attend.

Yoshinobu Irie Shihan – Aikido Seminar in Jakarta, Indonesia