Aikido Institute of San Francisco
Aikido Institute of San Francisco, 6350 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94014
About
Aikido Institute of San Francisco offers Aikido training that includes children’s classes, general adult classes, and an advanced Aikido class. The program also offers training in classical Japanese weapons through bokken (wooden sword) classes, jo (wooden staff) classes, and Iaido, the art of sword-drawing. Classes include solo exercises, paired practice, and mindful meditation.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Price: For visiting Aikidoka, please add $5 to Visitor Mat Fee if taking Iaido class or attending Advanced Aikido class (with Chief Instructor permission). There is a 10% discount on fees for Military/Fire/Police, Family (Adult + Child), Family (Multiple Children), and Couples.
The purpose of Aikido Institute of San Francisco is to teach and develop the art of Aikido in the most modern and profound way, and through the training, cultivate character. Aikido Child is under 10 years old and attends only children’s classes, and Aikido Minor is between 10–18 years old and can attend general adult classes.
Aikido Institute of San Francisco was founded by Gloria E. Nomura in June 1999. The leadership team includes Gloria E. Nomura, Shihan, Technical Director and founder; Rob Schenk, Godan, co-Chief Instructor; Gerard Enriquez, Yondan, co-Chief Instructor; Thierry Diagana, Rokudan, At-large, Chief Instructor of Gassaku Aikido; and Theresa Thadani, Yondan, At-large. Aikido Institute of San Francisco is affiliated with Birankai International, founded by T.K. Chiba Shihan, and Aikikai Hombu, Tokyo, Japan.
Gloria E. Nomura was promoted to 7th dan in January 2000 and Birankai Shihan in January 2002 by T.K. Chiba, Shihan, and in November 2006 she was certified as Shihan at Aikikai Hombu, Tokyo, Japan. She is the first woman promoted to Shihan in North America and Europe. She began training in Aikido in 1975, co-founded the West Los Angeles Aikido Institute in 1979, began training with T.K. Chiba in 1981, and began training in Iaido with Takeshi Mitsuzuka in 1982. She graduated from the University of California, College of Pharmacy, San Francisco, and received her Masters and Doctorate degrees at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. She has been featured in the documentary films “Aikido, Zen In The Martial Arts” (1985), “The Art Of Iaido – Way Of The Sword” (2003), and “Holding Up Half The Sky” (2004).
Rob Schenk holds the rank of 5th Dan (Birankai NA; promoted 7/11/15) and is a certified Birankai International Instructor (Shidoin), and he graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Psychology. Gerard Enriquez holds the rank of 4th Dan (Aikikai) and is a certified Birankai International Instructor (Shidoin); he has a bachelor’s degree in Business Information Systems from San Francisco State University and works as IT support at San Francisco State University. Thierry Diagana was promoted to 4th dan (BNA/Aikikai) in 2008 and to 6th Dan (BNA/Aikikai) in 2021, was certified as a Birankai Shidoin, leads the Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, did his PhD thesis at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, and postdoctoral research at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, and he maintains his membership with Birankai NA and Aikido Institute where he teaches when in San Francisco. Theresa Thadani holds the rank of 4th Dan (Aikikai) and is a certified Birankai International Instructor (Fukushidoin).
The curriculum includes classes in bokken and jo, and training in classical Japanese weapons complements and enhances the training in Aikido. Classes use solo exercises and paired practice to work on correct stance, posture, timing, and reflex. The program offers Iaido classes, described as one of the most solitary and most beautiful of Japanese martial arts, and includes mindful meditation to calm the mind, reduce stress and anxiety, and promote well-being.
Last updated June 6, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Price: For visiting Aikidoka, please add $5 to Visitor Mat Fee if taking Iaido class or attending Advanced Aikido class (with Chief Instructor permission). There is a 10% discount on fees for Military/Fire/Police, Family (Adult + Child), Family (Multiple Children), and Couples.
The purpose of Aikido Institute of San Francisco is to teach and develop the art of Aikido in the most modern and profound way, and through the training, cultivate character. Aikido Child is under 10 years old and attends only children’s classes, and Aikido Minor is between 10–18 years old and can attend general adult classes.
Aikido Institute of San Francisco was founded by Gloria E. Nomura in June 1999. The leadership team includes Gloria E. Nomura, Shihan, Technical Director and founder; Rob Schenk, Godan, co-Chief Instructor; Gerard Enriquez, Yondan, co-Chief Instructor; Thierry Diagana, Rokudan, At-large, Chief Instructor of Gassaku Aikido; and Theresa Thadani, Yondan, At-large. Aikido Institute of San Francisco is affiliated with Birankai International, founded by T.K. Chiba Shihan, and Aikikai Hombu, Tokyo, Japan.
Gloria E. Nomura was promoted to 7th dan in January 2000 and Birankai Shihan in January 2002 by T.K. Chiba, Shihan, and in November 2006 she was certified as Shihan at Aikikai Hombu, Tokyo, Japan. She is the first woman promoted to Shihan in North America and Europe. She began training in Aikido in 1975, co-founded the West Los Angeles Aikido Institute in 1979, began training with T.K. Chiba in 1981, and began training in Iaido with Takeshi Mitsuzuka in 1982. She graduated from the University of California, College of Pharmacy, San Francisco, and received her Masters and Doctorate degrees at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. She has been featured in the documentary films “Aikido, Zen In The Martial Arts” (1985), “The Art Of Iaido – Way Of The Sword” (2003), and “Holding Up Half The Sky” (2004).
Rob Schenk holds the rank of 5th Dan (Birankai NA; promoted 7/11/15) and is a certified Birankai International Instructor (Shidoin), and he graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Psychology. Gerard Enriquez holds the rank of 4th Dan (Aikikai) and is a certified Birankai International Instructor (Shidoin); he has a bachelor’s degree in Business Information Systems from San Francisco State University and works as IT support at San Francisco State University. Thierry Diagana was promoted to 4th dan (BNA/Aikikai) in 2008 and to 6th Dan (BNA/Aikikai) in 2021, was certified as a Birankai Shidoin, leads the Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, did his PhD thesis at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, and postdoctoral research at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, and he maintains his membership with Birankai NA and Aikido Institute where he teaches when in San Francisco. Theresa Thadani holds the rank of 4th Dan (Aikikai) and is a certified Birankai International Instructor (Fukushidoin).
The curriculum includes classes in bokken and jo, and training in classical Japanese weapons complements and enhances the training in Aikido. Classes use solo exercises and paired practice to work on correct stance, posture, timing, and reflex. The program offers Iaido classes, described as one of the most solitary and most beautiful of Japanese martial arts, and includes mindful meditation to calm the mind, reduce stress and anxiety, and promote well-being.
Last updated June 6, 2026.
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