Aikido Institute of San Francisco
Aikido Institute of San Francisco, 6350 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94014
About
Aikido Institute of San Francisco offers training in Aikido along with bokken (wooden sword) and jo (wooden staff) classes. The program includes training in classical Japanese weapons, Iaido (the art of sword-drawing), mindful meditation, Children’s classes, General Adult Classes, and an Advanced Aikido class. The dojo practices non-competition, non-violence, non-confrontation, and the use of neutralization and redirection techniques to control attacks.
• 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.
Aikido Institute of San Francisco was founded by Gloria E. Nomura in June 1999. The stated 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 is described as a contemporary martial art founded in Japan by Morihei Ueshiba, also known as O’Sensei, evolving from traditional forms of jujutsu to a non-violent, non-competitive defensive martial art. The main principle in the execution of the techniques is to control the aggressor without inflicting injury by blending with and redirecting the force of attack. Systematic practice is described as resulting in overall body conditioning by increasing flexibility, stamina, and strength, and solo exercises and paired practice aid in the development of correct stance, posture, timing, and reflex. Included in the curriculum are classes of bokken and jo, and training in classical Japanese weapons is described as complementing and enhancing the training in Aikido. The dojo offers classes of Iaido, described as one of the most solitary and most beautiful of Japanese martial arts, requiring total concentration and intense awareness, and Iaido is also described as aiding in mental and spiritual development. Mindful meditation is practiced in order to calm the mind, reduce stress and anxiety, promote well-being, and develop and sharpen awareness of surroundings. 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. Gerard teaches the Children’s class.
The leadership team includes Gloria E. Nomura, Shihan, Technical Director and founder of Aikido Institute of San Francisco; 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. 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. Nomura Sensei is the first woman promoted to Shihan in North America and Europe, and 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). She began training in Aikido in 1975, co-founded the West Los Angeles Aikido Institute with Pablo Vazquez in 1979, began training with T.K. Chiba, Shihan, in Aikido, weapons, and Iaido in 1981, and began training in Iaido with Takeshi Mitsuzuka, Grand Master of San Shin Kai/Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido, 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, and has taught Aikido in multiple cities in Europe and Latin America.
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, and he has been studying ballroom dancing since 2012. Thierry Diagana was promoted to 4th dan (BNA/Aikikai) in 2008 and certified as a Birankai Shidoin, and in 2021 he was promoted to 6th Dan (BNA/Aikikai); he began his Aikido training in 1997, moved to San Francisco in 2001 and started training at the Aikido Institute of San Francisco, moved to Singapore in 2007, and is Chief Instructor of Gassaku Aikido in El Cerrito, CA. He leads the Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, did his PhD thesis at the Pasteur Institute in Paris (France), and carried out postdoctoral research at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California. Theresa Thadani holds the rank of 4th Dan (Aikikai) and is a certified Birankai International Instructor (Fukushidoin); she began her Aikido training in 1998 and in 2002 she joined the Aikido Institute of San Francisco.
Aikido Institute of San Francisco is affiliated with Birankai International, founded by T.K. Chiba Shihan, and Aikikai Hombu, Tokyo, Japan. Several instructors are certified Birankai International Instructors (Shidoin or Fukushidoin).
Last updated March 7, 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.
Aikido Institute of San Francisco was founded by Gloria E. Nomura in June 1999. The stated 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 is described as a contemporary martial art founded in Japan by Morihei Ueshiba, also known as O’Sensei, evolving from traditional forms of jujutsu to a non-violent, non-competitive defensive martial art. The main principle in the execution of the techniques is to control the aggressor without inflicting injury by blending with and redirecting the force of attack. Systematic practice is described as resulting in overall body conditioning by increasing flexibility, stamina, and strength, and solo exercises and paired practice aid in the development of correct stance, posture, timing, and reflex. Included in the curriculum are classes of bokken and jo, and training in classical Japanese weapons is described as complementing and enhancing the training in Aikido. The dojo offers classes of Iaido, described as one of the most solitary and most beautiful of Japanese martial arts, requiring total concentration and intense awareness, and Iaido is also described as aiding in mental and spiritual development. Mindful meditation is practiced in order to calm the mind, reduce stress and anxiety, promote well-being, and develop and sharpen awareness of surroundings. 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. Gerard teaches the Children’s class.
The leadership team includes Gloria E. Nomura, Shihan, Technical Director and founder of Aikido Institute of San Francisco; 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. 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. Nomura Sensei is the first woman promoted to Shihan in North America and Europe, and 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). She began training in Aikido in 1975, co-founded the West Los Angeles Aikido Institute with Pablo Vazquez in 1979, began training with T.K. Chiba, Shihan, in Aikido, weapons, and Iaido in 1981, and began training in Iaido with Takeshi Mitsuzuka, Grand Master of San Shin Kai/Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido, 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, and has taught Aikido in multiple cities in Europe and Latin America.
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, and he has been studying ballroom dancing since 2012. Thierry Diagana was promoted to 4th dan (BNA/Aikikai) in 2008 and certified as a Birankai Shidoin, and in 2021 he was promoted to 6th Dan (BNA/Aikikai); he began his Aikido training in 1997, moved to San Francisco in 2001 and started training at the Aikido Institute of San Francisco, moved to Singapore in 2007, and is Chief Instructor of Gassaku Aikido in El Cerrito, CA. He leads the Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, did his PhD thesis at the Pasteur Institute in Paris (France), and carried out postdoctoral research at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California. Theresa Thadani holds the rank of 4th Dan (Aikikai) and is a certified Birankai International Instructor (Fukushidoin); she began her Aikido training in 1998 and in 2002 she joined the Aikido Institute of San Francisco.
Aikido Institute of San Francisco is affiliated with Birankai International, founded by T.K. Chiba Shihan, and Aikikai Hombu, Tokyo, Japan. Several instructors are certified Birankai International Instructors (Shidoin or Fukushidoin).
Last updated March 7, 2026.
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