Events
Upcoming Events


Visitors are always welcome to stop by to observe.
Upcoming Seminars & Workshops...
 Previous Seminars & Workshops...

June 26 & July 10, 2021
Aikido Self Defense Intros

The Sussex County Library System has asked us to conduct these two Self Defense Intros at two of their libraries as a public service.
These 1-Hour Intros will cover basic evasions and escapes from both our Aikido training and our AiProtect Programs.
Both workshops are FREE and will be conducted outdoors* in comfortable clothes.
(See their flyer for info, locations and phone numbers to register. You can also register by emailing info@aikidocenters.com.)

*If rained out these workshops will be rescheduled at the Sparta Dojo at the Sparta P.A.L.
38 Station Rd, Sparta, NJ

November 21, 2020
"Harmony Apart"(A Free Zoom Seminar)
celebrating Yasu Itoh Sensei's Dojo
Aikido Tekkojuku of Boston's
15th Anniversary
10:30 am - 1 pm   Open to all!
Participate at the Sparta Dojo or at Home!

Includes a special FREE two-hour afternoon seminar led by Sensei Greg O'Connor.

To Register & for Zoom link -

The seminar is FREE but if you'd like to make a donation Click HERE

October 10
Appreciation Day
A FREE Get-Together Seminar
12:30-2:30 pm
Open to anyone!

A special FREE two-hour afternoon seminar led by Sensei Greg O'Connor.

Saturday, October 10
12:30-2:30 pm
Free - no mat fee


"Throw Like A Girl" Seminar
Women Only - March 21
To be rescheduled due to Covid-19

A special two-hour afternoon class for women only featuring Aikido Centers' Women Instructors led by 5th Dan Senior Instructor Ginny Fanning along with Deb Patterson (3rd Dan) and Loretta Harris (2nd Dan).

Saturday, March 21
12:30-2:30 pm
Free - no mat fee

March 2020 Dojo Calendar
Calendars on hold due to Covid-19

This month's special special classes, workshops, intensives and seminars as well class cancellations and special Holiday morning classes.

October 18-20
Aikido Tekkojuku of Boston
14th Anniversary Seminar
To be rescheduled due to Covid-19

For full information go to -

featuring
Yasu Itoh, Aikido Tekkojuku of Boston
Kei Izawa, Tanshijuku Aikido, Boulder, IAF President
Greg O'Connor, Aikido Centers of NJ
Tim Vazquez, Aikido Centers of NJ
Gilda Bruckman, Aikido Tekkojuku of Boston

October 12-13
Ai Seminar 2019 

To be held at Aikido Centers-East Hanover
55 Eagle Rock Ave. East Hanover, NJ 07936

Welcoming 
Kayla Feder Sensei
Chief Instructor, Aikido of Berkeley, CA
along with
Tom Collings, Daniel Lance 
and Greg O'Connor
Chief Instructor, Aikido Centers
(see full bios below)

All participants receive a free Aikido Centers T-shirt! 
(while supplies last)

Ai Seminar Instructor Bios

Kayla Feder
6th Dan
Kayla Feder Sensei began her Aikido training in 1973 at the age of 9 and has trained continuously for 46 years. She studied directly under Morihiro Saito Shihan, 9th dan traveling to Iwama, Japan in 1980. Saito Shihan was an apprentice to the founder, Morihei Ueshiba (O’Sensei). He was one of O’Sensei’s longest training students. In subsequent trips to Japan Feder Sensei trained with a number of other Shihan who trained under the founder.
Feder Sensei has also trained with and been strongly influenced by Doran Shihan, Nadeau Shihan, Saotome Shihan, and Ikeda Shihan. She received the rank of 6th dan in 2004.
Feder Sensei has taught seminars throughout the US, Europe, and Israel. In addition to her Aikido accomplishments she received a Masters degree in Holistic Health Education from JFK University in 1998.
Feder Sensei’s teaching style supports the individual growth of each student. She has created a warm and welcoming community at Aikido of Berkeley. Feder Sensei also includes yoga and meditation practices as part of the training at Aikido of Berkeley.
Tom Collings
6th Dan 
Author "Searching for O Sensei"
As a nervous, self-conscious ADHD kid Tom Collings says at age 15 he had the great fortune to stumble into a small traditional martial arts club. "The dojo was a whole different world from high school, and changed my life." Traditional Asian martial arts of Aikido, Chi Gong-Tai Chi, and Yagyu Iaido (Japanese sword) have led him on a 50 year journey that continues to this day,
His first dojo in the 1960's was the budo of Isshin-ryu Karate, but even then he says he was searching for O'Sensei. "I never knew exactly what it was, but it had something to do with learning the true meaning of 'warrior'. At some point I learned about Morihei Ueshiba and his pursuit of something beyond 'fight or flight,' which he referred to as Takemusu Aiki." The discipline he founded was Aiki Budo, later called Aikido. After adding aikido to his martial arts training, and earning his black belt in 1976, Collings moved to Japan. He immersed himself in traditional martial arts, Japanese sword, and Zen practice for several years.
For a year and a half he studied with Kisshomaru Ueshiba and Moriteru Ueshiba, son and grandson of O'Sensei, at Aikido Hombu Dojo,Tokyo. Next was six months private study with Kazuo Chiba Sensei and Zen Master, Hogen, at Chogen-Ji Temple in Shizuoka. His search then led him to the village of Iwama , the small rural training compound where O'Sensei spent the last 25 year of his life. There Collings spent one and a half years with O'Sensei's closest disciple, Morihiro Saito, as both uchi deshi ("live in student") an later soto deshi commuting 7 days a week.
Since his return to America in the 1980's, he has returned five times for further study in Japan and China, pursuing the paths of both O'Sensei and his predecessor, Tamo Bodhidharma.
"In China I discovered the powerful living legacy of Bodhidharma, the fierce legendary Zen master who integrated a life of shugyo (intensive spiritual practices) with martial arts. O'Sensei followed his lead, and we can walk that same path today."
Although Collings considers Morihiro Saito Sensei his primary teacher, his training with Kisshomaru and Moriteru Ueshiba, Kazua Chiba, Koichi Tohei, and Michio Hikitsuchi have left lasting influences. In China he fell in love with the internal martial arts of Chi Gong and Tai Chi, crediting these disciplines with allowing him to practice sword and aikido as intensively at age 64 as he did at 24. He also credits martial arts and Zen practice with helping him survive 26 years on the "mean streets" of New York, as peace officer and self described "dharma cop."
After retirement, Collings spent a year as a corrections counselor for young convicts and recovering addicts, then found his most recent calling: " I discovered the most dangerous job in America had become - ATM repair man. Those fellows were getting assaulted, and some have been killed. So now this old warrior provides security, protecting them so they can do their job without fear. "With the ATM machine open, and his head stuck inside working the repair, he looks like easy pickings for any gangster who wanders by. But try to hurt my ATM guy and you got to get through me. And that ain't gonna happen," Collings says with grin. 
Daniel Lance
5th Dan 
Daniel Lance Sensei has a PhD in Philosophy and a Phd in Literature - both from the Sorbonne in Paris.
He is a Professor, Writer, Filmmaker, Singer, Performer and more. 
He is the creator and organizer of special Aikido events through his newly formed Ai Dojo.
He is one of the most prolific Aikido bridge builders in the world today.
Lance Sensei received his Aikido 5th Dan from Christian Tissier Sensei.
Greg O'Connor
7th Dan 
Author of "The Aikido Student Handbook"and "The Elements of Aikido".
He is the founder and Chief Instructor of Aikido Centers Inc./Aikido Centers of New Jersey and AiProtect self protection programs.
O'Connor Sensei received his Aikido 7th Dan directly from Aikido Doshu, Moretiru Ueshiba at Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.
Share by: