The Way of the Warrior has been misunderstood. It is not a means to kill and destroy others. Those who seek to compete and better one another are making a terrible mistake. To smash, injure, or destroy is the worst thing a human being can do. The real Way of a Warrior is to prevent such slaughter — it is the Art of Peace, the power of love.” – O Sensei Morihei Ueshiba |
Welcome!
The MIT Aikido Club, started in 1978, is a member dojo of the U.S. Aikido Federation.
Our chief instructor, Matt Bagedonow, is a 6th Degree Black Belt and holds the title of Shihan from the U.S. Aikido Federation.
He was a student of Mitsunari Kanai, Shihan, who was one of the last direct students of the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, O Sensei.
Aikido is a Martial art that emphasizes blending with the attacker, rather than confronting the attacker with hard techniques such as punches and kicks.
Beginners are always welcome to come by and observe a practice or join us on the mat. No previous experience is required; all that we ask for is a sincere desire to learn since it does require the club's effort to train a person. See our class schedule for information on when and where we practice. Also feel free to take a look at our introductory information on etiquette, what Aikido is about, its history, and principles of training.
For more information about the club, feel free to contact Matthew Tom.
The founder of our club, Sensei Dick Stroud, Shihan, passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 30, 2015. Having started aikido in Boston in the 1960's, Stroud Shihan remained a dedicated lifelong student of M. Kanai Shihan. He founded the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Aikido Club in the mid-70s and trained and mentored thousands of aikidoka, many whom have gone on to become outstanding yudansha in their own right.
He was also widely known and admired in the arts world. A prodigious artist, his works can be found in museums and private collections around the world. Stroud Shihan was a distinguished educator of fine arts at many museums and schools of higher education as well as at lesser-known but special institutions such as the Charles River Creative Arts Camp in Dover, MA. He was also one of the founders of the New School in Taos, NM