Journey to Balance

Transform Through Aikido Practice

You are here for no other purpose than to realize your inner divinity and manifest your innate enlightenment. Foster peace in your own life and then apply the Art to all that you encounter

-Aikido Founder, Morihei Ueshiba

It's been a busy spring!

Many thanks to Brian Ericksen Sensei and our brothers and sisters at Heaven & Earth Aikido in Herndon, VA, who hosted a Memorial Day seminar and fundraiser.

Congratulations to EFA student, Ed Sierra on his promotion to 5th Kyu!

Thanks to our Birankai Agoge: Phil Traunstein, Alex Peterson, Ed Hernandez, and Read Omohundro who made the trek to Fredericksburg for my retirement and for Ed's test. It was great to see everyone and to welcome another Ed into Birankai!

EFA is shifting locations - please contact me for more details on location and schedule.

Gassho

Mark

Elys Ford Aikido

About

Elys Ford Aikido, serving Fredericksburg, Culpeper, and surrounding areas, is a community dedicated to Aikido, a martial art founded by Morihei Ueshiba (O'Sensei) that focuses on self-defense through blending with an attacker's energy.

Set on a horse farm on the Rapidan River, we practice the dynamic style developed by T.K. Chiba, Shihan, a direct student of O'Sensei. Our training enhances body, mind, and spirit, building self-confidence, coordination, and a calm, grounded temperament that extends beyond the dojo.

Our logo embodies Chiba Sensei's principles of being open, lively (triangle), centered, connected (circle), and whole (square). It features the local beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Rapidan River, and Elys Ford. The rising sun symbolizes Aikido's origin and the three mountains of increasing height represent shuhari – one’s journey of transcendence through rigorous practice.