Aiki Spokane Roshinkan Aikido Dojo

James Landry, chief instructor at Aiki Spokane Roshinkan, trained as an uchi-deshi (live-in disciple) of Fumio Toyoda Shihan until Toyoda's death in 2001, then followed Andrew Sato Shihan to the Aikido World Alliance. The dojo is a member of that alliance, which Sato founded in 2005 to carry on Toyoda's teaching, and of the Aikikai Foundation. Landry holds Godan (5th-degree black belt) and the title Shidoin, certified instructor.

The dojo holds that aikido is “a practice of personal and interpersonal development,” and partners work cooperatively, with what it calls “fierce joy.” A class runs ninety minutes, from warm-up and breathing through fundamentals and technique to partner practice and a closing reflection. Work with the wooden sword (bokken), short staff (jō) and knife (tanto) runs through regular practice. The name Roshinkan, the dojo explains, means “the hall of the waterfall spirit.”

Classes are for adults and teens ages 13 and up, and no martial arts experience is needed; beginners and experienced students train side by side. The first visit is free, and newcomers choose how to spend it: sitting at the edge of the mat to watch a full class, or stepping on to try it, with the instructor guiding them through the basics and pairing them with experienced students. Loose, comfortable clothing works for a start, and training is barefoot. Once you join, you train in a gi; whether the dojo sells one is worth raising on that first visit.

Class meets on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, and the dojo asks students to arrive about ten minutes early to change and settle in. Membership covers unlimited classes with no long-term contract, new students begin at an introductory first-month rate, and visitors can train in a single class for a mat fee without joining.