Albany Aikido

We are honored to announce the new Chief Instructor of Albany Aikido, Kevin Grace Sensei, 5th Dan, Shidoin. Grace Sensei has over 30 years of experience practicing and teaching Aikido, and he is a direct student of our dojo's founder, Irvin Faust Shihan. We warmly welcome him into this new role.

Albany Aikido is a traditional, USAF-affiliated Aikido dojo. Aikido is a martial art that promotes the harmony of mind, body, and spirit. It is characterized by graceful, flowing, circular movements that lead an opponent's energy into a controlled throw or pin to defuse a hostile situation. Since it is based on redirection, not strength, it is suitable for all people of any age and body type. Our dojo welcomes anyone at any fitness level to benefit from this wonderful martial art.

With broken hearts, we share the news of our Sensei's passing on March 29th, 2020. Irvin Faust Shihan, 7th Dan, trained in martial arts for over 40 years, and he was an instructor and mentor to many. Faust Shihan traveled to Japan with Yamada Sensei in 1986 to participate in a national Aikido demonstration. He taught at Albany Aikido from 1985-2020 and held rank in Tae Kwan Do, Karate, and Kung Fu. Albany Aikido continues to honor his legacy as a fully accredited member of the United States Aikido Federation (USAF), dedicated to offering a defensive martial art to all practitioners in a safe, respectful environment.

Our Programs

We offer regular classes six days a week for all levels. Our children's programs cater to children ages 5-16 on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30. Aikido is a wonderful martial art for kids because it teaches patience, self-discipline, and conflict resolution as it promotes physical coordination, flexibility, strength, and agility. Our children's classes combine games and other fun activities with Aikido technique and movement mastery.

Facility and Fees

Albany Aikido provides a large practice space with traditional tatami ensuring a safe workout. We operate on a monthly dues system, similar to a gym membership. There are no term limits or fee contracts. You simply pay for your training each month, and you come to as many classes per month as you wish. We also offer discounted rates for students and children.

Our Founder

Our dojo's founder, Irvin Faust Shihan, 7th Dan, trained in martial arts for over 40 years. His instructors were Luqman Hakeem Sensei and Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan (New York Aikikai.) Sensei taught at Albany Aikido from 1985-2020. Faust Shihan traveled to Japan with Yamada Sensei in 1986 to participate in a national Aikido demonstration. In addition to classes at his dojo, Faust Shihan also taught a college Aikido club at RPI in Troy, NY. Albany Aikido continues to honor his legacy as a fully accredited member of the United States Aikido Federation (USAF).

Join us in celebrating the legacy of our founder, Irvin Faust Shihan, and welcoming our new Chief Instructor, Kevin Grace Sensei, to Albany Aikido. We look forward to continuing to offer a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for all practitioners to learn, grow, and enjoy the benefits of Aikido.