Aikido of Maryland was founded in 1985, by a group of people working together at the army's Harry Diamond Labs with our first instructor, Debbie Shockley/Kafig. We have been practicing continually since then, and have seen many students from all walks of life achieve dan level (black belt) in our club. Our current Head Instructor, since 1990, is Roma Strathman, 7th dan Aikido (please see our Biographies page for more information on our instructors and students).

We offer instruction in both aikido, which focuses mainly on empty-handed self defence, and jodo, the art of defending against a sword with a staff.

The aikido we teach is a self-defence oriented style developed from the Tomiki style, under the Fugakukai International Aikido Association, headed by Karl Geis, Shihan. We regularly host and attend clinics with Karl Geis, and our ranks and promotions are registered through the Fugakukai.

We welcome visitors and new students any time. If you would like to visit, please just drop by at class time--see the Schedule and Location pages for more information. If you are thinking of practicing with us, please see our Joining page for more information.