Find Your Calm in the Chaos

Build Unshakable Confidence from the Inside Out

Secure My Spot - Just $75!

A Beginner's Journey into Ki-Aikido

Life moves fast. We're constantly pulled in a dozen directions, leaving us feeling stressed, reactive, and disconnected from ourselves. What if there was a way to reclaim your center, to meet any challenge—a difficult conversation at work, a stressful family deadline, or even a physical threat—with a calm mind and a balanced body?

This is the path of Ki-Aikido, a practice that offers a profound antidote to the pressures of modern life. It is an enjoyable, lifelong activity that cultivates fitness, flexibility, stress reduction, and an overall increase in health and well-being.

No experience necessary. Limited spots available.

Secure your spot for just $75 - three months of training for the price of one!

Transform Your Daily Life in 3 Months

The principles you learn and the skills you develop in the dojo are not meant to stay there. They are practical tools for a better life. Ki-Aikido provides a direct way to improve the quality of your life by bringing you into harmony with your environment, other people, and yourself.

Handle Workplace Pressure

Maintain composure during difficult meetings, tight deadlines, and challenging conversations with coworkers or clients.

Sleep More Peacefully

Use relaxation techniques to release daily tension, leading to deeper, more restful sleep and better recovery.

Strengthen Relationships

Learn to stay centered during conflicts, respond rather than react, and create more harmony in your personal relationships.

Stay Calm in Traffic

Use the principles to maintain composure during your commute, transforming road rage into peaceful navigation.

Communicate More Effectively

Apply centered presence and calm energy to improve your interactions with family, friends, and colleagues.

Enhance Mental Clarity

Develop focused attention and clear thinking, making better decisions and staying present in challenging situations.

Build Inner Resilience

Cultivate unshakable calm that helps you bounce back from setbacks and face life's challenges with confidence.

Lead with Confidence

Develop natural leadership presence through centered posture and calm, focused energy that others naturally respect.

Connect with Others

Develop genuine presence and positive energy that draws people to you and creates deeper, more meaningful connections.

Improve Posture & Balance

Develop natural, upright posture and better balance that reduces back pain and prevents falls as you age.

Move with Less Stress

Experience greater energy and less fatigue as you learn to move through your day with proper coordination and relaxation.

Navigate Daily Tasks

Apply Ki principles to everyday activities like lifting heavy objects, opening doors, and even simple tasks like walking up stairs.

Ready to transform your daily life?

Start Your Journey - Only $75 for 3 Months!

Is This Program for You?

This journey is designed for anyone seeking a more centered and resilient way of living. While our students come from all walks of life, they share a common desire for personal growth and inner peace. See if you recognize yourself:

The Busy Professional

You're navigating high-pressure meetings, tight deadlines, and constant demands on your attention. You're looking for a practical method to manage stress, improve focus, and lead with unshakable composure, turning workplace challenges into opportunities for calm, effective action.

The Parent and Guardian

You juggle the endless responsibilities of family life and often put your own needs last. You're seeking not just an hour of peace for yourself, but a way to cultivate patience and resilience that you can bring home, modeling a more harmonious way of handling conflict and stress for your loved ones.

The Adult Seeking Confidence

You're interested in self-defense but are put off by aggressive, competitive, or high-impact martial arts. You want to learn how to protect yourself and carry yourself with more confidence, but in a cooperative, safe, and supportive environment where the goal is to neutralize conflict, not win a fight.

If any of these sound like you, you've found the right place to begin your journey.

Meet Your Guide

Shinichi Tohei Sensei and Matt Doetsch-Kidder Sensei

Matt Doetsch-Kidder Sensei

Your Guide on the Path of Ki-Aikido

4th Dan (Yondan) Black Belt • Joden (Upper Level Bodymind Oneness "Black Belt") • Certified Ki Lecturer

For me, Ki-Aikido was never just about self-defense. When I first stepped onto the mat over 25 years ago, I was looking for something more. I found a practice that taught me how to be truly calm under pressure, how to connect with people in a more positive way, and how to find a sense of balance that had been missing from my life.

After years of dedicated training I discovered that my greatest passion is sharing this transformative art with others, especially those just beginning their journey. I believe the dojo must be a safe, welcoming, and supportive space where every student feels comfortable learning at their own pace.

"In my classes, there are no 'dumb questions.' We celebrate small victories, we learn to fall safely before we ever learn a throw, and we build confidence together, one step at a time. My mission is to provide you with not only high-quality instruction in the techniques of Ki-Aikido but also the tools to apply its principles to create a more peaceful and powerful life off the mat."

— Matt Doetsch-Kidder Sensei

Ready to learn from an experienced guide?

Join Matt's Next Class - Just $75!

What is Ki-Aikido? The Art of Calm Strength

Ki-Aikido is not about learning to fight; it's about learning not to. It is a modern Japanese martial art founded on the principle of non-dissension, a way to resolve conflict harmoniously and effectively. Unlike martial arts that rely on aggression or overpowering an opponent with physical strength, Ki-Aikido teaches you to blend with an attacker's motion and redirect their energy.

This unique approach means that relative size and muscular strength become less important. The practice is built on the oneness of mind and body, making it a perfect art for men and women of any age, size, or fitness level to practice together safely and cooperatively.

Mind-Body Oneness

Learn to coordinate your mind and body as one, developing natural stability and composure that serves you in all aspects of life.

Non-Competitive Practice

Train in a supportive, cooperative environment where the goal is mutual growth and understanding, not winning or losing.

Practical Life Skills

Apply the principles you learn to everyday situations, from handling stress at work to moving through your day with greater ease and confidence.

The Four Pillars of Practice

At the heart of this practice are four simple, powerful principles that serve as the pillars for your training, both on and off the mat. These principles guide practitioners to keep their mind and body coordinated and can be applied to every aspect of daily life.

Find Your Unshakable Center (Keep One Point)

This is the practice of focusing your mind calmly on your natural center of gravity, located in the lower abdomen. By learning to "keep one point," you develop a sense of inner stability and composure that allows you to remain grounded and centered during stressful situations.

Discover Power in Calmness (Relax Completely)

Complete relaxation is not limpness but a body full of energy without tension. It is a positive, dynamic state where you release unnecessary physical and mental tension while maintaining purpose in your posture and movement. True strength comes from a relaxed, aware, and ready state of being.

Be Natural (Keep Weight Underside)

When you are calm and relaxed, your body's weight naturally settles in its lowest, most stable position. By learning to consciously keep your weight underside, you cultivate a physical and mental state of natural stability, feeling light yet grounded.

Live with Positive Intention (Extend Ki)

Ki is life energy. To "extend Ki" is to move through life with a positive, focused, and forward-moving energy. This principle teaches you to approach tasks, interactions, and challenges with a bright, easy-going confidence that positively influences your environment.

Ready to master these four life-changing principles?

Begin Your 3-Month Journey - Only $75!

Your 3-Month Transformation

This isn't just a series of classes; it's a structured journey designed to guide you step-by-step from the very basics of posture and movement to the confident application of Ki-Aikido principles.

Over 3 months, you will build a solid foundation in a safe, supportive, and non-competitive environment. The curriculum is designed to be accessible to everyone, with time set aside for focused training at a beginner's pace.

What You'll Learn

Ukemi (受け身) - Safe Falling: Learn both backward falls and forward rolls to receive techniques safely, building confidence and eliminating fear of falling.

Hitori Waza (一人技) - Solo Exercises: Master a series of basic exercises you can practice on your own to develop coordination and internalize the principles.

Kumi Waza (組技)- Partner Practice: Work cooperatively with partners on basic techniques to escape common attacks, building practical skills and trust.

Shisei (姿勢) - Physical & Mental Posture: Develop proper posture and attitude that creates natural stability and confidence, both physically and mentally.

Shisen (視線) - Focus & Intention: Learn to align your focus and intention, developing the ability to remain centered and aware in any situation.

Maai (間合い) - Space & Timing: Master the use of space, correct timing, and the relationship dynamics with others—essential skills for both physical techniques and daily interactions.

Non-Dissension (争わざる): The core principle of not meeting force with force, but instead leading the mind—transforming conflict into harmony.

Ki Breathing (氣の呼吸法) : Learn this fundamental method to calm the mind and body, experiencing the unity of mental and physical coordination.

Important: You should not expect to leave this program as a proficient fighter. Instead, you will gain a fundamental understanding of how to remain calm, maintain balance, and redirect force in stressful situations—skills that will serve you throughout your life.

Your Questions Answered

It's natural to have questions when starting something new. Here are answers to some of the most common ones we hear from beginners.

Do I need to be in great shape to start?

Not at all. Ki-Aikido practice develops flexibility, coordination, and fitness over time. Students begin at many levels of physical fitness. The techniques do not rely on strength, and you are always encouraged to practice at a pace that is comfortable and appropriate for you.

Is Ki-Aikido effective for self-defense?

Yes, but perhaps not in the way you might think. The primary goal is to de-escalate conflict and neutralize an attack without causing serious injury. You will learn practical techniques applicable to many types of attack, but more importantly, you will cultivate the calm awareness and confidence to handle stressful situations peacefully and effectively, which is the most valuable self-defense skill of all.

What should I wear to my first class?

For your very first few classes please wear loose, comfortable workout clothing like sweatpants and a t-shirt. The clothing should cover your knees and elbows and be durable, without any zippers or buttons that could scratch the mats or your training partners. We practice barefoot, so no special footwear is needed. We will provide information on where to purchase a training uniform (keiko-gi) if you are interested.

Am I too old to begin?

Absolutely not. Because Ki-Aikido does not depend on strength or athletic speed, it is practiced successfully by people of all ages, from young adults to senior citizens. It is a low-impact activity that improves posture, balance, and flexibility, making it an ideal lifelong practice.

Is there a risk of getting injured?

Safety is our absolute number one priority. The training is entirely non-competitive and fosters an attitude of cooperation and support. A significant portion of the beginner's curriculum is dedicated to learning how to fall and roll safely (ukemi) so you can receive techniques without injury. You will never be asked to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

What happens after the 3-month program ends?

Upon successful completion of the program, you will be eligible for promotion to your first ranks (Shokyu and 5th Kyu) and will be invited to join our regular adult classes. This program provides the perfect foundation to seamlessly transition into our ongoing training, where you can continue to deepen your understanding and refine your skills with the support of our entire dojo community.

Do I need any prior martial arts experience?

None at all. This program is designed from the ground up specifically for individuals with zero prior experience. You are exactly who this course is for, and you'll be learning alongside a group of fellow beginners in the same position.

Your Path Starts Here

⚠️ Limited spots available to ensure personalized instruction and a supportive learning environment.

🥋 Classes Begin Soon!

Your journey into Ki-Aikido starts on October 6th, 2025 at 7:15 PM

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Program Details

Duration: 3 Months: October 6th – December 17th, 2025

Schedule: Mondays & Wednesdays, 7:15 PM - 9:00 PM

Location: Loudoun Valley Ki-Aikido, Hillsboro Old Stone School

Investment: $75 - Three months of training for the price of one!

That's only $25 per month - an incredible value for transformative training.

Note: We will skip the class on Wednesday, November 27th for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Don't wait another season to invest in your well-being. The principles of calm, confidence, and centered strength are waiting for you. Join a community of fellow beginners in a supportive, welcoming environment and discover what you're truly capable of.

Special Offer: Get three full months of training for just $75 - that's the price of a single month at comparable dojos!

Enroll Now - Only $75 for 3 Months!
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Enroll Now - Only $75!