Are We Having Fun, Yet?

When I recently told a friend I was opening Aikido Northway, they raised an eyebrow and said, “Running a business is no fun.”

They’re not wrong. But they’re not exactly right, either.

Yes, Aikido Northway is a registered company. It’s incorporated in New York State, with all the legal and administrative tasks that come with it. But that’s not the heart of what this dojo is. It’s not a business in the traditional sense. I pay dues each month like everyone else. I clean the mats. I answer the emails. I show up. Like so many dojo-cho I know, I’m not doing this to get rich—I’m doing it to answer a need.

Actually, to answer many needs.

There’s the need to keep training and improving my own technique. The need to continue growing as a martial artist. The need to explore the depth and breadth of this art with others. The need to share what my teachers have given me. The need to contribute to something greater than myself. The need to build a community that values integrity, humility, and mutual support.

And there’s the quiet, personal need at the root of it all: The need to polish my character and become a better human being.

That’s what Aikido has done for me—and what I believe it can do for others. That’s why I opened the dojo. Because in a world that’s constantly pulling us apart, I believe Aikido offers something rare: a way to reconnect—with our bodies, our breath, our values, and each other.

Yes, it takes work.

Sincere Aikido practice is not about collecting techniques or belts. It’s about showing up, class after class. It’s about perseverance, patience, and learning to face discomfort with grace. It’s about reflecting on your actions, your reactions, and how you move through the world—on and off the mat.

And it will change you.

It will challenge you. It will reveal the parts of yourself that are asking to grow.

So—is it fun?

Not exactly. But it is deeply fulfilling. And in that way, yes—there is joy. There’s laughter, camaraderie, learning, and even play. But more than anything, there is purpose. And that purpose is what makes it all worthwhile.

Whether you’re curious, committed, or just beginning to explore, we welcome you to join us. Come see what Aikido can offer you.

👉 Contact us to learn more, or sign up here to begin your journey.