AKI USA Annual Summer Camp
in Los Angeles
July 30 - August 3, 2025
Main Instructor: Lia Suzuki
Shihan, 7th dan Aikikai
AKI Los Angeles
Guest Instructor: Matt Bridi
Shidoin, 5th dan Aikikai
AKI Pennsylvania
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All-Levels Training
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Young People's Training (15-30 yrs old or those with instructor's permission)
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Teacher Training Practicum
Welcome!
We're so excited to welcome you to Los Angeles for our Annual AKI USA Summer Camp!
Last year's camp was fantastic and we can't wait to train with you again this year!
Those of you who sent us feedback, thank you! I always appreciate know what you found helpful, fun, or... not so helpful.
Taking our cues from that feedback, you'll be glad to know that we're going to once again offer 5 days of training instead of only 3.
We're also going to include one of last year's most popular offerings - Teaching Practicum classes (classes taught by up-and-coming black belts and observed by me.)
By popular demand, we're adding some training blocks exclusively for young people, aged 15-30. (Or with special permission from the instructor.)
Hope to see you there!
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Lia Suzuki
Author: The Teacher (From the Aiki Dialogues)
Director | Chief Instructor: Aikido Kenkyukai International USA
About The Instructors
Lia Suzuki
Shihan, 7th dan Aikikai
Lia Suzuki Sensei is a senior student of Yoshinobu Takeda Shihan and National Director and Founder of Aikido Kenkyukai International USA. She's also the author of the book, "The Teacher", from the Aiki Dialogues.
She began training Aikido in 1982 with the renowned William Gleason Sensei. Then, for nearly 10 years, she lived and trained intensively under Takeda Shihan in Japan.
Suzuki Sensei's experience in Japan also gave her the opportunity to train with Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba, the late Yamaguchi Sensei, and other notable masters.
She currently is based in Los Angeles, and directly oversees several dojos in her network. Suzuki Sensei travels extensively throughout the world, teaching at dojos outside of her affiliation, as well. She has taught in Berlin, Helsinki, Shanghai, New York City, and other cities around the world.
Suzuki Sensei's classes are active but meditative, and fun but intense. They focus on connection, posture and exploration. She encourages each individual participant to create their own Aikido, suited to their own body and temperament.
Her mission is to foster inclusion in the Aikido world and to increase Aikido’s popularity among youth and those in their 20's and 30's.
Matt Bridi
Shidoin, 5th dan Aikikai
Matt Bridi started training in Aikido in early 1993 with David Goldberg Sensei. His love for the art was immediate and deep, and by early 1995 he was living as an uchi deshi in the Germantown Pike dojo. During this time he was exposed to many influencial teachers within ASU and other Aikido schools, as many trips were made to Boston, Washington DC, Florida, New York and more.
One of these teachers was Lia Suzuki Sensei, who he met on one of her visits to the USA from Japan. When Suzuki Sensei moved back to the United States in early 1996 Matt's interested in her dynamic way of training deepened, and by mid 1996 he had been accepted as one of her students. After Suzuki Sensei moved to the west coast Matt followed her there a short time later, and spent 14 years in Santa Barbara under her tutelage. In his 28 years as a student of Suzuki Sensei Matt has been very fortunate to train with many teachers greatly influenced by Yamaguchi Shihan in Canada, the US, and Japan.
Matt has attained all 5 of his Dan rankings under Suzuki Sensei and Takeda Shihan, and is the longest continuing student of Suzuki Sensei.
Lia Suzuki
Shihan, 7th dan, Aikikai
Demonstration at Hachiman Shrine in Kamakura, Japan, 2019
Schedule
Wednesday
- 10:00am-12:30pm: All Levels Training / Young People's Training
- 12:30pm: Lunch provided at dojo
- 4:30pm-5:30pm: Teaching Practicum (All seminar participants invited to take this class and give feedback afterwards.)
- 6:00pm-7:30pm: All-Levels Keiko
- 7:45pm-ish: Refreshments
Thursday (Same as Wednesday)
- 10:00am-12:30pm: All Levels Training / Young People's Training
- 12:30pm: Lunch provided at dojo
- 4:30pm-5:30pm: Teaching Practicum (All seminar participants invited to take this class and give feedback afterwards.)
- 6:00pm-7:30pm: All-Levels Keiko
- 7:45pm-ish: Refreshments
Friday
- 10:00am-12:00pm: All-Levels Keiko
- 12:00pm-6:00pm: FREE TIME
- 6:00pm-8pm: All-Levels Keiko
Saturday
- 10:00am-12:30pm: All Levels Training / Young Training
- Lunch provided at dojo
- 2:30pm-4:30pm: All-Levels Keiko
Sunday
- 10:00am-12:30pm: All Levels Training / Young Training
- 12:45pm: Testing
*Schedule is subject to change.
What people are saying...
"One element that really stuck with me was continuing to lead with center, connect, and move with that connection. I valued using the shoto to demonstrate open hand techniques and feel the extension. I really appreciated ato-keiko as well and the attention to ukemi - and particularly the way you pushed each of us appropriately to each of our growth edges. Another huge benefit was that each day had a flow and focus on a technique. I so appreciated breaking down ikkyo, irimi nage, shiho nage, etc. into smaller studies. Then the end of the day had a culmination of our learnings that helped me, as 5th kyu, understand at least a little bit more about the foundational techniques.
As a student, I feel more confident going into an attack with energy and trust in my ukemi. I also notice more spirals in the techniques that help stretch out uke, and the importance of bending my knees and using the ground as a resource, connection point and ally."
Cam, Petaluma, California
"Thanks again for the wonderful seminar in Weilheim!
It was especially interesting to do some things we had done on Zoom during the pandemic lockdowns, now with real partners. It felt quite different (e.g. A+B footwork with real partner).
Nevertheless, the Zoom practice was very good preparation.
It was also great fun to practice "Monty pythons walk“ or techniques "against the wall“.
I think everybody enjoyed it and hopefully this will be repeated next year."
Thomas Petry, Germany
"Dear Lia, you gave a class in September 2017 in Hildesheim. Our Dojo likes to work with internal power. I was very impressed by your training. Pierre from Hildesheim"
Pierre Pihet, Germany
"Lia Suzuki Sensei has it all - she's easy to understand and demonstrates every move. She's intuitive about the students abilities and overall general sense about a person and helping them find their aikido. She allows practice and less talking to allow the student to calibrate and experiment with the lessons and muscle memory.
Of course, she is the real deal. That is what brings me back.
Mario Suarez, USA
Registration
Can't make it all five days?
Friday Evening through Sunday Afternoon
$160
Enter code CAMP-2025-FRI-SUN-SUPER-EARLY for savings.
RegisterSingle-Day Rates
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Registration
Can't make it all five days?
Friday Evening through Sunday Afternoon
$160
Enter code CAMP-2025-FRI-THRU-SUN-EARLY for savings.
RegisterSingle-Day Rates
Early Registration Ends in...
00
DAYS
00
HOURS
00
MINS
00
SECS
Notification List
Registration opens soon. Would you like us to notify you?
Thank you for your interest in our Annual Summer Camp in Los Angeles! Registration will be opening soon. You can get on the Pre-Registration List if you'd like and we'll be sure to notify you as soon as we open the doors.
Get On The Notification ListWhat people are saying...
"Lia sensei was cool with the absence of the heavy hands often found from ikkyo movement. The "drop" is a good idea to incorporate... thank you 💕
Thank you for the service you offered to the Aikidoka community!"
Suzanne Rudiger, Germany
"Lia Sensei changed my life. Her teachings in Aikido have had a profound impact on who I am today and continue to shape me everyday into a stronger, more grounded person.
Lia Sensei is truly a one-of-a-kind teacher. She is passionate to no end about Aikido which comes through in her thoughtful though very Japanese style of teaching. Her Aikido classes always leave me drenched in sweat by the end which I have almost never experienced anywhere else (except Japan!) They are intense, dynamic, and feel the way a martial art should truly feel, like a sacred practice."
Chris Coats
Filmmaker
"Lia Sensei spent years in Japan absorbing the essence of Aikido training and Japanese perseverance and grace from great teachers, and in turn she now transmits that depth of feeling to her students. Her fundraising and charitable works are exemplary, and she does lots with very little. She is admired from far and wide."
Nat McCully
Remote attendance
We'll have Zoom running for all classes for those who cannot attend in person.
Super Early Registration ends in...
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Remote attendance
We'll have Zoom running for all classes for those who cannot attend in person.
Early Registration ends in...
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DAYS
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HOURS
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MINS
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Remote attendance
We'll have Zoom running for all classes for those who cannot attend in person.
Registration for remote attendance ends in...
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DAYS
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HOURS
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