Overview
Any prospective student wishing to learn high quality, street effective aikido as taught by Roy Y. Suenaka Sensei will love this aikido school. This Wadokai Dojo (Peaceful Way Organization School) specializes in the quality of a student over the quantity of students. Benefits, in addition to the small personalized classes, include the ability to learn from several black belt instructors, and a no-nonsense traditional approach to training in a noncommercial environment . The atmosphere is fun; the techniques effective.
Orlando Dojo Founder - Shihan Sonny Roobin
Shihan Sonny is a Nanadan (7th Dan) in Suenaka-ha Tetsugaku-ho Aikido. He has studied aikido with Sensei 
Roy Y. Suenaka for more than 30 years, and Hakutsuru White Crane Karate under Sensei Suenaka for several years. Roobin is also an instructor specializing in dignitary protection, counter terrorism, anti-kidnapping, high threat vehicle and motorcade operations, surveillance techniques and also trains the police and military worldwide. In June of 2004, Shihan Soony founded the first Wadokai dojo in Kaiping, China. The second Wadokai dojo was opened, in March 2006, in Shunde/Foshan, China (Bruce Lee's ancestral home and near Huang Fei Hong's school). In September 2009, he opened a third Wadokai dojo in Guangzhou, China. Shihan Sonny also taught on a regular basis at the Aikikai dojo in Beijing and the Aikikai dojo in Guangzhou.
Head Instructor - Shihan Tom Larson
Shihan Tom Larson is a Yondan (4th Degree) in Suenaka-ha Tetsugaku-ho Aikido. He started training under Shihan Roobin in 1995 and has been Dojo-Cho of the Orlando Dojo since early 2004.
Lineage | Back to top
Sensei Roy Y. Suenaka has been studying aikido for over fifty years. Suenaka Sensei first saw aikido when Koichi Tohei Sensei brought aikido to Hawaii in 1953. Suenaka Sensei met O'Sensei in 1961 and traveled to Japan while in the Air Force and studied under O'Sensei and Tohei Sensei for eight years also serving as an uchi deshi at the Aikikai Hombu. Shihan Sonny Roobin opened the Orlando branch of Suenaka Sensei's Wadokai organization in the early 1990's where the students still learn and study under the direction of Suenaka Sensei.
New Students | Back to top
New students who wish to start up are asked to watch a full class. After watching a class, new students are asked to try a class. If the new student wishes to join, our fee is $60 a month with no contracts to worry about. In January, we have an annual due of $35 and an insurance fee of $10, both of which go to the Wadokai Organization. As a new student you will learn how to properly fall and tumble, proper dojo etiquette, and the basics of aikido technique. If you have any questions while at the dojo, one of the instructors will be available to answer those questions for you.
Schedule | Back to top
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Classes consist of basic stretching for the first part of class, Aiki Taiso exercises, and aikido technique for the remainder of class. The techniques taught are up to the discretion of the instructor that night.
Location | Back to top
Park Avenue Martial Arts
Park Avenue Massage and Oriental Medicine Building
1780 North Park Avenue
Maitland, FL 32751
(near intersection of Park Avenue and 17-92 in Maitland)
Please click here for a map and driving directions
