Program Fees
Adult Regular Tuition: $80/month
Adult Discounted Tuition: $70/month
(Military, College Student, or High School Student attending advanced adult classes)
Youth Regular Tuition: $70/month
Youth Discounted Tuition: $60/month
(Sibling or child of another active Aikido Student)
Homeschooler Youth Aikido Classes: Contact us for rate and schedule of this program.
New students join for 2 months minimum prepaid. Youth students are provided with a uniform at no extra charge and then 1 additional free uniform a year.
Late Payment Fee: $5 (more than 1 week late tuition)
Testing Fees
Testing fees are kept at a minimum to cover basic cost, extra training, and fees that are paid to affiliate organizations.
No testing fees for youth students up to Green Belt rank, then $20 for kyu ranks.
Adults have $20 testing fees up to 3rd Kyu, then $40, and $100 for 3rd Kyu, 2nd Kyu+.
Dan ranks (blackbelt) fees and Aikikai membership are subject to change according to fees imposed by the national and international organizations that we study under. Aikido of Bismarck is affiliated with Iwama Takemusu Aikikai, which is part of the original and largest international Aikido organization: the Aikikai Foundation.
More About Testing for Rank...
Youth students under 17 who are beyond 1st Kyu may test for Jun-Shodan (the red/black belt) (“apprentice shodan”) and/or may transition into the adult program. Full Shodan candidates should be at least 18 years old or a 17-year-old High School graduate. Please note that this is different than most modern youth martial arts programs. At our dojo, “blackbelt” or “shodan” means the full adult-level rank.
Youth students of sufficient maturity and physical ability may also participate fully in the adult curriculum with no additional monthly fee. All such decisions are made by the Aikido Bismarck Sensei/Dojo Cho.
Neither full payment of tuition NOR regular class attendance guarantees students’ rank advancement or rank certifications by school administrators. Rank advancement is at the complete discretion of the Sensei.
The Uniform ("do-gi") and Other Gear
The appropriate uniform for Aikido training is usually either a karate gi or a judo gi. Students may bring their own gi as long as it white or off-white and plain having no patches or screen-printing. Youth students are provided a lightweight gi as part of their 2 months starting payment.
Adults can buy a single-weave aiki do-gi or a judo gi or independently or can take advantage of our free gi offer when they pay for 3 or more months upfront when joining (this is a middle-weight poly-cotton uniform).
The hakama is worn by senpai adult students of rank 3rd kyu and above. When visiting other dojos or seminars, hakama is worn by shodan level and above.
Training weapons are available to borrow for use in the dojo. Senpai students are encouraged to purchase their own bokken and jo. E-BOGU is an online supplier that many students have used with good results.
How to Get Started
- Watch a class to get more familiar with Aikido. (This is optional but recommended). See our SCHEDULE.
- Register ONLINE or in person.
- Pay tuition for 2 months minimum to start. (check/cash in person or PAY ONLINE here)
- Adults – Purchase a uniform independently or take advantage of our free gi offer. Kids – beginner uniform is free with 2 months tuition.
- Attend class. Welcome!