Santa Barbara

AKI Santa Barbara is a not-for-profit charity organization. It was founded in 1999 by Lia Suzuki Sensei, 5th dan. The dojo started in Montecito, moved to State Street and eventually found its way to its present location on Cabrillo Blvd, across from west beach.

Suzuki Sensei has been training aikido since 1982, and moved to Kamakura, Japan in 1987, to pursue her studies with her present teacher, Takeda Yoshinobu Shihan, 8th dan.

In addition to standard Aikido classes, Suzuki Sensei's dojo began pioneering work, using Aikido as a therapeutic vehicle for people with substance abuse and emotional health problems. In this on-going work, the dojo has worked closely with:
- Santa Barbara County La Morada Women's Honor Farm (minimum security facility); Goleta, CA
- Santa Barbara County Alcohol, Drug & Mental Health Services; Goleta, CA
- Bucks County Office of Juvenile Probation; Quakertown, PA
- Penn Foundation for Behavioral Health Inc.; Sellersville, PA
- Penn Foundation Recovery Center; Sellersville, PA