Aikido of Charlotte

Aikido of Charlotte is a Martial Arts School in Huntersville, NC. As a North Carolina Non-Profit Educational organization founded in 1989, it operates as the largest and oldest Aikido dojo in the Charlotte area. The school is dedicated to teaching traditional Aikido as handed down from the founder, Morihei Ueshiba. Training benefits include self-defense, confidence, exercise, and discipline. The dojo offers daily Aikido classes and self-defense workshops to the public, while also providing defensive tactics training to law enforcement. It holds a 5.00 rating based on customer reviews.

The facility is an air-conditioned, stand-alone retail dojo featuring a 1,600-square-foot sprung mat system composed of 72 tatami mats. It includes a shower, kitchen area, and dressing rooms. The dojo follows an open mat policy, allowing visitors to watch or participate in classes. It encourages practitioners from other dojos to visit during their travels. The atmosphere is described as friendly, balancing serious training with enjoyment. Dojo operations are led by Chief Instructor J. Weiner Sensei, a 6th Dan Shidoin, who continues the legacy of Founding Instructor Dennis Main Sensei, a 6th Dan Shihan with over 50 years of experience. The school is part of the United States Aikido Federation, a not-for-profit organization that provides technical and administrative guidance, oversees practice standards established by the Hombu dojo in Japan, and registers Dan grades directly with international headquarters. The USAF also organizes demonstrations and seminars, and the dojo hosts its own events, such as the 2026 Summer Seminar with Reuven Lirov.

The location sits on Hickorywood Hill Ave, just a short distance from I 77 South and I 77 North. It is about a quarter mile from Gilead Road and the Atrium Health Urgent Care clinic. The UPS Store and Little Otter Swim School are also within a few hundred meters. The dojo is minutes from Uptown Charlotte and highly accessible from South Charlotte and the Lake Norman area.

The business is known for its long-standing presence in the region, having operated since 1989, and for maintaining rigorous technical standards through its affiliation with the United States Aikido Federation. Its 5.00 rating reflects the positive experiences of the customers who have reviewed it.

Aikido of Charlotte stands as the most experienced dojo in the Charlotte area, offering a dedicated space for traditional martial arts practice in Huntersville.