Get ready for the 2026 Dojo Annual Fundraiser and Party — the best ever silent auction and holiday party!
Annual Fundraiser and Party
Saturday, Dec. 5, from 5 to 8pm
Our silent auction is the only fundraising event we hold during the year. It helps us to:
- Fund materials and equipment for the kids program;
- Provides free or reduced membership rates for Aikido training;
- Fund visiting instructors and special training (free to members);
- Fund seminars;
- Improve our facilities.
Bring your checkbook, cash, or your PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle, and get ready to bid on some amazing items! Members, family, friends, neighbors, and community members are welcome to join us for this great event at our Capitol Hill dojo location!
In addition to the silent auction, there will be a photo booth, kids’ program update, potluck dinner, and several fun events.
More information | Donate items for the silent auction
Upcoming Events
- Nov. 21: Joanne Veneziano Sensei will be teaching on the third Saturday of each month at the Capitol Hill dojo.
- Nov. 21: Testing at the Capitol Hill dojo.
- Nov 25 to 27: Thanksgiving Break (no classes).
- Dec 5: Annual fundraiser and party.
- Dec. 23 to Jan. 1: Winter Break (no classes).
- Dec 31: New Year’s Eve Misogi.
- Jan 2 to 9: Kangeiko.
- Jan 15 to 17: Kristina Varjan Shihan at Tacoma Aikikai.
Recent Promotions
- 5th Kyu: Jessica
- 3rd Kyu: Clayton
- 2nd Kyu: Zach
- Sandan: Amanda, Wini, and Dominic
Congratulations to all!
The Two Sides of Ego
Sandan essay by Amanda Page
“Imagine a coin — just a regular coin, nothing special. It has two sides, a head and a tail. Usually made out of copper or nickel, it has no intrinsic value. But it has an imaginary value — let’s say 25¢ — the value our economy places on it. The Federal Reserve then dictates that this valueless coin represents the same value of a small chunk of gold, which we have decided is valuable.
Now imagine that this coin represents ego. Ego, like the coin, has an imaginary value that we, as individuals, give it. Ego consists of stories we tell ourselves and others about us. “Who I am,” “why I’m special,” “what activities or interests make me who I am?” Like a lot of stories, these are illusions and are not based on objective truth. Our version of “who we are” changes constantly — so do the stories we tell about ourselves.
The stories we tell to feed our ego props up our concept of self like concrete poured into a hole to shore up a sagging fencepost. But unlike the concrete and the fencepost, feeding the ego will just provide a temporary fix. We can never make the stories we tell about ourselves objectively true, because we change constantly. Focusing on them and feeding the ego eventually leads to behavior that makes people not want to train with you, or in a worst case scenario, to the collapse of your self-image.” Read the full essay on Medium.
Dojo Space Rental
Know someone who needs a great space to move, teach, or gather?
Seattle Aikikai is looking for a few like-minded people and organizations to share our dojo spaces when we’re not on the mat. If you know an instructor, practitioner, small organization, or community group that might be a good fit, send this their way. Read more about details, photos, rates, and availability.