Anniversary Celebration
Capital Aikikai has a lot to celebrate in 2023. Not only does this year mark our 50th year as a dojo, it also marks the 65th year of our founder, Clyde Takeguchi Shihan, training in aikido. And 2023 started with Takeguchi Sensei receiving his promotion to 8th dan. To cap all that, Clyde turns 80 in the fall of 2023. So let's party!
Please join us October 6-8, 2023 for the celebration. We will train Friday evening, Saturday all day, and Sunday morning at Capital Aikikai. Michael Friedl Shihan, 7th dan and head of Division 2 of the California Aikido Association, will be returning to Capital Aikikai to instruct.
There will be light fare and socializing at the dojo Saturday night. After the training Sunday we will convene at Silver Branch Brewing Co for the serious partying. Please plan your travel accordingly.
Schedule of Activities
Aikido Classes:
- Fri: Training 18:00-19:00 and 19:15-20:15
- Sat: Training 10:00-11:00 and 11:15-12:15
Lunch at the dojo (food & drink provided)
Training 14:15-15:15 and 15:30-16:30
Socializing, food, and drink at the dojo 17:00-
- Sun: Training 10:00-11:00 and 11:15-12:15
Birthday/After Party honoring Takeguchi Sensei at Silver Branch Brewing Co. Sun 13:00-16:00.
More Details
The fee for training the entire weekend is $200. The a la carte pricing is:
- Fri: $60
- Sat: $120
- Sun: $60
You can register/pre-pay in advance at our Square "store" here. Your pre-registration is greatly appreciated since it allows us to better plan for the food on Saturday and Sunday.
All classes will be in our dojo at 923 Sligo Avenue in downtown Silver Spring, where both our women's and men's changing rooms have showers.
The Birthday/After Party at Silver Branch Brewing Co. is walking distance from the dojo. Downtown Silver Spring has several hotels also within walking distance from the dojo. There is also a Metrorail station in downtown Silver Spring, also within walking distance from the dojo, that now connects to two of the three airports serving the Washington DC metropolitan area, Reagan National and Dulles International. There is an hourly bus to/from the third airport, BWI. So if you are flying in from out of town, you don't need a car once you get here
Getting Around
If you are flying in from out of town, Silver Spring is accessible via public transportation. If you stay at one of the Silver Spring hotels then you will be within walking distance of the dojo and the party, so you won't need to rent a car.
If you have a car while you are visiting, there is limited (free) parking next to the dojo building. There is always plenty of space in the public Fenton Street Village Garage adjacent to the dojo, but you be aware that you must pay $1/hour, Monday through Saturday from 7 am to 10 pm, to park there.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority ("Metro") Red Line has a stop in downtown Silver Spring. A ride on the Metro costs between $2-$6 depending on the time of day and distance. Trains typically run every 10-15 minutes during the day. You can purchase fare cards at any Metro rail station, or you can use your smart phone to pay at the turnstyles. See the Metro Fares page for details on all your payment options.
Reagan National Airport is the closest, most convenient airport to Silver Spring. There is a Metrorail stop at the airport. There you can hop on a Yellow Line train in heading in the direction of Mt Vernon Sq and ride to the Gallery Place/Chinatown station. Transfer at Gallery Place for the Red Line and take a Red Line train heading in the direction of Glenmont. Ride all the way to the Silver Spring station. If you find you have accidentally hopped on a Blue Line train out of National Airport don't panic. You can ride that to the Metro Center station and transfer to the Red Line there.
Dulles International Airport is now also served by Metrorail. There you can follow the signs and walk to the Metrorail Silver Line station. Hop on an inbound Silver Line train heading in the direction of Downtown Largo. Ride until you get to the Metro Center stop and then transfer there to the Red Line. Take a Red Line train in the direction of Glenmont, getting off at the Silver Spring station.
If you fly into Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) you can also get to Silver Spring using public transit. From the airport take a shuttle to the MARC/Amtrak station, then ride a MARC Penn Line train or the Amtrak Northeast Regional train to Union Station in Washington, DC. Inside Union Station follow the signs to the Metrorail Red Line. Take a Red Line train heading in the direction of Glenmont and get off at the Silver Spring stop.
Regardless of how you get here, please come. And please mark your calendar, tell your friends, and post this flyer at your dojo. We would like to see as many of our friends as possible!