About Old City Aikido
Old City Aikido is a welcoming and supportive martial arts dojo in Philadelphia. The refurbished facility provides a clean and organized space with ample mat area, creating an ideal setting for training. Under the guidance of Sensei Perna, students receive personalized coaching and instruction that connects aikido techniques to practical self-defense, other martial arts, and ancient weapon arts. The dojo's style of instruction is characterized by a focus on breaking down complex techniques, making it accessible to students of all levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners. The community is warm and inclusive, with senior students and instructors providing encouragement and support to help students improve their skills. Training at Old City Aikido also provides a full-body workout, improving strength, flexibility, and stability. With a emphasis on respect, dedication, and innovation, Old City Aikido offers a unique and rewarding martial arts experience that goes beyond physical technique, promoting personal growth and self-improvement.
I had the opportunity to visit Old City Aikido for a training session while on a trip to Philly from NY. It has been several years since my last visit. I found the dojo refurbished with more mat space, nicely organized, and super clean. It created a wonderful setting to train. The instruction led by Jason Perna Sensei was wonderful and inspirational with lots of personalized coaching throughout the session. The setting, instruction, and students there created a serious and fun experience. I can’t wait to visit again sometime soon! Thank you!
I’ve been training at Old City Aikido for well over a year now, and it’s been one of the best decisions I've ever made. I came in with almost zero martial arts experience, and the leadership and teaching here has become an object lesson to me in the kind of generosity that encourages people to better themselves and gives them the tools to do so. I love the dojo’s style of instruction and of aikido itself as well: Sensei Perna takes what could be taught as rote and impractical aikido curriculum material and instead connects our techniques concretely to practical self-defense, other martial arts, and the ancient weapon arts out of which aikido developed. Everything...read full review
I began practicing a little over a year and half ago with almost no previous martial arts experience. I am thankful every single day since then that I discovered Aikido. More than that I am thankful that I landed at this dojo. Aikido can seem daunting in the beginning, it is physically challenging and the techniques may not seem as straight forward as other martial arts popular in America. That is one reason people place a lot of emphasis on the community here. Everyone at this dojo wants to see you succeed no matter your age, gender, body type, level of athleticism or anything else. At the end of the day Aikido is you vs. yourself. Everyone at this dojo recognizes...read full review