We started as "Skidrow Dojo" in the back of a photo studio on Sixth Street in San Francisco in February 1986. 

A group of artists and Punks asked Jimmy Friedman, AKA "Jim Bone," to teach them self-defense shortly after the violent murder of a loved one. Classes began in the shadow of tragedy, and Aikido in a small way helped heal the suffering these people were going through. Beginning as a club for that group of around ten friends, the dojo soon outgrew the Sixth Street studio and relocated to 759 Harrison Street in San Francisco, California where it remained for three years. In 1989 we moved to 57B Stillman Street where we remained until 1999. In 1999 we moved to 141 11th Street.

Since 1986 the Dojo has hosted many of the world's highest ranking Aikido instructors, including Kato Hiroshi Sensei, Christian Tissier Sensei, Nishio Sensei, Anno Sensei, Patrick Hendricks Sensei, Sugawara Sensei, Terry Dobson Sensei, and Ken Cottier Sensei.

In 1995 Kato Hiroshi Sensei was welcomed to San Francisco, and shortly thereafter "Skidrow Dojo" was renamed “Suginami Akikai SF.”

Our present and final location is at 141 11th street, between Mission and Howard streets, San Francisco, California. 

11th Street Dojo has a live-in student (Uchi-Deshi) program. Applicants must have a least 6 months experience in Aikido and been a member of 11th Street Dojo for over 6 months.

11th Street Dojo, is directly Affiliated to Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, under the direction of Christian Tissier Shihan (8th dan).

Christian Tissier Shihan (8th dan) is one of the best known European Aikido teachers, who pioneered the art in France. He started his Aikido training in 1962 as a child in Paris, following the style of Hiroo Mochizuki. He soon went on to train under Mutsuro Nakazono and was awarded by him the 2nd dan before leaving for Tokyo in 1969. He came to the Aikikai Hombu Dojo as an 18-year-old, and trained there for seven years. Among the teachers that have inspired him are Seigo Yamaguchi, Kisaburo Osawa and the second doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba. While living in Tokyo, he also trained in Kenjutsu under Minoru Inaba at the Shiseikan and in Kickboxing at the Mejiro Gym. As of 2016 Tissier Sensei became the official director of 11th Street Dojo.

Kato Hiroshi Sensei

1935–2012

八段 (8th degree black belt)

Kato Hiroshi Sensei began his lifelong study of Aikido in 1954 under the founder of Aikido, Ueshiba Morihei (O-Sensei). For many years, Kato Sensei inspired us with the beauty of both his practice and his character. He is greatly missed.