Aikido & Martial Arts Classes in Hickory, NC
Traditional Aikido and Aiki Budo for kids, teens and adults, taught by an 9th Dan with 57 years on the mat. Build unshakable confidence, real self-defense and the discipline that carries into school, work and life. Your first week is free.
The Most Experienced Martial Arts Instruction in the Catawba Valley
Most martial arts schools in Hickory are run by instructors with a decade or two of experience. Kaicho Pete Nappier has spent 57 years training, testing and teaching, and holds the rank of 9th Dan in Aiki Budo. That depth shows up in every class: safer falls, cleaner technique, and kids who actually learn to handle themselves.
- Real self-defense, not point-sparring. Aikido ends a confrontation with control, not with a black eye.
- Character first. Respect, focus and emotional control are drilled as hard as footwork.
- A dojo that feels like family. Neurodivergent kids, anxious kids, shy kids and hard-charging teens all thrive here.
- Six days a week of classes, mornings and evenings, so training fits your schedule.
Aikido Programs for Every Age, 4 to Adult
Seven programs, one progression. Every student, from a four-year-old Lil Samurai to a black-belt adult, trains in the same living tradition, with a curriculum built for their age and goals.
Lil Samurai
A 30-minute preschool martial arts class that builds focus, balance, listening skills and confidence through Aikido games and drills.
Explore Lil SamuraiBeginner Kids
The on-ramp for new kids: falling safely, basic footwork, dojo etiquette and the first Aikido techniques in a small, patient class.
Explore Beginner KidsYoung Warriors
Our flagship kids program: real Aikido self-defense, character training and bully-proof confidence, four days a week.
Explore Young WarriorsTeen Samurai
Serious training for teenagers: practical self-defense, weapons fundamentals, discipline and the mental toughness to handle pressure.
Explore Teen SamuraiAdult Aikido
Beginner-friendly adult Aikido & Aiki Budo: joint locks, throws, weapons and de-escalation, taught by a 9th Dan with 57 years on the mat.
Explore Adult AikidoAdvanced Weapons
Bokken, jo and tanto: the Samurai weapons curriculum that sharpens timing, distance and the empty-hand art itself.
Explore Advanced WeaponsHomeschool PE
Daytime martial arts PE for homeschool families in the Catawba Valley: fitness, coordination, teamwork and self-defense, Tuesdays & Thursdays at 1 PM.
Explore Homeschool PEReal Self-Defense — Without Teaching Your Kid to Throw Punches
Aikido (合気道) is a Japanese martial art built on one idea: blend with an attack, then control it. Instead of meeting force with force, students learn to move off the line, unbalance the attacker and finish with a joint lock, throw or pin. It works for a 60-pound child and a 200-pound adult, because it never depends on being stronger.
Aiki Budo, the older, more martial form we teach, adds the Samurai weapons (bokken, jo and tanto), atemi (strikes to unbalance) and the discipline of the traditional dojo. The result is a student who is calm under pressure, hard to hurt, and unlikely to ever need to hurt anyone.
What Is Aikido? Read the GuideBlend, Don’t Clash
Move off the line of attack and join the attacker’s energy instead of absorbing it.
Control the Center
Take the attacker’s balance with footwork and timing, size stops mattering.
Finish With Restraint
Locks, throws and pins end the fight with the least force necessary.
How Your Free Week at the Dojo Works
Pick a Class
Choose the program for your age on our booking page and select a date and time, mornings, afternoons or evenings, Monday through Saturday.
Show Up & Train
Wear athletic clothes, arrive 10 minutes early and meet Kaicho. You’ll be on the mat with the class in your very first session, no watching from the sidelines.
Train All Week Free
Come to as many classes as you like for seven days. No contract, no gi, no pressure, just enough time to feel the difference.
Choose a Membership
Love it? Pick a simple monthly plan for kids, adults or the whole family. Most students bow in before the week is over.
This Week at the Dojo
More than 20 classes every week, Monday through Saturday. Morning adult classes, daytime homeschool PE, and evening kids, teen and adult programs.
MondayMon
- 10:00 AM – 11:00 AMAdult Aikido
- 6:00 PM – 7:00 PMYoung Warriors (Ages 7–12)
- 7:00 PM – 8:30 PMAdult Aikido
TuesdayTue
- 1:00 PM – 2:00 PMHomeschool Class (Aug–May)
- 4:30 PM – 5:15 PMBeginner Kids
- 5:30 PM – 6:00 PMLil Samurai (Ages 4–6)
- 6:00 PM – 7:00 PMYoung Warriors (Ages 7–12)
- 7:00 PM – 8:30 PMTeen Samurai (Ages 13+)
WednesdayWed
- 10:00 AM – 11:00 AMAdult Aikido
- 6:00 PM – 7:00 PMYoung Warriors (Ages 7–12)
- 7:00 PM – 8:30 PMAdult Samurai
ThursdayThu
- 1:00 PM – 2:00 PMHomeschool Class (Aug–May)
- 4:30 PM – 5:15 PMBeginner Kids
- 5:30 PM – 6:00 PMLil Samurai (Ages 4–6)
- 6:00 PM – 7:00 PMYoung Warriors (Ages 7–12)
- 7:00 PM – 8:30 PMTeen Samurai (Ages 13+)
FridayFri
- 10:00 AM – 11:00 AMAdult Aikido
- 7:00 PM – 8:30 PMAdvanced Weapons Class
SaturdaySat
- 10:00 AM – 11:00 AMOpen Mat
- 11:00 AM – 12:00 PMTeen & Adult Aikido Open Mat
SundaySun
- Closed — rest day
Closed: Week of the 4th of July, Labor Day, Oktoberfest weekend (2nd weekend of October), Thanksgiving (Thursday – Saturday), and more, see the full schedule & holiday closures.
What Hickory Parents & Students Say
“It's the perfect program for children who are neurodivergent. Giving them confidence, learning a skill set to protect themselves, and teaching them they can do this!”
“Our 14 and 9 year old boys' first day at Aikido was amazing! The instructor is fantastic with the kids and very knowledgeable, and everyone there is so welcoming and helpful.”
“Miss Keely and Mr. Pete have always been incredible and loving with my son when his anxiety got the best of him.”
Aikido Classes Near Hickory, Conover, Newton & Beyond
Our dojo on Springs Road NE sits on the northeast side of Hickory, an easy drive from every town in Catawba County and the south end of Alexander and Caldwell counties. Most of our families make it to class in 15 minutes or less.
Conover, NC
Newton, NC
Claremont, NC
Bethlehem, NC
Granite Falls, NC
Long View, NC
Mountain View, NC
St. Stephens, NC
Questions Hickory Families Ask Before Their First Class
What age can my child start martial arts at AikiDojo of Hickory?
Kids can start at age 4 in our Lil Samurai class (ages 4–6). Ages 7–12 train in Young Warriors, teens 13+ in Teen Samurai, and adults of any age and fitness level are welcome in Adult Aikido.
How does the free 1-week trial work?
Pick a class on our free trial page, show up in comfortable clothes, and train with us for seven days at no cost and with no obligation. There is no contract to sign and you do not need a uniform for your trial week.
Is Aikido good for self-defense?
Yes. Aikido and Aiki Budo teach you to redirect an attacker’s force using joint locks, throws, pins and body positioning rather than trading punches. It is especially effective for smaller people, children and anyone who wants to end a confrontation without escalating it. We also teach verbal de-escalation and awareness.
Where is AikiDojo of Hickory located?
We are at 2364 Springs Rd NE, Hickory, NC 28601, on Springs Road near the Walmart in northeast Hickory, about 10 minutes from Conover and Bethlehem, and 15 minutes from Newton, Claremont, Granite Falls, Long View and Mountain View. Get directions.
Who teaches the classes?
Every program is run by Kaicho Pete Nappier, an 9th Dan in Aiki Budo with 57 years of martial arts training, assisted by Assistant Kaicho Tony Robinson and our senior students. Meet the instructors.
Find Us on Springs Road NE in Hickory
Hickory, NC 28601
Springs Rd NE, near the Walmart — northeast Hickory
Tue: 1:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Wed: 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Thu: 1:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Fri: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM, 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Sat: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sun: Closed
Your First Week Is Free. Your First Step Is Right Here.
No contract, no uniform, no experience required. Pick a class time, walk in, and train with us for seven days on the house. Families from Hickory, Conover, Newton and across the Catawba Valley start exactly this way.
Hickory, NC
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