Menu
Log in


Aiki Kai Australia

National Aikido Association of Australia

      

aaaa


We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we will meet, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and emerging. We also extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

"Attending a National Event is
at least equal to two years of dojo training!"

Sugano Shihan

Sometimes people ask why are national events so long, why aren’t they just a weekend for instance? There is a very good reason why Sugano Shihan set national events at 5-6 days, it is so you can get a chance to really fully immerse yourself in Aikido, with little or no outside interruptions. For most, dojo training is often interspersed with days doing something else and the flow of training is constantly interrupted. When you come to a national event you have a week of being totally in the 'Aikido zone’, doing nothing but Aikido for days on end where your mind and body are both constantly adapting and learning, this is a very special opportunity rarely available in our busy lives.

Admittedly, it takes commitment of both funds and time to attend these events, but commitment was always part of Sugano Sensei’s expectation for those who train Aikido. For people who have a deep interest in the study of Aikido and want to improve to a higher plane there is nothing more helpful than attending a week-long national school. This is one of the reasons Sensei made attendance at the schools a prerequisite for dan gradings as it was his firm belief to attain a certain level of skill one had to go beyond the average.

To go beyond the average takes perseverance, it takes commitment, it takes dedication – but that golden moment when an Aikido technique works, almost as if you didn’t do a thing, but your training partner is on the mat in an instant – at that moment you know all the dedication was worthwhile...  We look forward to seeing you at the 2027 Summer School!


-   Summer School 2027 Melbourne

Dates: Wednesday 06th January to Sunday 10th January 2027

Venue: Melbourne University Sports Recreation Centre

Dojo Location: 103 The University of Melbourne, Tin Alley, Parkville

Please note, everyone is required to register before the event to save volunteer administration time and hassles when we should all be on the mat training! This Summer School event is for members 18 years and over.


-   Draft Timetable

This timetable is only an indication of anticipated training times, these may change at the actual event, please check regularly.

Stay Tuned for Timetable updates here. Click on timetable image to download a PDF.


-   Training Fees

We use a sliding scale for training fees based how much travel is required to attend the event.

TRAINING FEES

LOCATION

TYPE

WHOLE EVENT

PER DAY

Region 1 (R1)

(Victoria)

Adult

Concession++

$356

$249

$95

$66

Region 2 (R2)

(ACT, NSW, QLD Sthn, SA, TAS)

Adult

Concession++

$285

$199

$76

$53

Region 3 (R3)

(WA, FNQ, NT)

Adult

Concession++

$178

$125

$47

$33


Half Day Rate

Adult

$285

$76

Children Special Class  Per Person  $10  

6th Dans (AKA Member)

Per Person

$157

$34
7th Dans (AKA Member) Per Person  No Charge  No Charge
 International Per Person  $178  $47

++ Concession training fees are for AKA members only and relates to your current membership level.

Without appropriate confirmation, the full adult fee will be charged. Evidence of current full time student card or government concession card or an email from your Area Representative or senior instructor at your home dojo, can be uploaded during the registration process. This Summer School event is for members 18 years and over.


-   Weapons Hire $25

Non refundable fee $25 comprising one set of jo, bokken and tanto and a bag.

To be picked up and dropped off at the dojo Registration Desk. 

-   Accommodation and Meals

Accommodation bookings must be submitted prior to 01 December 2027.

University College, University of Melbourne

40 College Crescent, Parkville

Located north of Melbourne’s CBD and close to Queen Victoria Market and Lygon Street, University College is a short, ten minute tram or taxi ride into Melbourne’s CBD and a short stroll to the famous and vibrant Lygon Street in Carlton,

Please be aware due to the Victorian government act concerning Child Safety we are unable to offer accommodation at UC to anyone under the age of 18yo.

Prices are per person

Per Night

Ensuite College Rooms

$114.40

Lunch (daily rate per person)

$24.75

Dinner (daily rate per person)

$25.85

Please note Parking Permits are not available for purchase in 2027

Temporary car parking for registration is available on site at University College. The driveway entrance to the College Grounds is about 1 - 2 metres past the ‘Yellow Pedestrian Crossing’ on the left hand side or north side of College Crescent, if coming via Royal Parade. Turn left towards the visitor’s car park which is past the boom gate. Please inform the main reception via the intercom that you are here to register for the Aiki Kai Australia Summer School for temporary access to the visitor’s car park.

Accommodation types available:

Ensuite Rooms have one double bed, a private bathroom with shower and air conditioning.

While each room is slightly different in configuration, they all come fully furnished – with a double bed, desk and chair, bedside table and lamp, sink and bathroom area. All fresh linen and towels are provided. There are communal facilities within all corridors of the College including shared laundry and kitchen facilities. In addition, there is access to a shared Common Room (complete with pool table and table tennis table) and courtyard garden areas.

Breakfast is included in the accommodation price. Hot and continental breakfast is available; however, lunch and dinner are optional. Breakfast is served in the Dining Hall from

• 7am – 9.30am Monday to Friday and

• 8am – 9.30am at weekends.

Meal & accommodation requests are due by 01 December, 2027.

Whilst all meals are available, Melbourne University is close to many good and affordable restaurants in Carlton’s Lygon Street precinct. You can also find lots of restaurants in the City Centre including a large, well established & picturesque Chinatown in Little Bourke Street between Swanston and Exhibition Streets.

Lunches - There are a number of eateries very close to the dojo. While offering variety, and cost effectiveness, they are also an opportunity to continue interacting with fellow aikidoka, over lunch.


-   UC Registration & Payment options

Tuesday 05 January 2027    10.00am – 5.00pm

Seminar Centre, Rooms 3 & 4 and Foyer
University College, University of Melbourne
40 College Crescent, Parkville

• The Registrar & the  team will also provide in-house residents with their room keys. Please come to the Registration Desk to register first before being directed to your accommodation.

Important arrival information:
The Main Reception is open Monday-Friday 7.30am- 7.00pm.

Arrivals after hours, weekends or on a Public holiday please ring the front doorbell upon arrival and the Duty Resident will assist with your check-in.

Access to the College premises are with fob provided upon check in. If you are unable to check in during the designated registration period (or standard business hours later in the week). On arrival at the College you can call the duty phone number located at the entrance to the foyer. You will need to make prior arrangements with the Registrar.

Check-in: From 2.00pm. Check-out: 10.00am

For anyone planning to stay on in Melbourne after the Summer School, please note the Australian Open starts from the 11th January. Book your accommodation well in advance.


Registration & Pay here
A dedicated online page and registration form including electronic payment has been setup for Summer School 2027.


Handy video guides have been developed to assist registrants with completing Registration and Payments, select one of these links:


How To Register for Summer School Video Guide


How To Complete Payment for Summer School Video Guide

Payment methods for this Summer School will be available online as part of registration via debit or credit card options.

Please have your AKA Member Number handy when you register online - you will be asked to enter it during registration.

We will be unable to accept registration for accommodation and meals after 01 December 2027


-   The Dojo

East Stadium

Level 1, Melbourne University Sports Recreation Centre

The Melbourne University Sports Recreation Centre is a multipurpose sporting facility located in Tin Alley, Parkville. Change rooms, toilet and shower facilities as well as a first aid room on the ground floor past the registration desk.

The Centre is open from 9.00am on Saturday and Sunday and from 7.00am on
Monday – Friday.

Drinking fountains are located close to each entrance.

Registration Desk, Merchandise & School Stamp

Registration Desk Availability

Opening Times

Wednesday 06th - Friday 08th January 2027

8.30 – 9.00am

12.00pm – 12.30pm

Saturday 9th – Sunday 10th January  2027

9.00am – 9.30am

12.00pm – 12.30pm

 

Sports Recreation Centre entrance view from Tin Alley



Desks will be set up in the Social Room Space B which is located on the ground floor at the rear of the Melbourne University Sports Recreation Centre for:

-        Registration queries including request for refunds

-        Merchandise

-        Hire weapons (pick up and dropping of)

-        Access to the school stamp (this is a self stamping service)



Location Map

Getting to the Dojo

Trams 1, 15, 21 & 22 running North up Swanston St. (e.g. from Flinders St. and Melbourne Central railway stations) stop at the University.

Please note that Melbourne University is just outside the CBD's free tram zone & you will need a public transport card or to download the public transport app – MYKI

-   Dojo Health Guidance for SS2027:

SS2027 require participants to show photographic proof of a negative test on the Wednesday and Saturday. Photo must show the negative test and, if possible, please mark the date on the plastic casing of the RAT with a permanent marker before taking the photo. Small supply of extra RATs will be made available at the registration desk at national training events for participants who need one.

We ask all participants to be mindful of their own health and considerate of others. These guidelines are intended to support a safe, respectful and inclusive training environment across all Aiki Kai Australia affiliated dojos and activities. 

If you would like to review the full guideline, you can view or download the AKA DOJO HEALTH GUIDELINES.

-   Child Safety requirements:

The Victorian government has enacted a series of Child Safety laws particularly applicable to Community Sporting Organisations, the category under which we sit.

• Code of Conduct - anyone involved in an organisation that has people under the age of 18yo is required to sign an agreement to abide by a Code of Conduct. As part of the registration form you will be asked to go and digitally sign this C of C. This is applicable to interstate trainees and even local visitors to the dojo.

• Child Safe Zone - We will delineate a Child Safe Zone on the mat where Junior students can train with nominated adults, please take care not to roll or enter into that space. (The photography free zone will be adjacent to this area.)

• We cannot offer accommodation at University College as all the rooms a single occupancy and this means if booked under the auspices of Aiki Kai Australia a child would be a) left alone in a room and b) while on an 'overnight camp'.

There is no photography allowed in the dojo except by officially approved people!

If you have any questions regarding Victorian Child Safety - please see Ruihong Lu who is the assigned Victorian Child Safety Officer. Ruihong Lu  childsafe@aikidomelbourne.org.au (enquiries relating to children).

-   Social Events

We will share a private link to a WhatsApp Group with registered attendees closer to the event.

Apart from what you care to spend on food and drink, there is no cost to attend these social events.  However, for us to make reservations, please book ahead.

Tuesday- 5 January

                  Meet-n-Greet dinner welcoming interstate quests

                  Location: The Clyde - beer garden, from 6pm

Thursday - 7 January

                  Annual General Meeting, followed by a meal

                  Location: Carlton.  Specific location to be confirmed through WhatsApp, pending booking number.

Friday - 8 January

                  Sydney Rd. pub night

                  Location: Brunswick.  Specific location to be confirmed through WhatsApp, pending booking number.

Saturday evening - 9 January

                  Grading Celebration

                  Location: The Clyde - beer garden, from 7pm


Lunches - There are a number of eateries on campus, very close to the dojo. While offering variety, and cost effectiveness, they are also an opportunity to continue interacting with fellow aikidoka, over lunch. 


-   Instructors Course

As usual, an instructor course will be run over three days, with a 1.5-hour session each day. This course is offered as an introduction for new or potential instructors and as a refresher for those who have previously done a course. It is open to all students who are 1st Kyu or above. It includes important information on the role of the instructor, the structure of AKA and how it is run, insurance, memberships and more. If you are interested in enrolling in the course, please select the 'Instructors Course' option on the registration form for SS2027.


-   Getting There

Transport from Airport

*         Nearest Airport: Tullamarine Airport (22km)

*         SkyBus Melbourne City Express between Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) and Southern Cross Station near the corner of Bourke and Spencer Streets every 10 – 15 minutes daily from 4am to 1am. SkyBus stops directly outside Terminals 1, 3 and 4.
Adult one-way fare is $24.60 or save on a $41.20 Adult return fare.

https://www.skybus.com.au/melbourne-city-express/buy-tickets/

*         Taxi / Uber – Alternatively you can jump in a taxi and depending on traffic this will take between 25-50 minutes and cost approximately between $60-$75. If you are travelling with 3 or 4 people this can be a cheaper option than paying separately for the bus.

Transport around University of Melbourne 

*         Tram – Melbourne University and University College are just outside the free tram zone and you will need a public transport card or to download the public transport app – MYKI (not for iPhones – sorry!).

Trams 1, 15, 21 & 22 running North up Swanston St. (e.g. from Flinders St. and Melbourne Central railway stations) stop at the University. Alight at the last stop before Elgin St.

https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/PDFs/Maps/Network-maps/5b4a3efe80/PTV-Free-Tram-Zone-Map.pdf

FOR ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORT ENQUIRIES,

Public Transport Victoria (PTV): https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/ or the app

Myki – https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki (public transport ticket system MYKI)

Myki: Interstate Seniors Card holders

Seniors from other states aren't eligible for a Seniors myki, but can travel with a Concession myki. https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki/concessions-and-free-travel/seniors/

-   SS27 Merchandise - Commemorative T-Shirts

For Summer School 2027, this commemorative T-Shirts will be available to buy at the school or add to your registration form.



Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL

AUD$35.00 Each

-   Photography Policy

Filming/photography is NOT allowed, except for officially approved photographers. 

Similarly, it is the right of people to choose to not be photographed or filmed. If filming is allowed, an announcement will be made prior to the start of a class, so anyone not wishing to be filmed may withdraw or go to a 'photography safe zone'. This will allow children or young people to ensure they will not be unintentionally captured.

Regardless of any point that might be considered to the contrary, individual instructors taking classes do not waive any Intellectual Property rights regarding the allowance of their image to be taken whilst instructing.

No photos / videos/ reels of children are to be taken in the State of Victoria where the children can be facially recognised. None of these can be placed on ANY Aiki Kai organisational social media and other platforms, this especially applies to Aikido Victoria and any individual Victorian dojo social media accounts.

Aiki Kai Australian and Aikido Victoria does not take any responsibility for photos taken by parents/carers/guardians their own children and young persons for private use. No photos/videos/reels of other children where facially recognised can be shared on social media.

All photos/videos/reels of children must be deleted and destroyed within 7 days after the event. This includes all storage devices of the organisation as well as any private equipment such as phones, cameras etc.

For the purposes of this event, children and young persons/people are defined as anyone under the age of 18 years old.

Any damage to equipment is entirely at the photographers’ risk.

Consider the words ‘photography and ‘filming’ to be interchangeable.


-   Member Protection Officers   mpio@aikidomelbourne.org.au

  John Claxton     Anja Marzuki


 
Ruihong Lu (for any enquiries related to children)

childsafe@aikidomelbourne.org.au


-   General Enquiries

Luke Hope   registrar@aikidomelbourne.org.au     M: 0419 117 085




PLEASE BOOK QUICKLY AS YOU CAN!

You must register online
before the event.


 
Accomm. & meal cutoff
is 01 Dec.
 2027



Copyright 2026


Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software