Eight Young Aikido Students to Be Promoted in Belt Ceremony

Eight young students will be promoted in a 2:45 p.m. Dec. 17 belt ceremony at Aikido Kenkyukai Santa Barbara, 121A East Mason St.

Aikido Kenkyukai Santa Barbara, a 501(c)(3) California nonprofit public benefit corporation, was founded by “sensei,” or teacher Lia Suzuki, a sixth-degree black belt in aikido with nearly 30 years of experience in the martial art. Suzuki’s dojo is on Mason Street in Santa Barbara’s “Funk Zone.”

“It is the goal and purpose of Aikido Kenkyukai Santa Barbara to pass down the true message of aikido and to nurture a better society by creating individuals of responsibility, compassion, judgment, and character,” Suzuki said.