Hi!

I’m Lia Suzuki, an entrepreneur from Los Angeles, California, and the author of The Teacher (Aikido Italia Network, 2022). Thanks for stopping by!

You might know me as the founder of Aikido Kenkyukai International USA, an international organization of martial arts dojos. I'm also the creator of Lia Suzuki's Virtual Dojo, an online resource for martial artists.

But I’m also a business coach.

Not compromising one's values.

I had a beautiful, serene dojo, but we lost it when the economy crashed in 2008. I was adamant until that time, that I was going to NOT make a living from martial arts, but rather, follow the traditional, Japanese approach, which is to have a main job and the dojo on the side, so as not having to compromise one's values.

Then we lost everything when the economy went into a tailspin in 2008.

They made fun of me for starting a virtual dojo.

I wanted to keep my dojo going, without having to compromise my values. Like selling black belts to 8-year-olds and doing other things I don't believe in.

So in 2017, I started a "Virtual Dojo" - an online hub of resources to supplement my students' in-person training.

Most purists in the martial arts community made fun of me for this.

Until 2020, when the pandemic hit and almost all Aikido teachers around the globe tried teaching online.

Working hard to transition from vhx to Kajabi.

I had a beautiful, serene dojo, but we lost it when the economy crashed in 2008. I was adamant until that time, that I was going to NOT make a living from martial arts, but rather, follow the traditional, Japanese approach, which is to have a main job and the dojo on the side, so as not having to compromise one's values.

Then we lost everything when the economy went into a tailspin in 2008.