How Much Does It Cost to Start Aikido?

How much does it cost to start aikido? Short answer: aikido is affordable. At Aikido Unlimited in Tampere, adult membership is €60/month and junior membership is €40/month; in Hyvinkää a local membership is €30/month for adults and €20/month for juniors. The first trial class is free, and you can begin without buying a gi.

Below is a breakdown of the main costs: membership fees, the Finnish Aikido Federation licence and insurance, practice uniform, seminars, and later expenses such as weapons and dan registration. Current membership prices are always on the pricing page.

Membership fees at Aikido Unlimited

With a monthly membership you train in the dojo group classes. Paying for six months or a full year at once gives a clear discount compared with the monthly rate.

Tampere (membership also covers Hyvinkää):

• Adults: €60/month
• Juniors: €40/month

Hyvinkää (local membership):

• Adults: €30/month
• Juniors: €20/month

Families get a family discount: one family member pays the full fee, and additional members from the same family get 50% off. If an adult and a child train together, the discount is applied to the children’s membership fees. If a parent has an adult monthly membership, family aikido is included at no extra charge.

If you do not want a monthly membership yet, you can pay for a single class (€10) or buy a 10-class pass (€90). The first trial class is free.

Aikido Unlimited fees are slightly higher than at many sports-club–based operators. On the other hand, there is more training on offer, and members are not under pressure to take on club volunteer duties. In addition, belt tests are included in the fee. Current options are on the pricing page.

Federation licence and insurance

On top of membership fees there is the Finnish Aikido Federation licence. With insurance, the licence costs:

• Adults: €115 / calendar year (federation share €35 + insurance €80)
• Juniors: €45 / calendar year

For the autumn season, the federation share is discounted by half. Licence holders get access to federation services such as the grading register, federation courses, and the Aikido magazine.

Gi and other equipment

You can start without an aikido gi — indoor sportswear is fine for the first classes. Still, it is a good idea to get your own uniform soon after you begin.

A new gi price depends on size. In the Aikido Unlimited webshop the Tozando basic aikido gi starts around €46 for the smallest sizes and around €84 for the largest. Especially junior gis can often be found second-hand.

Uniforms from other arts also work well for aikido, such as judo, taekwondo, or BJJ gis. When you train regularly several times a week, a second practice outfit is a clear comfort factor — one can dry while you wear the other.

After the fourth grading (3rd kyu) you may start wearing a hakama. 3rd kyu usually comes after about two years of practice; for those who progress faster it may be around one year. In the Aikido Unlimited webshop the Tetron hakama AH250 costs €89. Cotton hakamas and thicker tetron models are typically around €150.

Also read what to expect from your first aikido class.

Seminars — important but optional

There are few mandatory extra costs in aikido, but seminars are an important part of training. Seminar fees are usually about €30–40 per day, plus some travel costs.

Aikido Unlimited instructors attend dozens of seminars a year, which adds up. Most students, however, go to only a few seminars per year. Students and others with limited means often get discounts.

Later costs: weapons and black belt

Later in your training you may want your own practice weapons: a bokken (wooden sword) and a jo (staff). In the Aikido Unlimited webshop a bokken is about €50–60 and a jo is €65.

When black-belt grading becomes relevant, registering the rank with Aikikai Hombu Dojo incurs a fee based on rank. The fee is in Japanese yen: prices start from about ¥20,000 plus €50 to cover Finnish Aikido Federation costs (the euro amount depends on the yen exchange rate).

For 1st and 2nd dan you must also attend two federation level seminars. In 2026 the level seminar fee has been €60 per seminar.

Summary: what does aikido cost per year?

• Membership: Tampere adults €60/month, juniors €40/month; Hyvinkää adults €30/month, juniors €20/month (discounts for longer periods)
• Drop-in / 10-pass: €10 per class or €90 for 10 classes
• Family discount: additional family members 50% off membership
• Licence + insurance: adults €115/year, juniors €45/year
• Gi: about €46–84 new (often less second-hand)
• Hakama: after 3rd kyu; basic model €89, thicker ones around €150
• Seminars: optional, typically €30–40/day
• Weapons and dan fees: only at a later stage

If you are considering starting, the easiest step is a trial class or the basic course. Exact membership prices and payment options are on the pricing page.

-Mikko Kurkela