Aikido of Champlain Valley Youth Program

06/04/2026

Vote for Aikido of Champlain Valley as "The Best Martial Arts Studio" in Vermont in Seven Days Magazine: https://ballot.sevendaysvt.com/.../best-martial-arts-studio
You will need to create an account in order to vote.
Why vote for ACV as the "Best Martial Arts Studio?" Here are 17 reasons to vote. Also, let us know if you cast your ballot in the comments section! We are in the "Services" category and the "Best Martial Arts Studio" is the 4th category up from the bottom of the page.
1. One of Vermont’s only 501(c)3 tax exempt non-profit martial arts studios (founded in 1997)
2. Commitment to learning trauma informed instruction (we continue to learn how to support survivors) and creating a safe space
3. Providing youth at risk scholarships for almost 30 years
4. Roots of Prevention Award winning youth program
5. Many years working with King Street Youth/first American and refugee families
6. Extensive networking with clinical/mental health youth services and other area non-profits, including Women’s self-defense and Trauma informed training through The Safety Team, Outright Vermont the Howard Center and Youth Build
7. Inclusive classes, including a gender-neutral changing room/bathrooms
8. A comprehensive gender equity/sexual harassment policy since 1997 (and the inspiration for many other dojos/federations to adopt/change similar policies)
9. Family Friendly dojo with kids play space and parent’s lounge
10. Exemplary technical training with Vermont’s senior aikido teacher and Vermont's only shihan (master teacher in aikido) and fully certified teachers ranked through Birankai North America and Hombu dojo, Japan
11. The cultivation of the relationship between technical embodiment and internal growth
12. Vermont’s only aikido kenshusei program (intensive teacher training)
13. Discounts for Hunger Mountain coop members
14. Beautiful, spacious dojo with shower and kitchen
15. UVM Aikido club and UVMcredit class for over 25 years
16. Recipient of 2026 Capacity Grant from Vermont Community Foundation
17. We cultivate an atmosphere of continual curiosity, learning and growth
Thank you for your support- please let us know that you voted in the comment section (or if you need more reasons)

Vote for your favorite Vermont businesses, people and places June 2-15, 2026.

02/02/2026

12/31/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17xvg2wKoo/

Help us leap into the New Year! Your generous tax exempt donation supports our scholarship program for youth at risk, teaching aikido to local kids and teens. Thank you so much for your donations: we just raised an additional $1,100! We have only 11 days to go in our fundraising campaign.

Donate Here: https://mtyc.co/5p8jaf

12/27/2025

Strategic Planning 2026-2029 ...

12/27/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KS1YNQVX5/

06/01/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BpWSxFzEY/

Please vote Aikido of Champlain Valley as "Best Martial Arts Studio" in Vermont! Only 10 days left to vote in the final round. You can vote here: https://ballot.sevendaysvt.com/ - you will need to establish an account, then go to "Services" and choose "Best Martial Arts Studio" which is 4th item from bottom of the page. Each day we will share an archival photo and quote up to the final day of voting. Photograph by Hilary Hess.

04/27/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1E48yd7iQJ/

Nominate your favorite Vermont businesses, people and places April 9-28, 2025.

01/05/2025

Martial arts classes for children, families and adults begin in January!

04/28/2024

https://www.facebook.com/aikidoofchamplainvalley/posts/pfbid0AkWYKAPaViNt98zwBrAjVrNgrnqGNMwhrp5uDvmyb4f6dXGwcvraBX2k3M4hQ5Csl

Hello my friends, please consider nominating Aikido of Champlain Valley as the "Best Martial Arts Studio" in Chittenden County, Vermont. We are a 501c3 non-profit that provides youth at risk scholarships, and we continue to grow our practice in traditional aikido and a mission that supports community engagement and inclusion. For example, our teachers and students recently participated in a trauma informed martial arts training with the Safety Team as part of our efforts to improve our training environment for a diverse range of martial artists. The deadline is tonight at midnight: https://ballot.sevendaysvt.com/services/best-martial-arts-studio

Thank you very much for your support!
Benjamin Pincus
Dojo Cho
Executive Director

04/14/2024