Phoenix Aikido is dedicated to bringing traditional Aikido, The Way of Peace, to our community. The dojo began as a conversation between Chett Rubenstein and Corey Guilbault Sensei, dojo-cho of Aikido of Norwalk/Yanagi Aikido, about starting an Aikido program for children in the fall of 2002. Chett Rubenstein was an instructor at Yanagi Aikido at the time. Soon after, Guilbault Sensei was contacted by Peter Rennert about introducing his son Noah to the art. Guilbault Sensei referred Peter to Chett, Peter introduced Chett to Suellen Inwood, Director of The Phoenix Academy, and the rest is history.

With the gracious support of The Phoenix Academy, who provided space to practice and a student body interested in learning Aikido, Chett Rubenstein launched the after-school program in January 2003 with 35 students. The program ran successfully until the end of the school year and Chett was asked by the school to join as a staff member in the fall, teaching Aikido to Phoenix students as part of their core school curriculum. When classes began in the fall of 2003, Rubenstein Sensei began teaching more than 55 4th-8th grade students at the school and he expanded the after-school program. With the urging and guidance of Guilbault Sensei, Chett formed Phoenix Aikido Inc. as a separate AAA dojo in November 2003. The company is structured as a non-profit educational organization dedicated to bringing the unique art of Aikido to the community. All profits from company activities go to the benefit of The Phoenix Academy and other relevent organizations that benefit the community.