The founding vision of Portland Aikikai was to create a training environment and a way of teaching similar to the way they learned in Japan.
In the United States cultures are much more diverse. Through the community of Portland Aikikai and through the Art of Aikido, students from a variety of cultures, races, and ages learn their role in the community as well as their role in greater society.
Portland Aikikai is not a training hall; it is a Dojo, where students learn "do" or the "way" through everyday practice.