Aikido master Michiharu Mori says "keyboard warriors" are destroying his traditional martial art.

The Brisbane sensei will close his West End dojo in December after nearly 30 years due to declining student numbers.

The eight-level black belt said aikido was losing popularity due in part to internet commentators who scorned the discipline as a weak and ineffective martial art.

However, Mr Mori said for him aikido was more about self-mastery and harmony, and less about defeating opponents through strength.

"For me what is important is not defeating opponents or winning in the ring, but training and improving oneself.

"Aikido is about harmonising with your opponent, and that principle applies in many aspects of life."

Aikido translates to "the path of harmonious spirit", and places heavy emphasis on peace and non-aggression.

Unlike other martial arts it lacks "shiai", or matches where two opponents try to defeat the other.

Mr Mori said he would return to Japan to continue honing his personal style of Australian aikido, Goshu-ryu Aiki Jujutsu.

He plans to visit Australia intermittently in order to teach his techniques, and to try to improve the damaged reputation of aikido.

His legacy will be passed on to one of his longest disciples, Lawrence Monforte, who plans to open another Australian aikido dojo in Brisbane.

Mr Monforte said young people these days were more interested in the more aggressive, glamorous styles of fighting practised in mixed martial arts.

He said YouTube boxers such as Logan Paul and Brazilian jujitsu podcasters such as Joe Rogan were typically scornful of less combat-oriented arts such as aikido.

Mr Monforte said more young people were watching exhibition matches on the internet, but fewer people were turning up to the dojos to train.

As a new sensei, Mr Monforte said he hoped to repair the reputational damage done to aikido. 

He said the appeal of aikido was its focus on self-defence to guard against an assailant, rather than attacking with punches and kicks.

Mr Monforte said Mori-sensei's disarming and grappling techniques had been taught to police in Tokyo, Queensland and Victoria. 

He said aikido training was a gruelling workout for the body and the mind. 

"The training can actually be quite heavy and brutal, but they're the things you need to prepare yourself for potentially dangerous situations," Mr Monforte said.

"If you want to improve in life you need to go through that hardship.