Aikido styles
Encyclopedia
Though the art of aikido
is characteristically different from other martial arts, there are a variety of identifiable styles within the family of organisations descending from the teachings of Morihei Ueshiba
.
led by the Ueshiba
family has become the most successful organisation in terms of growth in numbers and prominence in the public eye. However it was not the first to bring aikido to prominence in Japan in the immediate post war period.
Immediately after the war, due to the ban on martial arts imposed by occupying US forces, aikido was not being taught in Tokyo. A number of students including Koichi Tohei
and Gozo Shioda
took it upon themselves to become active in disseminating aikido. Some years later, Kisshomaru Ueshiba
, the Founder's son began to actively revive the Aikikai Headquarters in Tokyo.
From the post-war period until the 1980s, numerous aikido organisations evolved in parallel to the main branch led by the Ueshiba family. Stylistically and organizationally, the main branch of aikido changed substantially from what it was before the war. As such, it is disingenuous to consider it the "oldest style".
The earliest independent styles to emerge were
The emergence of these styles pre-dated Ueshiba's death and did not cause any major upheavals when they were formalized, with the exception of Shodokan aikido, which caused some controversy as it introduced a unique rule-based competition that some felt was contrary to the spirit of aikido.
After Ueshiba's death, more senior students branched out on their own to establishing independent schools.
(植芝 守央 Ueshiba Moriteru, born 1951).
The current generation of senior teachers continue to branch out on their own, with the senior students of the senior students of the Founder (grand-students) coming to prominence in their own right.
(平井 稔 Hirai Minoru, 1903–1998) and Nihon Goshin aikido (日本護身合気道 Nihon Goshin Aikidō) founded by Shodo Morita (Morita Shodo, fl.
c.1930s–1962). These schools, with some historical justification, suggest that the name aikido is not the exclusive domain of arts derived from the teachings of Morihei Ueshiba.
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
is characteristically different from other martial arts, there are a variety of identifiable styles within the family of organisations descending from the teachings of Morihei Ueshiba
Morihei Ueshiba
was a famous martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher".-Early years:Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan on December 14, 1883....
.
Pre-war aikido
In the pre-war period, aikido was still in formation and had not yet established itself as a separate art from that of Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu. However, it was fast attaining an identity of its own. In 1942, the Dai Nihon Butokukai, in its efforts to standardize Japanese martial arts, came to an agreement with representatives of Ueshiba's school that the name aikido would be used to refer to the jujitsu derived art form Ueshiba had brought to prominence.Post-war aikido (first 40 years)
In the post war period, the Aikikai FoundationAikikai
The Aikikai is the original school of Aikido. It is centered on the Aikikai Foundation in Japan, and its figurehead is the Doshu . It is represented globally through the International Aikido Federation....
led by the Ueshiba
Ueshiba
Ueshiba is a Japanese surname.* Kisshomaru Ueshiba, an aikido master, the second doshu of the Aikikai* Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido, often referred to as Ōsensei...
family has become the most successful organisation in terms of growth in numbers and prominence in the public eye. However it was not the first to bring aikido to prominence in Japan in the immediate post war period.
Immediately after the war, due to the ban on martial arts imposed by occupying US forces, aikido was not being taught in Tokyo. A number of students including Koichi Tohei
Koichi Tohei
was a 10th Dan aikidoka and founder of the Ki Society and its style of aikido, officially Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido , but commonly known as Ki-Aikido.-Koichi Tohei and aikido:...
and Gozo Shioda
Gozo Shioda
was a Japanese master of aikido who founded the Yoshinkan style of aikido. He was one of aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba's most senior students. Shioda held the rank of 10th dan in aikido.-Early life:...
took it upon themselves to become active in disseminating aikido. Some years later, Kisshomaru Ueshiba
Kisshomaru Ueshiba
was a prominent Japanese master of aikido. He was the son of Morihei Ueshiba, founder of aikido, and became the international leader of aikido after his father's death.-Early life:...
, the Founder's son began to actively revive the Aikikai Headquarters in Tokyo.
From the post-war period until the 1980s, numerous aikido organisations evolved in parallel to the main branch led by the Ueshiba family. Stylistically and organizationally, the main branch of aikido changed substantially from what it was before the war. As such, it is disingenuous to consider it the "oldest style".
The earliest independent styles to emerge were
- YoshinkanYoshinkanAikido Yoshinkan is a style of aikido founded by Gozo Shioda after World War II...
aikido founded by Gozo ShiodaGozo Shiodawas a Japanese master of aikido who founded the Yoshinkan style of aikido. He was one of aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba's most senior students. Shioda held the rank of 10th dan in aikido.-Early life:...
in 1955, - YoseikanYoseikan AikidoYoseikan Aikido is the aikido taught at the Yoseikan Dojo in Shizuoka, Japan, under the direction of Minoru Mochizuki ....
aikido, begun by Minoru MochizukiMinoru Mochizukiwas a Japanese martial artist who founded the dojo Yoseikan. He was a 10th dan in Aikido, 9th dan in jujutsu, 8th dan in iaido, 8th dan in judo, 8th dan in kobudo, 5th dan in kendo, 5th dan in karate, and a 5th dan in jojutsu....
in 1931, and - Shodokan aikido, founded by Kenji TomikiKenji Tomikiwas a Japanese aikido and judo teacher and the founder of aikido style Shodokan.Tomiki was one of the early students of the founder of aikido Morihei Ueshiba, and also of Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo. In 1925, the year he joined Morihei Ueshiba, he obtained 5th dan in judo...
in 1967. - Manseikan aikido (万生館合氣道), founded in 1954 by Kanshu SunadomariKanshu SunadomariKanshū Sunadomari was a Japanese aikido teacher who was an uchideshi to the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba. He founded the aikido style Manseikan Aikido.-Biography:...
(砂泊扶 カン秀 Sunadomari Kanshū, born 1923), is an independent style centred in KyūshūKyushuis the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
, Japan. - Shin'ei Taidō (親英体道) is a style closely related to aikido, founded in 1956 by Noriaki InoueNoriaki InoueNoriaki Inoue was a Japanese martial artist, who was in his early years closely associated with the spiritual and technical development of aikido along with his uncle Morihei Ueshiba...
(井上 鑑昭 Inoue Noriaki, 1902–1994), a nephew and pre-war student of Morihei Ueshiba.
The emergence of these styles pre-dated Ueshiba's death and did not cause any major upheavals when they were formalized, with the exception of Shodokan aikido, which caused some controversy as it introduced a unique rule-based competition that some felt was contrary to the spirit of aikido.
After Ueshiba's death, more senior students branched out on their own to establishing independent schools.
- Iwama RyuIwama ryuIwama Style is the style of aikido that was taught at Iwama dojo by the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, and especially the lineage passed on through Morihiro Saito, a close disciple who was given responsibility over Iwama dojo by Ueshiba....
- This style evolved from Ueshiba's retirement in Iwama, Japan, and the teaching methodology of long term student Morihiro SaitoMorihiro SaitoMorihiro Saito was a teacher of the Japanese martial art of aikido, with many students around the world. Saito's practice of aikido spanned 56 years, from the age of 18, when he first met aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba, until his death in 2002.-Early life:Morihiro Saito was born in Ibaraki...
. It is unofficially referred to as the "Iwama styleIwama styleIwama Style is the style of aikido that was taught at Iwama dojo by the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, and especially the lineage passed on through Morihiro Saito, a close disciple who was given responsibility over Iwama dojo by Ueshiba....
". Although Iwama style top representatives (Paolo Corallini, Saito Sensei's pupil, and Ulf Evenas, the only two Iwama Ryu 7th Dan in the world) remained part of the Aikikai until Saito's death in 2002, followers of Saito subsequently split into two groups; one remaining with the Aikikai and the other forming the independent organization in 2004 around Saito's son Hitohiro SaitoHitohiro SaitoHitohiro Saito is an aikido instructor and founding headmaster of Iwama Shin-Shin Aiki Shuren-kai. Hitohiro is the son of Morihiro Saito. At age of seven, he started to learn aikido from Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido, who cared for him as a grandson. After Ueshiba died in 1969, he...
(斎藤 仁弘 Saitō Hitohiro, born 1957). - Ki SocietyKi SocietyThe is an aikido organization founded by Koichi Tohei in 1971, while he was the chief instructor at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. The official Japanese name of the organization is Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido Kai , but it is more usually known in English-speaking countries as "Ki Society"...
- Another event that caused significant controversy was the departure of the Aikikai Honbu Dojo's chief instructor Koichi ToheiKoichi Toheiwas a 10th Dan aikidoka and founder of the Ki Society and its style of aikido, officially Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido , but commonly known as Ki-Aikido.-Koichi Tohei and aikido:...
, in 1974. Tohei left as a result of a disagreement with the son of the founder, Kisshomaru UeshibaKisshomaru Ueshibawas a prominent Japanese master of aikido. He was the son of Morihei Ueshiba, founder of aikido, and became the international leader of aikido after his father's death.-Early life:...
(植芝 吉祥丸 Ueshiba Kisshōmaru, 1921–1999), who at that time headed the Aikikai Foundation. The disagreement was over the proper role of ki development in regular aikido training. After Tohei left, he formed his own style, called Shin Shin Toitsu aikido, and the organization which governs it, the Ki SocietyKi SocietyThe is an aikido organization founded by Koichi Tohei in 1971, while he was the chief instructor at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. The official Japanese name of the organization is Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido Kai , but it is more usually known in English-speaking countries as "Ki Society"...
. - Aikido Association of America- founded by Fumio ToyodaFumio ToyodaFumio Toyoda, was a Japanese aikido teacher and lay Zen master who taught extensively in the United States and Europe....
, http://www.aaa-aikido.com/. - Seidokan Aikido - founded by Roderick T. Kobayashi in 1979, tends to utilize movements which are very small and economical.
- Suenaka-ha Tetsugaku-ho Wadokai aikido, founded by Roy Y. Suenaka in 1975.
- The Kokusai Aikidō Kenshūkai Kobayashi Hirokazu Ha, or Kobayashi aikidoKobayashi aikidoKokusai Aikidō Kenshūkai Kobayashi Hirokazu Ha is the school of aikido propagated by Hirokazu Kobayashi disciple of the founder of aikido Morihei Ueshiba...
, was founded by Hirokazu KobayashiHirokazu Kobayashi (aikidoka)was a Japanese aikido teacher and student of the founder of aikido Morihei Ueshiba. In 1970, at the age of 41, he was awarded 8th dan rank. He is the initiator of Kobayashi aikido ....
. - Tendoryu aikido (天道流合気道 Tendō-ryū Aikidō); founded by Kenji ShimizuKenji Shimizu, b. 1940, is an aikido teacher and founder of the aikido style Tendoryu .Shimizu was born in 1940 in Fukuoka, Japan. He had been training judo since childhood and held a 4th dan in this art when he changed to aikido in 1963. He then became one of the last personal students of the aikido founder...
(清水 健二 Shimizu Kenji, born 1940) in 1982. Founded the "Shimizu Dojo" in 1969, renamed it the Tendokan (天道館 Tendōkan) in 1975.
Aikido of the modern period (1980 - present)
Today, the Aikikai is an umbrella organization, home to numerous senior teachers and sub-organisations with their own teaching methods and technical characteristics. Leadership of the group has remained centered on the Ueshiba family, and is currently headed by the founder's grandson, Moriteru UeshibaMoriteru Ueshiba
is a Japanese master of aikido. He is a grandson of Morihei Ueshiba, founder of aikido, and son of Kisshomaru Ueshiba. Ueshiba is the third and current Doshu of the Aikikai.-Biography:Ueshiba was born on April 2, 1951, in Tokyo, Japan...
(植芝 守央 Ueshiba Moriteru, born 1951).
The current generation of senior teachers continue to branch out on their own, with the senior students of the senior students of the Founder (grand-students) coming to prominence in their own right.
- Iwama Ryu Italy (actually under the name of Takemusu Aikido Association Italy): based in Italy, directed by the Iwama Ryu top shihan, Dr. Paolo Corallini, Saito Morihiro's pupil in the last 18 years of his life. This group, founded in 1984, it's the oldest Iwama Ryu national group in the world. It's actually working in accordance also with Aikikai Tokyo, though it's not an Aikikai organization.
- Asociación Cultural Aikikai de España//Cultural Association Aikikai of Spain, founded by Shihan Yasunari Kitaura, 8º Dan Aikido, official representative of Aikikai (in the Aikikai list of official instructors abroad is under the name "Yasufusa Kitaura") in Spain.
- Kokikai Aikido InternationalKokikaiis a style of Aikido, founded by Shuji Maruyama. The organization is called Kokikai Aikido International.The Kokikai style emphasizes natural movement, ki development, relaxation, good posture and mind-body coordination. It is a minimalist martial art that focuses on making techniques effective...
; founded in 1986 by Shuji Maruyama (Maruyama Shuji, born 1940).Gaku Homma, "Silent Pioneer: Shuji Maruyama Sensei, Kokikai Founder," Aikido Journal, November 17, 2002 - Fugakukai International Association, founded in 1982, has roots in the Shodokan style, but without the competition element.
- YoshokaiYoshokaiThe Aikido Yoshokai Association of North America - AYANA is an aikido organization founded in 1991 by former Yoshinkan-affiliated master Takashi Kushida...
; founded in 1991 by Takashi Kushida (串田 誉司 Kushida Takashi, born 1935), a senior instructor of Yoshinkan aikido. - Aikido Yuishinkai InternationalAikido Yuishinkai InternationalAikido Yuishinkai International is a style of aikido founded in 1996 by former Aikikai instructor and Ki no Kenkyukai President and Chief instructor Koretoshi Maruyama...
; founded in 1996 by Koretoshi Maruyama (born 1936). - Keijutsukai Aikido (警術会合気道). The KeijutsukaiKeijutsukaiis a martial arts system taught by the Keijutsukai Kokusai Renmei , an independent aikido federation based in Tokyo, Japan. It was founded by Thomas H. Makiyama in February 1980...
(Police/Security Techniques Association) was officially established in February 1980, in Tokyo. Founded by Thomas H. MakiyamaThomas H. MakiyamaThomas H. Makiyama , born in Hawaii, was an aikido teacher and founder of Keijutsukai Aikido and the Keijutsukai International Federation , based in Tokyo...
born in 1928. - Aikido Renshinkai (合気道警術会). The Aikido Renshinkai was officially established in April 2008, in Tokyo. Founded by a top uchideshi of the late founder of YoshinkanYoshinkanAikido Yoshinkan is a style of aikido founded by Gozo Shioda after World War II...
Aikido, Gozo ShiodaGozo Shiodawas a Japanese master of aikido who founded the Yoshinkan style of aikido. He was one of aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba's most senior students. Shioda held the rank of 10th dan in aikido.-Early life:...
-Sensei, Tsutomu ChidaTsutomu Chidawas previously one of the highest ranking shihan of Yoshinkan aikido, at 8th dan, and dojocho of its hombu dojo from 2002. He first became a part of Yoshinkan in 1969 but split from the organization in January 2008 following the resignation of kanchou Kyoichi Inoue...
born in 1950. - Tendoryu Aikido, founded in 1993 by Kenji ShimizuKenji Shimizu, b. 1940, is an aikido teacher and founder of the aikido style Tendoryu .Shimizu was born in 1940 in Fukuoka, Japan. He had been training judo since childhood and held a 4th dan in this art when he changed to aikido in 1963. He then became one of the last personal students of the aikido founder...
and is characterized by its large and clear movements, emphasizing naturalness and harmonic flow of motion.
Unrelated arts using the term "aikido"
The above styles can trace their lineage through senior students back to the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba. Two other prominent martial arts use the name aikido but are not directly related. They are Korindo aikido founded by Minoru HiraiMinoru Hirai
Minoru Hirai was a Japanese martial artist and creator of the Korindo style of aikido.As a youth, he studied many different martial arts including Togin-ryu, Okumura Nito-ryu, Takenouchi-ryu, Kito-ryu and Suburi-ryu...
(平井 稔 Hirai Minoru, 1903–1998) and Nihon Goshin aikido (日本護身合気道 Nihon Goshin Aikidō) founded by Shodo Morita (Morita Shodo, fl.
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
c.1930s–1962). These schools, with some historical justification, suggest that the name aikido is not the exclusive domain of arts derived from the teachings of Morihei Ueshiba.