History

Ueshiba Morihei

The founder, Ueshiba Morihei was born in 1883. He studied classical Budo and became one of Japan's most eminent martial artists. He was constantly developing Aikido until his death in 1969.

Aikido schools reflect this long period of development and are split between what are called 'hard' and 'soft' styles. Yoshinkan, for example, is a hard style and is taught to Tokyo's riot police. Whereas Kinokenkyukai is at the other end of the scale and focuses on Ki energy and health.

Aikikai styles run the whole spectrum. They usually have a more direct connection with Honbu Dojo in Tokyo, the founders principle school, where the Ueshiba family continue to teach.

"Heaven, earth and man must bind together as a single force. One must move in harmony with the cosmos propelled by the divine, Ki radiating from your body."

Bansen Tanaka

Bansen Tanaka Shihan was one of Ueshiba's pre-war disciples. In 1936 He founded an Aikido dojo in Osaka that went on to become the Osaka Aikikai.

Central to his teaching was the spiral and the low stances required by them.

Kawahara Shihan

Kawahara Yukio Shihan continues this tradition as the present head of the Osaka Aikikai. He is also Tokyo Hombu's representative in Canada and the Technical Director of the British Columbia Aikio Federation.