Aikido is also more than a physical art. It is a way of life that develops the mind/body principles of centering, grounding, blending, relaxation, timing intuition and positive Ki (energy) flow. New students will quickly find Aikido applying to almost every aspect of their lives. Sincerely practicing the principles of this art can result in increased physical balance, emotional calmness and mental alertness. Studying Aikido can also develop a greater harmony with self, others and the environment.
The major styles of aikido each have their own headquarters (honbu dōjō) in Japan, have an international breadth, and were founded by direct students of Morihei Ueshiba.
Aikikai The largest organization is
the Aikikai Foundation, referred to as
Aikikai. This style has remained centred
on the family of Morihei Ueshiba, and is
currently headed by the founder's
grandson, Moriteru Ueshiba (Ueshiba
Moriteru, born 1951).
The earliest independent styles to emerge
were:
Yoshinkan Aikido founded by Gozo
Shioda in 1955
Yoseikan Aikido, begun by Minoru
Mochizuki in 1931, and
Shodokan Aikido, founded by Kenji
Tomiki in 1967.
The
emergence of these styles pre-dated
Ueshiba's death and did not cause any
major upheavals when they were
formalized. Shodokan Aikido, did cause
come controvery since it introduced a
unique rule based competition that
some felt was contrary to the spirit
of aikido. After Usehiba's death, two
more major styles emerged:
Ki Society - Another event that
caused significant controversy was
the departure of the Aikikai Honbu
Dojo's chief instructor Koichi
Tohei, in 1974. Tohei left as a
result of a disagreement with the
son of the founder, Kisshomaru
Ueshiba (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 Society.
Iwama Ryu - A final major style
evolved from Ueshiba's retirement in
Iwama, Japan, and the teaching
methodology of long term student
Morihiro Saito. It is unofficially
referred to as the "Iwama
style". Although Iwama style
practitioners 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 Shinshin
Aikishuren Kai (Shinshin
Aikishuren Kai?)
in 2004 around Saito's son Hitohiro
Saito (Saitō Hitohiro, born
1957).
A number of organizations independent
from the major styles of aikido have
developed some of which are notable in their
own right through their size or historical
association. These "minor styles"
are distinct from independant dojo or small
dojo clusters.
Shin'ei Taido (Shin'ei Taidō)
is a style closely related to aikido,
founded in 1956 by Noriaki Inoue (Inoue
Noriaki, 1902–1994), a nephew and
pre-war student Morihei Ueshiba.
Tendoryu Aikido (Tendō-ryū
Aikidō); founded by Kenji
Shimizu (Shimizu Kenji, born
1940) in 1982. Founded the "Shimizu
Dojo" in 1969, renamed it the
Tendokan (Tendōkan) in 1975.
Kokikai Aikido International;
founded in 1986 by Shuji Maruyama (Maruyama
Shuji, born 1940).
Fugakukai International Association,
founded in 1982, has roots in the
Shodokan style, but without the
competition element.
Yoshokai; founded in 1991 by
Takashi Kushida (Kushida Takashi,
born 1935), a senior instructor of
Yoshinkan aikido.
The Kokusai Aikido Kensukai
Kobayashi Hirokazu Ha, or Kobayashi
aikido , was founded by Hirokazu
Kobayashi.
Aikido Yuishinkai International ;
founded in 1996 by Koretoshi Maruyama
(born 1936).
Aiki Manseido (Aiki Manseidō),
founded in 1999 by Kanshu Sunadomari (Sunadomari
Kanshu, born 1923), is an
independent style centred in Kyūshū,
Japan.
The above styles can trace their lineage through senior students back to the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba. Two further well known martial arts use the name aikido but do not have this direct connection. They are Korindo Aikido founded by Minoru Hirai (Hirai Minoru, 1903–1998) and Nihon Goshin Aikido (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.
