Aikido styles

There are a variety of aikido styles. The larger and better known styles each have their own headquarters in Japan and an international breadth. The first generation style aikikai is still associated with the family of the founder of Nihongo|aikido|合気道|aikidō, Morihei Ueshiba. Second generation styles were founded by direct students of the founder. A number of additional styles of developed over time, some of which are notable in their own right through their size or historical association. These styles are distinct from independent dojos or small dojo clusters.

The above styles can trace their lineage through senior students back to Morihei Ueshiba. Two other well known martial arts use the term "aikido" but are not derived from the teachings of Morihei Ueshiba. They are Korindo Aikido founded by Minoru Hirai and Nihon Goshin Aikido founded by Shodo Morita.

First generation

The largest organization is the Aikikai Foundation, referred to as Aikikai. This style has remained centered on the family of Morihei Ueshiba, and is currently headed by the founder's grandson, Moriteru Ueshiba (植芝 守央 "Ueshiba Moriteru", born 1951).cite encyclopedia
last = Shishida
first = Fumiaki
title = Aikido
encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Aikido
date =
url = http://www.aikidojournal.com/article.php?articleID=626]

econd generation

Second generation styles of Nihongo|Aikido|合気道|aikidō were founded by direct students of Morihei Ueshiba.

The earliest independent styles to emerge were
* Yoshinkan Aikido founded by Gozo Shioda in 1955, [cite encyclopedia
last = Pranin
first = Stanley
title = Yoshinkan Aikido
encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Aikido
date = 2006
url = http://www.aikidojournal.com/encyclopedia.php?entryID=785]
*Yoseikan Aikido, begun by Minoru Mochizuki in 1931,cite encyclopedia
last = Pranin
first = Stanley
title = Mochizuki, Minoru
encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Aikido
date = 2006
url = http://www.aikidojournal.com/encyclopedia.php?entryID=474] and
*Shodokan Aikido, founded by Kenji Tomiki in 1967. [cite book
last = Shishido
first = Fumiaki
authorlink = Fumiaki Shishida
coauthors = Nariyama, Tetsuro
title = Aikido: Tradition and the Competitive Edge
publisher = Shodokan Publishing USA
date = 2002
isbn = 978-0964708327]
*Manseikan Aikido (万生館合氣道), founded in 1954 by Kanshu Sunadomari (砂泊扶 カン秀 "Sunadomari Kanshū", born 1923), is an independent style centred in Kyūshū, Japan.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, additional second generation 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 (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 Society. [cite encyclopedia
last = Pranin
first = Stanley
title = Tohei, Koichi
encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Aikido
date = 2006
url = http://www.aikidojournal.com/encyclopedia.php?entryID=701]
* Iwama Ryu - This 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 Nihongo|Shinshin Aikishuren Kai|神信合気修練会 in 2004 around Saito's son Hitohiro Saito (斎藤 仁弘 "Saitō Hitohiro", born 1957).

*The Kokusai Aikidō Kenshūkai Kobayashi Hirokazu Ha, or Kobayashi aikido , was founded by Hirokazu Kobayashi.

Third & later generation

A number of additional styles of developed over time. These "styles" are distinct from independent dojos or small dojo clusters.

*Shin'ei Taido (親英体道 "Shin'ei Taidō") is a style closely related to aikido, founded in 1956 by Noriaki Inoue (井上 鑑昭 "Inoue Noriaki", 1902–1994), a nephew and pre-war student Morihei Ueshiba. [cite encyclopedia
last = Pranin
first = Stanley
title = Shin'ei Taido
encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Aikido
date = 2006
url = http://www.aikidojournal.com/encyclopedia.php?entryID=603]
*Tendoryu Aikido (天道流合気道 "Tendō-ryū Aikidō"); founded by Kenji Shimizu (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.
*Kokikai Aikido International; founded in 1986 by Shuji Maruyama ("Maruyama Shuji", born 1940).Gaku Homma, [http://www.aikidojournal.com/article.php?articleID=273 "Silent Pioneer: Shuji Maruyama Sensei, Kokikai Founder,"] Aikido Journal, November 17, 2002] [Brian Ashenfelder, [http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/EJN_vol2_no5.htm "Aikido: Traditional Martial Art or New Age Fad?,"] Japan Now,Vol. 2, No. 5 (March 21, 2006)] [Gaku Homma, [http://www.aikidojournal.com/article.php?articleID=522 "A New Leader in Iwama,"] Aikido Journal, March 8th, 2004] [cite encyclopedia
last = Pranin
first = Stanley
title = Maruyama, Shuji
encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Aikido
date = 2006
url = http://www.aikidojournal.com/encyclopedia?entryID=457]
*Fugakukai International Association, founded in 1982, has roots in the Shodokan style, but without the competition element.
*Yoshokai; founded in 1991 by Takashi Kushida (串田 誉司 "Kushida Takashi", born 1935), a senior instructor of Yoshinkan aikido.
*Aikido Yuishinkai International ; founded in 1996 by Koretoshi Maruyama (born 1936).
*Keijutsukai Aikido (警術会合気道). The Keijutsukai (Police/Security Techniques Association) was officially established in February 1980, in Tokyo. Founded by Thomas H. Makiyama born in 1928. [ [http://www.aikidojournal.com/encyclopedia.php?entryID=375 Aikido Journal entry for Keijutsukai] ] [cite book | last =Bennett| first = Gary | title = Aikido Techniques and Tactics | publisher = Human Kinetics Europe Ltd| date = 1997| pages = p 24| isbn = 978-0880115988]

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 further well known martial arts use the name aikido but do not have this direct connection. They are Korindo Aikido founded by Minoru Hirai (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.

References