Our Mission
Our mission is to develop Aikido in the UK to the highest quality. We do this by delivering the best teachers and training available, creating an open environment for people to join us, and helping people learn and develop their Aikido to the level they want to.
We maintain this direction with a not-for-profit approach to keep a focus on quality.
We make Aikido accessible to anyone who wishes to study and provide a structure for our members to learn and grow to be the best they can.
Aikido Heritage and Credibility
What is Aikido?
If you’ve found yourself wondering what Aikido is, and how it fits in with other martial arts, you’re not alone. There are many types of martial arts available in the UK today, and with such a wide choice, it’s important to do your research before starting lessons. Here we’ll help you understand what Aikido is all about.
Aikido is a Japanese martial art, which is suitable to anyone, any age or physical ability. It has a technical approach of taking a partner’s balance then applying a technique to either pin or throw them. Its hard to learn requiring patience and study. Unlike sports, aikido does not match you up with a parent of the same age, weight or ability as you need to learn effectiveness with anyone.
It was created by Morihei Ueshiba (1883 – 1969). Ueshiba dedicated his adult life to the study of martial arts; he was an expert in Ju Jitsu and many open hand and weapon disciplines. His vision was to create an art that was effective but avoided the aggression, impact, confrontation, and competitive nature of more traditional arts.
Aikikai Foundation
Our Origins
The Aikikai Foundation, based in Toykyo, Japan, is the world headquarters and centre of Aikido, and the largest Aikido organisation in the world.
The Foundation develops professional teachers and despatches them globally to maintain the quality of Aikido. The UKA regularly hosts visiting teachers to help our students get the best training.
The Aikikai Foundation was established by Kisshomaru Ueshiba, the son of Aikido’s founder, Morihei Ueshiba, after the end of WW2. Kisshomaru’s work is now carried on by his son and grandson, Moriteru and Mitsuteru Ueshiba, who are based at the Aikido world headquarters in Tokyo (known as the Hombu Dojo).
United Kingdom Aikikai
The UKA was formed in 1985 and given recognition status by Hombu Dojo (the world headquarters) at the same time. Our association with the headquarters and it’s teachers goes back to the late 1960s and the founding of aikido in the UK. Many of our teachers have spent time training and learning at Hombu Dojo and we facilitate UK visits by professional teachers every year, something very few organisations can offer. Our heritage and pedigree are unmatched, and we work to maintain a close relationship with the world headquarters bringing the best, world class teachers to the UK helping our students develop.
The UKA is run on not-for-profit basis.
The UKA is an ‘open book’, all our procedures, finances and policies are to be found in the manual on our website. We are run by our members, for our members.
Heritage & history
A heritage to be proud of
As the UKA, we’re proud of the history and heritage we bring to Aikido in the UK.
Our organisation was formed in 1985 by William Smith, with the idea that Aikido must be accessible to anyone and be part of your life balance – with family and work coming first. William was eventually awarded an MBE for services to Aikido and was one of the first westerners to be awarded the rank of Shihan (master or international teacher).
We were recognised by Hombu Dojo (the world headquarters of Aikido) at the time we were founded, however we’ve been associated with the headquarters and its teachers since the late 1960s, when Aikido was brought to the UK. Many of our teachers have spent time training and learning at Hombu Dojo and we facilitate UK visits by professional teachers every year, something very few Aikido organisations in the UK can offer. We regularly invite professional teachers to instruct in the UK such as Sugawara, Kobayayashi, Katusrada, Hino and Shirakawa Sensei. In the past we have also invited well regarding instructors including Doshu, Tamaura, Yamada and more. Videos of most courses can be seen on our YouTube channel.
Because we have such close links with the Hombu Dojo, all grades are internationally-recognised and students even have the opportunity to travel and practise in Japan.
All our students and teachers follow a syllabus and a framework, providing consistency across our classes.
The UKA is run on not-for-profit basis. The UKA is an ‘open book’; all our procedures, finances and policies are to be found in the manual on our website. We are run by our members, for our members.
Credibility – Hombu affiliation
Our relationship with the Aikikai Foundation and Hombu Dojo stretches back forty years which gives us a rare benefit for anyone who wants to practice aikido. This relationship enables us to:
- Leverage professional teachers in Japan, bringing them to the UK and giving students access to authentic martial training.
- Our members have the opportunity to travel and practice in Japan if they desire.
- All grades are internationally recognised.
- Our students and teachers follow a syllabus and framework providing consistency across our classes.
