REVIEW OF AIKIDO STYLES

in alphabetical order
Thinking of starting Aikido but are confused by the number of different styles?
Not sure which style would be suitable for your needs or ability?
Then browse through these reviews to help you make your decision...
Aiki-Budo | Aiki-Jujutsu | Aiki Tenshin Shokai |
Aikido Schools of Ueshiba | Aikikai | Fugakukai | Fuji Ryu Federation |
Iwama Aikido | Jiyushinkai | Ki Federation | Kokikai
Nippon Kan | Seidokan | Shin-shin Toitsu Aikido
Shin Budo Kai | Shin'ei Taido | Tomiki Aikido | Yoseikan | Yoshinkan
Aiki-Budo
This is the name given to the art O-Sensei was teaching before the Second
World War. It is very close in style to previously existing Jutsu forms such as
Daito-ryu Aiki-jutsu. O-Sensei said that he perfected his Aikido after the war, so
in a sense, pre-War Aikido is not really Aikido, but Aiki-Budo.
Most of the early students of O-sensei began during this period and much of
the early practice overseas was in this style (e.g. Abbe-sensei's teaching in the
UK in the 50s).
Aiki-jujutsu
Aikido Kenkyu Kai International
Formerly known as Shonan Renmei
Aiki Tenshin Shokai
A composite style of arts such as Iai, Shindo Muso Jo, and the Aikido of
Toshinobu Suzuki Sensei, as well as some religious Shinto practices, formed by
Andrew Moxon Sensei. With the intention of maintaining the traditional
Japanese Budo ethic, it uses Aiki Tai Jutsu as the unifying principle that binds
together a number of weapons and empty hand techniques, that goes beyond
the normal sphere of modern Aikido.
Aikido Schools of Ueshiba
This is the Aikido taught by Mitsugi Saotome. While the ASU are affiliated with
the Aikikai, for a long period of time they were an independent organization with
independent development.Saotome-sensei seems to have an eclectic approach
to Aikido, developing everything from hard practical techniques through to soft
abstract sensitivity exercises. There is considerable emphasis on weapons
training in this school.

Aikikai
The Aikikai is the common name for the style headed by Kisshomaru Ueshiba,
O-sensei's son, as taught under the auspices of the International Aikido
Federation. Most regard this school as the main-line in Aikido development.
In reality, this "style" is more of an umbrella than a specific style, since it seems
that many individuals within the organization teach in quite a different manner.
The Aikido taught by Ueshiba-sensei is generally large and flowing, with an
emphasis on a standard syllabus and little or no emphasis on weapons training.
Other teachers within the auspices of the Aikikai (e.g. Chiba-sensei of the

USAF-WR) place much more emphasis on weapons practice.

Fugakukai

An off-shoot of Tomiki-ryu headed by Karl Geis.

The Fugakukai do not hold competitions.

Fuji Ryu
Founded by Gesshu Sugawara in 1962 in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. with the
blessing of long time friend O-Sensei. The Australian Fuji Ryu Fedeation was
formed in 1978 by Takeshi Nakajima Sensei, who taught at Tasmanian Police
Academy, and is now presided over by Tim Waters Sensei.
Click here for more detailed history, or here for webpage

Iwama-ryu
While still a part of the Aikikai, the style taught by Morihiro Saito, based in the
Iwama dojo, is generally considered sufficiently stylisticly different from
mainstream Aikikai that it is named individually.
Saito-sensei was a long time uchi-deshi of O-sensei, beginning in 1946 and
staying with him through to his passing in 1969. Many consider that Saitosensei was the student who spent most time directly studying with O-Sensei.
Saito-sensei says he is trying to preserve and teach the art exactly as it was
taught to him by the Founder. In doing so, he has systematised and clearly
organised the techniques of the founder into a well-structured and easy to learn
training curriculum. The technical repertoire is larger than in most other styles
and a great deal of emphasis is placed on weapons training. Training begins
with solid, strong basics emphasising development of kokyu power, with the
variations and flowing techniques taught at a more advanced stage.

Jiyushinkai
An off-shoot of the Fugakukai. I know very little about this style but more
information can be found at the Jiyushinkai Aikibudo page

Kokikai
Founded by Shuji Maruyama. Maruyama-sensei was a Chief Instructor with the
Ki Society in the US. On resigning from the Ki Society, he founded the
Kokikai.This style is a soft form of Aikido, focusing on effective technique with
minimum effort. They have explicit Ki training, with a formulation of the 4
principles that differs from the KNK, with most of the emphasis on the lower
level tests. More information can be found at the Kokikai-ryu homepage
Seidokan
Founded by R. Kobayashi. Kobayashi-sensei was the Chief Instructor of the

Southern California Ki Society and a student of Tohei-sensei. On leaving the Ki

Society in 1981, he formed the Seidokan which is an independant organisation,
although I believe they later re-established some links with the Aikikai.
The Seidokan style is characterized by small movements within technique.
More information can be found at the Seidokan Homepage
Shin-shin Toitsu Aikido
The style founded by Koichi Tohei - Aikido with Mind and Body Unified. Toheisensei places a great deal of emphasis on understanding the concept of Ki
and developing this aspect independently of the Aikido training for application
to general health and daily life.
This style is one of the softest styles of Aikido and is characterized by fluid
movements that often involve the practitioner jumping or skipping, something
seldom seen in other styles. Most schools are not primarily concerned with
practical physical application of the techniques, considering them exercises to
further develop unification of mind and body. However, the principles learned
are applicable to self defense (and effective for this purpose too) but are also
applicable to the broader aspects of daily life.
In recent years, Tohei-sensei has been moving further and further away from
Aikido and has devoted himself almost exclusively to Ki training. However,
most recently, Ki no Kenkyukai has started an initiative to make Shin-shin
Toitsu Aikido into an International Competitive Sport, based on tai-gi ("forms")
contest. This aspect is not strongly emphasised in most US dojo.
Some further information on some of the US branches of the Ki Society can be
found on a Ki Society Homepage.
Shin Budo Kai
This style is headed by Shizuo Imaizumi, based in NY. Imaizumi-sensei was
an uchi-deshi at the Aikikai in 1964. Much of his training was with Koichi Toheisensei and following Tohei-sensei's leaving the Aikikai, Imaizumi-sensei
became the Chief Instructor for the US Ki Societies. Imaizumi-sensei later left
the KNK and founded the Shin Budo Kai in 1989.
This style has a very comprehensive syllabus covering Ki training, Aikido
technique and a number of different weapons styles. More information is
available from Bob Tullman's Homepage
Takemusu Kai
Shin'ei Taido
Founded by Noriaki Inoue. Inoue-sensei was the nephew of O-sensei and was
originally associated with the early Ueshiba dojo. He has claimed that the art is
different to Aikido but others have commented that it seems very similar to the
Aikido of the early period.

Tomiki AIkido, or Shodokan AIkido

Founded by Kenji Tomiki, and early student of O-sensei and of Judo founder
Jigoro Kano. Tomiki-sensei believed that a "rationalization" of Aikido training,
along the lines that Kano-sensei followed for Judo would make it more easily
taught, particularly at the Japanese Universities. In addition, he believed that

introducing an element of competition would serve to sharpen and focus the

practice since it was no longer tested in real combat. This latter view was the
cause of a split with O-sensei who firmly believed that there was no place for
competition in Aikido training.
Tomiki Aikido is characterized by using kata (pre-arranged forms) in teaching
and by holding competitions, both empty handed and with a rubber knife.

Yoseikan
This composite form was developed by Minoru Mochizuki, and includes
elements of pre-war Aiki-Budo, judo, karate, old-style ju-jutsu and kenjutsu.
Mochizuki Sensei was an early student of O-Sensei, sent by Jigoro Kano of
the Kodokan in 1930 to study for a year as an uchi deshi. He later trained in
Mongolia. His son, Hiro, teaches Yoseikan Budo in France, based upon similar
concepts as his father, but also incorporating western martial arts as well as a
form of competition based upon a point scoring system.

Yoshinkan
The name of a school of Aikido established in 1955 by Gozo Shioda, (b. 1915)
who studied with O-Sensei from 1932 to 1940. After the war, he briefly trained
at Iwama, then was invited to begin teaching, and so formed the organization
adopting the name used by his father earlier for the family dojo. The
techniques of Yoshinkan represents a harder style of Aikido, generally
concerned with practical efficiency and physically robust movements. They
strongly reflect the pre-war training by Shioda in Aiki-Budo at the Kobukan
Dojo under O-Sensei. The basic training curriculum is clearly defined and
many techniques are practiced in kata-like fashion, particularly at beginner
level. It is taught to the Metropolitan Police Dept. in Tokyo.
Unlike many later organizations, the Yoshinkan has always maintained friendly
relations with the Aikikai both during and after O-sensei's life. The international
organization associated with the Yoshinkan style of Aikido is known as the
Yoshinkai, and has active branches in many parts of the world. It was formed
in 1990, and is unusual that the organisation is based on a loose, flat structure,
allowing for multiple national groups, and direct contact by dojos and
individuals to the Yoshinkan Hombu Dojo. 1991 estimates show more than 300
overseas dojos. In recent years, there have been a number of offshoots of this
style, usually developing for political reasons. These include the Yoshiokai,
headed by Takashi Kushida.