AIKIDO BACKGROUND
Aikido has seen tremendous global growth since its creation a century ago.
Our dojo is a small but proud part of that community.
O-sensei and the History of Aikido
Aikido Organizations
Aikido Background
The Aikikai is the central aikido organization in the world, headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo, on the site of the Ueshiba family’s primary dojo and home. The Ueshibas are the generational heads of this organization, and, since Kisshomaru Ueshiba organized his father’s art, they have followed a fairly standard curriculum and orthodoxy in their teaching.
The umbrella Aikikai organization is called the International Aikikai Federation. Reporting into this are all of the country or regional Aikikai groups, such as the Canadian Aikido Federation, the US Aikido Federation, and so on. The IAF allows multiple Aikikai organizations within countries, and dojo heads often align their dojos based on personal connections to teachers or other reasons, so there are instances where a dojo located in Canada could be part of the USAF, or a cross-border organization such as the Shin Kaze Aikido Alliance or the Isshinkai.
The CAF is one of several aikido organizations in Canada. It is the largest in this country that is affiliated with the Aikikai. Ben-sensei has strong personal allegiance to the Aikikai, and grew up with many of the CAF members and instructors. However, we also believe strongly that membership of one organization should never inhibit learning from and participating in training opportunities by other organizations. As examples, Ben-sensei taught for a decade at Naka Ima in Toronto (part of the Isshinkai), took part in seminars with Yoshinkan aikido-ists and welcomes the opportunity to train at Aikido Oakville (of Shin Kaze). Members are encouraged to train wherever, whenever and with whomever you want. You can only officially be a member of and test in a single "home" organization.
CAF membership is mandatory if you aren’t already a member of another aikido organization. This is because it provides us with an insurance policy. The annual fees are a mere $50, and membership runs October to September each year. It is not pro-rated even if you join partway through the year. Please pay through Ben-sensei, who will manage your registration with the CAF.
The other benefits of CAF membership are that it gives you access to (a) the seminars hosted by the CAF, and (b) a global network of Aikikai dojos who will, without fail, welcome you if you show up to practice. (Aikido tourism is a blast, by the way. 5 stars. Highly recommend.) The Ontario Aikido Federation is a subgroup of the CAF that organizes local seminars. There is no individual membership fee – as a CAF member, you are automatically an OAF member.
Other Major Global non-Aikikai Organizations
• Ki Society (Shinshin Toitsu Aikidokai)
• Yoseikan
Other Aikikai Organizations
• Birankai