The Many styles of Aikido

^{Author Antony Day}

The more popular Aikido schools

1. Aiki kai

2. Yoshinkan

3. Tomiki ryu

4. Iwama Ryu

5. Shin shin Toitsu

Aikikai
Aikikai is the name for the style headed by Moriteru Ueshiba, O Sensei's grandson, as taught within the International Aikido Federation.
Many see this school as the mainline in Aikido advancement.
since it seems that many insructors within the organization teach in quite a different manner.
Aikido taught by Ueshiba Sensei was very grand and flowing, with very little or no emphasis on weapons training.

Yoshinkan
This was the style taught by Gozo Shioda. Shioda Sensei studied with O Sensei from the mid-30s. After the war, He began teaching and formed the organization known as Yoshinkan.
The Yoshinkan is generally a harder style of Aikido, using a solid posture and demanding techniques.
It is taught to the Japanese riot Police (senshusei course where the training is over a one year period of 6-7 hour days 6 days a week).

Tomiki ryu
started by Kenji Tomiki, an early student of O Sensei and also student of the Judo founder Jigoro Kano.
Tomiki Sensei used a syllubus form of Aikido training, along the lines that Kano Sensei followed for Judo would make it more easily taught, particularly at the Japanese Universities. he also believed that introducing competition would serve to sharpen the practice of Tomiki aikido.
Tomiki ryu is recognised as using Kata in teaching, and by holding competitions, both empty handed and with a Tanto (knife).

Iwama Ryu
The style taught by Morihiro Saito,is based at the Iwama dojo, and is considered different from mainstream Aikikai, and is named individually, even though it still is part of the Aikikai.
Saito Sensei was a long time uchideshi of O Sensei(Morihei Ueshiba) beginning in 1946 and staying with him through his death. Many instructors consider that Saito Sensei was the student who spent most time directly studying with O Sensei.
Iwama-ryu resembles the Aikido O Sensei was teaching in the early 50s mainly in the Iwama dojo. The technical repertoire is larger than in most other styles and a great deal of emphasis is placed on weapons training.

Shin shin Toitsu
The style was founded by Koichi Tohei.
Tohei Sensei places a great deal of emphasis on understanding the concept of Ki and developing this aspect.
This style is one of the more gentle styles of Aikido.
Most ki schools are not concerned with practical application of the techniques, they consider them exercises to further develop Ki.

Train Hard Train Focused Train Safe; Tony day

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