Aikikai Hombu Dojo

The Nihongo|Aikikai Hombu Dojo|合気会本部道場|Aikikai Honbu Dōjō is the headquarters of the Aikikai which is an umbrella organisation of various national, as well as smaller, aikido organisations. Although the name strictly refers only to the main training hall ("dojo"), it is often used by extension to refer to the Aikikai organisation itself. The dojo was founded by Morihei Ueshiba in 1931 under the name "Kobukan". The current building, which stands on the same site as the original Kobukan, dates from 1967.

History

Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba was moved to establish a formal dojo in Tokyo as a result of the increased following of his martial art. In April of 1931, he established the Kobukan Dojo (皇武館道場) in the Ushigome District of Shinjuku, Tokyo. The one-story, wooden structure served as the first permanent home of Aikido. The popularity of Aikido increased both overseas and domestically after World War II, which prompted the construction of a larger, modern structure.

The structure of the Kobukan Dojo (called "Hombu Dojo" post World War II) was torn down in 1967. The current Hombu dojo was completed on 15 December 1967 and dedicated on 12 January 1968 in the same place as the older structure. The five-story dojo includes three separate training areas totaling 250 tatami.

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Hombu Dojo headed by Moriteru Ueshiba, the third doshu of Aikido. The remaining teaching staff is several dozen shihan and shidoin instructors. A small number of students also reside in the dojo as part of a professional, live-in training program.

Present Day

Hombu Dojo is located in present-day Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku, Tokyo. Classes are held seven days a week, with doshu leading the morning class on weekdays. The main dojo is on the third floor and totals 100 tatami, while two other training areas exist on the 2nd and 4th floors. The reception area is located on the first floor, and changing rooms are located adjacent to the main dojo on the third floor.

Regular and Beginner classes are held in the main dojo and are open to all Aikido practitioners who hold Aikikai membership. Special courses take place daily in either of the remaining practice spaces. Current special courses include a Women's class, and a set of Beginner (up to 4th kyu), Intermediate (4th-1st kyu), and Advanced (1st kyu and above) courses. These courses have fixed start and finish dates and limited enrollment.

External links

* [http://www.aikikai.or.jp/eng/index.htm Aikikai Foundation (English)]