Aikikai

Infobox martial art group
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imagecaption = Headquarters of the Aikikai Foundation.
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name = Aikikai Foundation
(財団法人合気会 "Zaidan Hōjin Aikikai")
aka = Aikikai; Aikikai Honbu
date founded = c.1940
country = flagicon|Japan Japan
founder = Morihei Ueshiba
(植芝 盛平 "Ueshiba Morihei", December 14, 1883–April 26, 1969)
head = Moriteru Ueshiba
(植芝 守央 "Ueshiba Moriteru", born April 2, 1951)
arts = Aikido
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ancestor schools = Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu • Kodokan Judo • Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū • Yagyū Shingan-ryū
descendant schools= Ki Society • Shodokan Aikido • Yoseikan • Yoshinkan • Yoshokai
notable pract =
website = www.aikikai.or.jp

Nihongo|The Aikikai Foundation|財団法人合気会|Zaidan Hōjin Aikikai is the original organisation for the Japanese martial art aikido, officially recognized by the Japanese government in 1940. It is also frequently referred to as "Aikikai Honbu", or more simply, just "Aikikai". It describes itself as "the parent organization for the development and popularization of aikido throughout the world", although there are several offshoots whose arts all are named aikido. The Aikikai is often referred to as an umbrella organisation for various national and other aikido organisations. Its headquarters, the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, is located in Tokyo, Japan.

After the passing of Morihei Ueshiba, his son Kisshomaru Ueshiba took over the leadership of the organisation. The current "dōshu" of the Aikikai is the grandson of Morihei Ueshiba, Moriteru Ueshiba. The system of having the heir of a martial arts school be the son (either natural or adopted for the sake of succession) of the previous headmaster, was common in "koryū" (traditional schools) and is referred to as "iemoto".

Aikikai is sometimes described as Ueshiba Aikido, and is thought by some to be the most traditional of the aikido schools. It has retained many of the aspects which Morihei Ueshiba valued in his original aikido, such as the non-competitive training system and the emphasis on flowing technique.

Aikikai is also often referred to as a "style" of aikido, although aikido within the Aikikai technically can be very different. The students of Morihei Ueshiba each had their own interpretation of his art, and in many cases other influences as well. This is reflected in the technical diversity within the organisation.

External links

* [http://www.aikikai.or.jp Aikikai Foundation web site]