Events of importance in the world of Aikido

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Kangeiko 2012, the mid-winter training at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo

The practice of an art such as Aikido is full of events and celebrations. This section gives you first hand accounts of the most significant ones as well as information on punctual events that might be of interest.

Aiki-Jinja Tai-Sai Festival 2013 in Iwama

Details: Created on Tuesday, April 30 2013 23:15; Written by Guillaume Erard

Statue of Morihei Ueshiba Like every year, I am meeting my colleagues and friends from the Hombu Dojo at Ueno station on a warm morning of April in order to take the train that will lead us to the town of Iwama in the Ibaraki prefecture. It is there that the annual celebration of the Aiki Jinja Tai Sai is taking place, which is the ceremony in memory of the founder of Aikido Morihei Ueshiba and his son, the second Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba.

Budo demonstrations at the Nippon Budokan Kagamibiraki 2011

Details: Created on Monday, January 10 2011 21:59; Written by Guillaume Erard

Every year, the Nippon Budokan holds one of the most important events in the Japanese Budo world: the Kagamibiraki (鏡開き). The demonstration is usually scheduled at the end of the winter break and this year, the date was set to January 10. It also marks the resuming of training in most dojos that had closed their doors during the holidays. On that day, representatives of some of the most important martial art schools demonstrate their incredible skills to a packed audience of enthusiasts. We of course would not miss that opportunity to enjoy the display and this year. We attended the event with our colleagues at BudoExport and took some recording material with us in order to share the event with those who are not lucky enough to be in Japan.

Japanese Budo Demonstration for the reopening of the Tokyo Budokan

Details: Created on Wednesday, August 15 2012 23:43; Written by Guillaume Erard

The Tokyo Budokan (not to be confused with the Nippon Budokan) is a sports facility that primarily hosts martial arts exhibitions and competitions. It is located in the Higashi Ayase Metropolitan Park in Tokyo and it is run by the Sport Benefits Corporation. It was recently closed for renovation and its reopening was celebrated with a series of demonstrations from experts in Japanese martial arts including Judo, Kendo, Kyudo, Karatedo, Aikido, Shorinji Kempo, Naginata, Jukendo, and Hojutsu. We were kindly invited by the organizers to cover the event and we were allowed access the official press tribune to film the demonstrations.

Christian Tissier Shihan's promotion to 8th Dan put on hold

Details: Created on Monday, July 16 2012 06:32; Written by Guillaume Erard

christian-tissier-dublin-02 Christian Tissier has recently published an open letter to the heads of the French Aikido in response to the recent polemic surrounding his potential promotion to the 8th Dan. Since I find his attitude exemplary, I have translated his letter in English and posted it here to allow the numerous non-French-speaking Aikidoka who are interested in this Sensei to read his words. Please note that the translation is my own and if any misquoting or approximation existed, it would be my sole responsibility.

50th All Japan Aikido demonstration at the Nippon Budokan

Details: Created on Saturday, May 26 2012 01:26; Written by Guillaume Erard

50th All Japan Aikido demonstration at the Tokyo Budokan This year marked the fiftieth edition of the great annual demonstration of the All Japan Aikido Embukai. The event was held as usual at Tokyo's Nippon Budokan, the legendary place of martial arts and budo in Japan. Like last year, I was helping out in the organization with my colleagues from Hombu. Let's review some of the highlights from this very special day through a selection of videos and photos taken during the event. Also, make sure that you keep an eye on this page as I am planing to regularly post new documents as I edit them.

Aiki-jinja Taisai ceremony in Iwama (Ibaraki)

Details: Created on Saturday, April 28 2012 11:00; Written by Guillaume Erard

Along with the Shinobukai, the Aiki-jinja Taisai is one of the yearly events that commemorate the death of the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba (26th of April 1969) and that of his son, Kisshomaru (4th of January 1999). While the Shinobukai takes place at the Hombu Dojo of the Aikikai in Tokyo, the Aiki-jinja Taisai (Aiki sanctuary festival) is set at the famous Iwama Dojo in the Ibaraki prefecture. The commemoration is particularly important since the sanctuary was built by Morihei Ueshiba himself and that it is in the adjacent dojo that the master perfected, during the Second World War, what would become Aikido.

Kangeiko 2012, the mid-winter training at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo

Details: Created on Sunday, February 05 2012 22:51; Written by Guillaume Erard

kangeiko 2012 certificate Every year, the Aikikai Hombu Dojo holds a kangeiko (寒稽古), a special period of training taking place over the coldest days of winter. During this 10-days period, practitioners are encouraged to practice every day for at least one class. This year, the kangeiko took place from the 23rd of January to the 1st of February.

Guillaume Erard teaches Aikido to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police

Details: Created on Sunday, August 01 2010 23:54; Written by Guillaume Erard

pipo-kun-police-mascott Some of us Aikido practitioners often dream of going to Japan in order to perfect our skills in the art created by O Sensei Morihei Ueshiba. Many actually eventually make the trip for a few weeks, some for a few months. Fewer of these individuals decide to settle there for an indefinite period of time, that is my case. This long term pilgrimage allows us to explore the roots of Aikido, make the acquaintance of many masters and, if we are lucky enough, to establish solid and enduring relationships with them on and beyond the tatami. However, the normal order of things is that we always find ourselves assuming the role of the student. In fact, one would never think in Japan to transgress this position. There are some cases however when, a bit in spite of our own will, this situation can change quickly and dramatically. The account I am going to give today describes precisely one of these occurrences. During several months training intensively at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, I have had the opportunity to make a lot of acquaintances and I even got the opportunity to develop real friendships. It is from one of these precious friendships that the adventure I will relate today started.

Aiki-Jinja Taisai Aikido celebration in Iwama (2010)

Details: Created on Saturday, May 29 2010 21:46; Written by Jordy Delage

Entrance stone of the Aiki-Jinja One of the most important yearly Aikido memorial events is the Aiki Jinja Tai Sai Festival that occurs on the 29th of April at the Aikido shrine in Iwama in the province of Ibaraki. The Aiki Jinja is a Shinto shrine built by Morihei Ueshiba himself in the aim of receiving the "spirit of Aikido".

48th All Japan Aikido Demonstration at the Nippon Budokan

Details: Created on Saturday, May 22 2010 21:22; Written by Guillaume Erard

Poster of the All Japan Aikido 2010 The annual All Japan Aikido Demonstration took place like every year at the legendary Nippon Budokan (日本武道館). All the afternoon, a succession of demonstrations were of course performed by many prestigious Sensei, but also, by members of smaller dojo including university clubs, private groups, corporation dojos etc. Thus, the whole Japanese territory was represented. This year was very special for me because it was my first visit at the Budokan. Each time I had been in Japan, I had had to leave shortly before the All Japan Aikido demonstration and I therefore never had the chance to see it, let alone take part in it.

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