"He was basing all this on something simple. That, I knew from day one..."

These words belong to quite an extraordinary individual, Henry Kono Sensei who just celebrated his 80th birthday and 43 years of Aikido practice. Mr Kono is a Canadian citizen of Japanese parents who decided during his youth to visit his country of origin. Nothing really remarkable so far, apart from the fact that he ended up spending four years studying Aikido with the founder of the art, O Sensei Morihei Ueshibaa.

Cyril Lagrasta, 4th dan Aikikai, is the head instructor of the Dublin Aikikai Aikido, a group that he started over 10 years ago. It is important because it gives the opportunity to a real pioneer to express himself about all the work he has done to spread a certain conception of Aikido outside of France. Too few of these people make it to the pages of the French magazines so I guess that was my way to express all my gratitude to him for what he has done for me and my Aikido these last few years.

Alan Ruddock is one of the very few people who got the opportunity to train with O Sensei Morihei Ueshiba. He is the only Irishman to have done so, spending 3 years with the founder of Aikido. However, his martial art background goes well before that. Besides being the first Irish Aikido practitioner, his country also owes him the introduction of Karate on the island^[1]. Iw met with this kind gentleman and true budo master for a discussion about his past and what makes his Aikido so unique.

Joe Curran is the current president of the British Aikikai (BA), the only remaining organization under the technical supervision of Kazuo Chiba Shihan after his departure from England. Joe Curran spent more than 30 years practicing Aikido and he is one of the most dedicated students of Chiba Sensei in Britain for putting us into contact during a seminar Curran Sensei gave in Tunisia. Sensei. He accepted to talk to us about his organization and his personal views on Aikido in and abroad.  Many thanks to Mrad Medsouheil from the Association Sahelienne d'Aikido.