A Canberra group dedicated to the study of Japanese Budo arts
Kuroyama Budokai
.jpg)
Aikido
合気道
What is Aikido.
Aikido is a practice of body movements to evade or redirect an attacking opponent thereby enabling opportunities for escapes, throws, joint-locks, or counter strikes.
What are the origins of Aikido.
Aikido is a modern Japanese martial art founded in the 1930s and 1940s by Ueshiba Morihei (1883-1969), referred to as O'Sensei, as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy and religious beliefs through which practitioners could use to defend themselves ideally without unnecessary injury to the attacker.
The empty-handed foundation of Aikido are derived primarily from O'Sensei's study of Daitō-Ryū Aiki-jūjutsu however Aikido's technical structure has clear relation to his study of Kenjutsu (swordsmanship) - Yagyū Shingan-ryū and Kashima Shintō-ryu. To a lesser extent Sōjutsu (spear), Jūkendō (bayonet) and Judo had influence on the development of his art.
In the late 1920s, O'Sensei became involved with the Ōmoto-kyō, an organisation whose Shinto based teachings influenced his spiritual path for the remainder of his life.
O'Sensei gave different names to his art during its earlier development, including Aikijutsu, Aiki-Bujutsu, and Aiki-Budo, however Aikido became the official name of the art in 1942 when the Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society (Dai Nippon Butoku Kai) was engaged in a government sponsored reorganization and centralization of Japanese martial arts.
During his life O'Sensei continued to refine and develop his art and as a result his senior students have different emphasis in Aikido training and different interpretation on O'Sensei's philosophy of Aikido, depending partly on which point in his life they studied with him. This has lead to the various schools throughout the world that have grown from the teaching passed on by these senior students.
What is involved in Aikido training at Kuroyama Budokai.
Currently Kuroyama Budokai training has an interest in exploring and reawakening martial integrity within traditional Aikido practise.
Practise involves basic drills to understand movement, paired kata to study techniques, and a distinct study of the elements of Awase (coming together) as a method of engagement.
To understand the application of Aikido body movements, various levels of freestyle practices are included.
What "style" of Aikido do we train at Kuroyama Budokai.
Our link to the Aikikai Foundation (Aikido World Headquarters) is through membership of Shoryukai Australia, an organisation of Australian Dojos directly affiliated with the Toyonaka Shosenji Dojo in Osaka Japan.
Our Instructors have experience both in Australia and Japan across a range of hard and soft "styles" of Aikido, and within those a diversity of teachers and their approaches to study. Combined with instructor credentials in Iaido and Jodo, and, our Principal instructors' civilian and law enforcement self defence instructor qualifications, Aikido at Kuroyama Budokai has drawn inspiration from these experiences and blended them into our practice.
Who are the Aikido Instructors at Kuroyama Budokai.
Our Principal Instructors are:
-
Damon Schearer - Godan (5th Dan)
Our Assisting Instructors are:
-
Andrew Thompson - Shodan (1st Dan)
-
Lee Walsh - Shodan (1st Dan)
Who are the governing bodies for Aikido at Kuroyama Budokai.
-
Aikido Shoryukai Australia is organisation of Australian Dojos directly affiliated with the Toyonaka Shosenji Dojo in Osaka Japan led by Shimamoto Katsuyuki Shihan 8 Dan, Director of All Japan Aikido Federation and Chief Priest of Soto Zen Ryukōzan Shosenji Temple. Shosenji Dojo is recognised by the Aikikai Foundation (Aikido World Headquarters) and has affiliated dojos in Netherlands, Poland, Israel, Belgium, Germany, and Canada.
-
Aikikai Foundation is the parent organization, officially recognized by the Japanese government in 1940, for the development and popularization of Aikido throughout the world. Current Doshu (head) is Ueshiba Moriteru Sensei, the grandson the founder of Aikido Ueshiba Morehei Sensei.
-
Australian Jujitsu Federation (AJF) is the National Sporting Organisation (NSO) recognised as the governing body representing Jujitsu and related martial arts (including Aikido).