" Why Does Aikido Yoshinkan Offer You Such Hard, Practical Training? "

Aikido Yoshinkan is a style of aikido founded by Gozo Shioda (1915-1994) after World War II. Yoshinkan Aikido is sometimes called a 'hard' style because of the training methods used in the 'hell dojo' period that Shioda spent as a student of Morihei Ueshiba.

Aikido Yoshinkan is related to the Aiki Budo techniques taught by O'Sensei, and much closer to aiki-jutsu than the later styles of aikido. It emphasizes practical self defence applications, and is one of the martial arts that has been taught to the Tokyo riot police.

Yoshinkan Aikido is not a sport, it is a martial art that aims to develop and strengthen your body and mind. The practical side of Aikido must never be forgotten, it has to be effective. However, Aikido is for everyone, regardless of age, sex, race or culture.

Morihei Ueshiba developed the martial art of Aikido from his combat studies of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu with Sokaku Takeda, and his spiritual studies with the Omoto Kyo and Onisaburi Deguchi. Aikido focuses on harmony and non-resistance, leading to Aikido Success
Gozo Shioda developed the Yoshinkan style of aikido because he felt that there needed to be a more structure in the training process for students, so that beginners could learn the basic techniques.

Weapons training is not usually included in the syllabus, but many instructors do include them to help with the understanding of technique.

Aikido Yoshinkan has about 150 basic techniques, that are repeatedly practised, which allow the student to master the other 3000 variations. Techniques are made up of initiating attack, moving forward (uke pulls) or turning away (uke pushes), the correct control, pin, or throw.

Besides the attention to distance, timing and balance, the Yoshinkan style focuses on stance and basic movements. Yoshinkan aikido students stand with hips and shoulders square to the front, the front foot pointing outward and the back foot pointing about 90 degrees to the front foot.

Kamae is the foundation of all Aikido Yoshinkan techniques and students aim to perfect their kamae so that their overall technique is strengthened. Along with kamae there are 6 basic movements, which are central for the 150 basic techniques, and students practice these tirelessly to understand how to move to put themselves in a strong position. This proper form in the basic movements helps aikido to be practical & effective.

In 1990, Gozo Shioda founded the International Yoshinkai Aikido Federation (IYAF) to promote the study of Yoshinkan aikido outside of Japan. IYAF was change to Aikido Yoshinkan Foundation (AYF) in 2008.

Today, both the All Japan Yoshinkan Aikido Federation and the IYAF are now led by the current head of the style Yasuhisa Shioda, the founder's son. Under him, the Yoshinkan Honbu dojo, located in Shinjuku Tokyo, runs a yearly 11-month intensive course called the Senshusei course, developed from the course used to train the Tokyo Metropolitan Riot Police.

The book Angry White Pyjamas, by Robert Twigger, is based on the author's experiences during the course.

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