Aikido Styles
Many people ask: Why are there different schools of Aikido and which one is the best?
The answer is easy: The best school is whichever one suits you best, from where you can learn the most and is within traveling distance. Therefore the best school is clearly the one you are practicing with and the best sensei is the head of your organisation. If that is not the case, then what are you doing there? Ueshiba Morihei - Founder of Aikido
There are different styles because Ueshiba Morihei, the founder of Aikido, changed the emphasis of his training and art during his life. This combined with the ideas and emphasis of different students create the diversity of Aikido schools and organisation that exist today.
Shodokan
This school was developed by Tomiki Kenji and Oba Hideo just after WW2 in Japan. Contrary to many styles of Aikido there is an element of competition named randori. It is similar to the randori of Judo. It is there to develop the skills needed to respond appropriately to attacks with vigorous resistance. Continue ...
Yoshinkan Aikido
Founded by Shioda Gozo, this school is seen as one of the hardest styles of Aikido.
Born in 1915, Shioda started learning Aikido at 18 and remained with Ueshiba for eight years. The first Aikido Yoshinkan dojo was established in 1955 following Shioda's first prize in the Life Extension Society's exhibition of Japanese martial arts. In 1990 Shioda created the International Yoshinkai Aikido Federation (IYAF). On 17th of July, 1994 Shioda passed away aged 78.
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Aikikai Aikido
This school is headed by the family of Ueshiba and is the most commonly practiced school of Aikido. It is an umbrella association which recognises many different dojo and organisations in different and sometimes the same country.
It was founded in 1948 for the purpose of spreading the teaching of the Founder throughout the world. In 1956, Honbu moved from Iwama back to Tokyo under the direction of Ueshiba Kisshomaru. He died in 1999 and his son Moriteru has assumed the title of second doshu (head of style). He currently teaches in Japan and across the world.
Iwama Aikido
This school was headed by Saito Morihiro. He spend a lot of his life with Ueshiba in Iwama. His school seeks to preserve the Aikido of O-sensei (Ueshiba Morihei) as taught to Saito and includes a lot of weapons work. Saito has developed a series of bokken (wooden sword) and jo (spear) kata (technique) to help in the practice of Aikido.
Ki Aikido
In 1971, Tohei Koichi founded his own school of Aikido which emphasises ki training and principles.Ki is seen as life energy. It is seen as the softest form of Aikido. Tohei Koichi - Founder of Ki Aikido
Tohei was born in 1920 and studied Aikido from an early age attaining the rank of 10th dan within the Aikikai. The five principles of Ki Aikido are to extend ki, know your opponent's mind, respect your opponent's ki, put yourself in the place of your opponent and perform with confidence.
Yann Golanski, 2nd Dan 7th September 2005
Source
Albright, Scott (2002) Aikido and Randori: Reconciliation of Two Opposing Forces The Crowood Press.
Shioda, Gozo et al. (1997) Total Aikido: The Master Course Kodansha Europe.
Shishida, Fumiaki & Nariyama, Tetsuro (2002) Aikido: Tradition and the Competitive Edge Shodokan Publishing USA.
Ueshiba, Morihei et al. (1996) Budo: Teachings of the Founder of Aikido Kodansha Europe.