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Aikido Kenkyu Kai International (AKI) means 'Aikido Research Group' and is an
international network of like-minded aikidoka (Aikido practitioners) inspired by the teachings
of Shihan Yoshinobu Takeda, 8th Dan. Takeda Shihan is a contemporary master of
the art who continues the development and inspiration of Aikido through his
own soft, flowing, and powerful style. Takeda Shihan has a number of dojos in
Japan, with his own dojo in Kamakura near Tokyo. There are clubs in the USA,
Canada, New Zealand, and throughout Australia.
Takeda Shihan received his Aikido instruction from Seigo Yamaguchi Shihan,
9th Dan, who was one of
the longest serving students of O'Sensei and trained with O'Sensei until O'Sensei passed away.
Yamaguchi Shihan passed away in 1996.
Takeda
Shihan is President of Aikido Kenkyukai International and a member of the Aiki-kai Board. For more information on the AKI network, Takeda Shihan and
Yamaguchi Shihan, please refer to the Links page.
Aikido Kenkyu Kai in Australia
Aikido Kenkyu Kai began in Australia in 1980, when Takeda Shihan agreed to
help Aikido students in Canberra. Since then the movement has spread to NSW,
Queensland, South Australia and Northern Territory. Dojos and regions are
quite autonomous, and classes are taught by qualified instructors, who receive
training from Senior Australian Instructors. Special training camps are lead by Japanese senseis, who
often visit Australia, or National Instructors.
For a short history of AKI in Australia, please refer to the History
page and the Interview with Stewart Letford
Sensei.
Operationally, the ACT Region consists of ACT dojos (Charnwood and Erindale), and Tengoku dojo on the Captains Flat road. The Chief Instructor of ACT Region is
Mike MacGregor, 4th Dan, who oversees overall instruction.
Administratively, the ACT dojos operate under an ACT Incorporated body
status, while Tengoku dojo operates under a NSW Incorporated
body.
ACT Region dojos coordinate through an ACT Incorporated body committee. The ACT Incorporated body must, by law, hold annual elections for the
following positions:
- President: the role of the president is to ensure that the club
continues to grow, become strong, and that issues such as safety,
facilities and AKI Australia activities are managed.
- Vice-President: ensures that the President is supported and
co-ordinates major activities and promotions.
- Secretary: is responsible for communications to members and to
entities outside the club. The Secretary also takes minutes of meetings
and manages
correspondence.
- Treasurer: manages all monies and ensures AKI Australia gets paid
on time.
- 3 Committee members: to help and assist the executive.
- Public Officer: reports audited club accounts to ACT Government
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