The Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU) is a not-for-profit Aikido organization founded by Mitsugi Saotome Shihan upon moving from Japan to the United States in 1975 (49 years ago) (1975). It is a federation of about 110 Dojos throughout North America.
Aikido Schools of Ueshiba Logo (tm)
The ASU instructional syllabus includes open-hand training, defense versus weapons (tachi dori, jo dori, tanto dori), weapons kata (kumitachi), and defense against multiple attackers with and without weapons (randori). As established by Saotome Shihan, ASU strives to have "no style", and its members and instructors demonstrate a high level of individual expression in their technique and instruction. As reflected by Saotome Shihan's roles as senior instructor and Chief Weapons Instructor during his time at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, training in ASU emphasizes martial spirit and awareness, significant weapons work, improvisation and adaptability, natural movement and breathing, and a sensitivity to natural action, reaction, and biofeedback responses. These goals are exemplified in a quote by Saotome Shihan: "Aikido is not a factory. Every student is unique; every attacker is unique."
At its inception ASU was not formally connected to the Aikikai Foundation (Aikido World Headquarters). Formal affiliation was later established and the ranks of ASU members were recognized via the direct relationship between Saotome Sensei, the Ueshiba family, and the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. In 2016, ASU restructured and was formally recognized as an affiliated overseas organization member of the Aikikai Foundation.[1]
Mission and structureedit
The Aikido Schools of Ueshiba is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, administered under a board of senior instructors. In addition to the actions of the board, ASU policy is reviewed and set by three standing committees: an Examination Committee, an Instructional Committee, and an Advisory Committee of ASU instructors who are not board members. Saotome Shihan and Patty Saotome Sensei remain involved in ASU administration as Special Advisors to the ASU board.
ASU's stated mission emphasizes the organization's special lineage to the founder of Aikido: "to preserve and disseminate the teachings and principles of Aikido, as transmitted by Morihei Ueshiba O Sensei to his direct disciple Mitsugi Saotome Shihan."
Senior instructorsedit
Chief Instructor: Shihan Mitsugi Saotome
John Messores (7th dan)
Patty Saotome (7th dan)
Bill Gleason (7th dan)
Tres Hofmeister (7th dan)
George Ledyard (7th dan)
Wendy Whited (7th dan)
Charles Page (7th dan)
Charles Weber (7th dan)
Aiki Shrineedit
The Aiki Shrine was built by Saotome Shihan on his private property in Myakka City, Florida, to recreate and preserve the deep sense of spirituality and connection to nature that he recalled of the original Iwama Shrine from his years serving and living with the founder as personal live-in disciple. In 2016, Saotome Shihan transferred ownership of the Aiki Shrine to ASU to preserve as a lasting and physical legacy, and to unify future generations of ASU students and instructors through a living heritage and lineage to the spirit of O Sensei.
Ueshiba Jukuedit
The Ueshiba Juku (literally, "Academy of the Founder") is a special designation issued by Saotome Shihan to his personal disciples. Based on statements by Saotome Shihan, the designation declares that the recipients are not only true deshi (direct disciple) of Saotome Sensei and inheritors of his teachings, but are also part of O Sensei's own school and pure lineage as only a true uchi deshi of O Sensei can recognize. It is denoted by a special kanji (Japanese calligraphy) which is worn on the left lapel of the recipient's dogi (training uniform).
Referencesedit
^"Aikikai Foundation". Aikikai Foundation - Affiliated Overseas Organization. Aikikai Foundation. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
External linksedit
Aikido Schools of Ueshiba
January 01, 1970
aikido, schools, ueshiba, profit, aikido, organization, founded, mitsugi, saotome, shihan, upon, moving, from, japan, united, states, 1975, years, 1975, federation, about, dojos, throughout, north, america, logo, instructional, syllabus, includes, open, hand, . The Aikido Schools of Ueshiba ASU is a not for profit Aikido organization founded by Mitsugi Saotome Shihan upon moving from Japan to the United States in 1975 49 years ago 1975 It is a federation of about 110 Dojos throughout North America Aikido Schools of Ueshiba Logo tm The ASU instructional syllabus includes open hand training defense versus weapons tachi dori jo dori tanto dori weapons kata kumitachi and defense against multiple attackers with and without weapons randori As established by Saotome Shihan ASU strives to have no style and its members and instructors demonstrate a high level of individual expression in their technique and instruction As reflected by Saotome Shihan s roles as senior instructor and Chief Weapons Instructor during his time at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo training in ASU emphasizes martial spirit and awareness significant weapons work improvisation and adaptability natural movement and breathing and a sensitivity to natural action reaction and biofeedback responses These goals are exemplified in a quote by Saotome Shihan Aikido is not a factory Every student is unique every attacker is unique Contents 1 Affiliation 2 Mission and structure 3 Senior instructors 4 Aiki Shrine 5 Ueshiba Juku 6 References 7 External linksAffiliation editAt its inception ASU was not formally connected to the Aikikai Foundation Aikido World Headquarters Formal affiliation was later established and the ranks of ASU members were recognized via the direct relationship between Saotome Sensei the Ueshiba family and the Aikikai Hombu Dojo In 2016 ASU restructured and was formally recognized as an affiliated overseas organization member of the Aikikai Foundation 1 Mission and structure editThe Aikido Schools of Ueshiba is a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization administered under a board of senior instructors In addition to the actions of the board ASU policy is reviewed and set by three standing committees an Examination Committee an Instructional Committee and an Advisory Committee of ASU instructors who are not board members Saotome Shihan and Patty Saotome Sensei remain involved in ASU administration as Special Advisors to the ASU board ASU s stated mission emphasizes the organization s special lineage to the founder of Aikido to preserve and disseminate the teachings and principles of Aikido as transmitted by Morihei Ueshiba O Sensei to his direct disciple Mitsugi Saotome Shihan Senior instructors editChief Instructor Shihan Mitsugi Saotome John Messores 7th dan Patty Saotome 7th dan Bill Gleason 7th dan Tres Hofmeister 7th dan George Ledyard 7th dan Wendy Whited 7th dan Charles Page 7th dan Charles Weber 7th dan Aiki Shrine editThe Aiki Shrine was built by Saotome Shihan on his private property in Myakka City Florida to recreate and preserve the deep sense of spirituality and connection to nature that he recalled of the original Iwama Shrine from his years serving and living with the founder as personal live in disciple In 2016 Saotome Shihan transferred ownership of the Aiki Shrine to ASU to preserve as a lasting and physical legacy and to unify future generations of ASU students and instructors through a living heritage and lineage to the spirit of O Sensei Ueshiba Juku editThe Ueshiba Juku literally Academy of the Founder is a special designation issued by Saotome Shihan to his personal disciples Based on statements by Saotome Shihan the designation declares that the recipients are not only true deshi direct disciple of Saotome Sensei and inheritors of his teachings but are also part of O Sensei s own school and pure lineage as only a true uchi deshi of O Sensei can recognize It is denoted by a special kanji Japanese calligraphy which is worn on the left lapel of the recipient s dogi training uniform References edit Aikikai Foundation Aikikai Foundation Affiliated Overseas Organization Aikikai Foundation Retrieved 14 September 2016 External links editAikido Schools of Ueshiba Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aikido Schools of Ueshiba amp oldid 1182246948, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
