Aikikai: Style or organisation?

I was browsing through a wikipedia article regarding aikido-styles and I realised that I'm unsure of what Aikikai is. (I belong to Ki-aikido myself)

As I have understood it in the past, aikikai is an organisation which encompasses several styles of aikido, many of which are very different in terms of techniques but still conformed to aikikai standards in terms of rules&regulations&limitations and grading-system. Any style of Aikido that does not conform to such a system cannot be part of aikikai, such as Ki-aikido. Thats the impression I have had of aikikai as a whole.

But when I read an article where it said that Aikikai was a single style and not just an organisation....I suppose my own interpretation of aikikai then is a bit shaky.

Here is the pickle though: If I remember correctly, the style of aikido developed by Nishio-sensei has two grading systems (weapons and regular I believe) and has been described as close to Ki-aikido (on a few issues), not to mention it describes itself as "independent yet bound to aikikai".

So if aikikai is a style, then what is Nishio's type of aikido? I'd apreciate any information bout this subject so I can get my facts straight.

To the best of my knowledge the Aikikai is an organisation. It is not a style in itself, but is a system where the individual dojos or organisations are recognised by the aikikai(hombu?), as long as they follow the set regulation guidelines. most aikikai dojos follow "similar" grading requirements, but I have seen throughout the various Aikikai associated organisations, a spectrum of variation on each and every technique. Aikikai is just the principle mainstream, a large group that recognises Doshu as the head(hence all gradings are recognised through him for aikikai, from shodan up i believe?). So your first assumption was right, it's an organisation,not a style.

Here in the UK it's both a style and an organisation.

Confusing eh?

Ruth

Well surely Humbo-dojo must have an official position on what they describe themselves as? Is it really this complicated that they are both a style and an organisation of different styles at the same time or is it the simple answer that they are an organisation with seperate styles involved?

I'll develope a brainlock if I dont clear this out before dinner.

It's an organisation that was O-Sensei's , its mainstream, all his students studied under him(duh), so you could say its all the same style with different forms of expression, which gives the impression of different styles. its an organisation that has a set of guidelines that create a mainstream measure so it is the same style too, with variations, then again aikido is varied from person to person, you gotta add your own flavour to everything, otherwise we'd be robots

Ruth McWilliam wrote: Here in the UK it's both a style and an organisation. Confusing eh? Ruth

Sorry Ruth it's not, although some do refer to "Aikikai style", as I have done myself on occasion. It's an easy referral if someone asks you what style you are doing, but The Aikikai is in fact an umbrella organisation, it is not a style.

Regards

Bryan

Fredrik Hall wrote: Well surely Humbo-dojo must have an official position on what they describe themselves as?

From the Aikikai Homepage:

Aikido is a new Japanese martial art created during the 1920s by Morihei Ueshiba, an expert who reached the highest level of mastery in the classical Japanese martial arts. Officially recognized by the Japanese government in 1940, the Aikikai Foundation (Aikido World Headquarters) is the parent organization for the development and popularization of Aikido throughout the world. Under the leadership of Moriteru Ueshiba Doshu, instructors are teaching Aikido according to the ideals of the Founder (Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei) to students in Japan and throughout the world.


Regards

Bryan

Personally I don't think that "style" as a word fits the description of Aikido methods particularly well.

As a member of the "Aikikai" I was told some time ago that style can and is easily related to the way each student interprets 'Aikido', we will each have a slightly different 'style' of performing technique however; the "School" of aikido which one studies is IMHO far a better way of describing the supposed method.

Regards

From my poor knowledge of the language, "Kai" means an organization in Japanese.

However, most groups in the organization do have a very similar style. Those that do not conform with that style, normally consider themselves as part of a style and the organization. So, when trying to describe the style of the members who do not have special style, most would call it "AikiKai style".

This is the best explanation I can give as an outsider.

Amir

IMHO, both.

Bryan Bateman wrote: Sorry Ruth it's not, although some do refer to "Aikikai style", as I have done myself on occasion.

Exactly - therefore "Aikikai" can be used to describe a style, just as "Iwama" or "Ki" can.

Bryan Bateman wrote: The Aikikai is in fact an umbrella organisation, it is not a style.

Kinda sorta. "The Aikikai" is not the name of any organisation I know of in the UK, but we do have the BAF, UKA etc. The Aikikai would describe the affiliation of the above organisations, however, and of course the wider global organisation of Aikikai Hombu itself.

So I still reckon "Aikikai" can be used for both

Ruth