aikido schools of ueshiba

Hello,
Can anyone out there give me a little info on the differences between aikikai and aikido schools of ueshiba? I know that there are many styles within aikikai but I'm just really trying to find out what ASU is all about. If this has been discussed before, and someone could refer me to a particular thread, that would be great too. I'm just looking for general answers here, not a lengthy discussion about how "there is really only one aikido", and "there are no different styles, just different people", etc, etc. Any help would be appreciated thanks.

ASU is an Aikikai association.
http://www.aikikai.or.jp/Eng/index.htm
Look at the instructors abroad page . . .

Daniel Chong wrote: Hello, Can anyone out there give me a little info on the differences between aikikai and aikido schools of ueshiba? I know that there are many styles within aikikai but I'm just really trying to find out what ASU is all about. If this has been discussed before, and someone could refer me to a particular thread, that would be great too. I'm just looking for general answers here, not a lengthy discussion about how "there is really only one aikido", and "there are no different styles, just different people", etc, etc. Any help would be appreciated thanks.

Well, like many of the organizations, the ASU was created for folks who wish to be associated with a particular teacher to do so. In this case the teacher is Saotome Sensei and, these days, his senior student Ikeda Sensei. The senior folks within this organization basically fall into two groups, those who trained directly under Saotome Sensei and those that trained under Ikeda Sensei originally. The balance of the organization, and probably the majority, are folks who affiliated after the ASU joined the Aikikai in the late 80's. So they form a fairly diverse group with people formerly affiliated with just about every organization I can think of.

Realistically, and I know you don't want to here this, you can't really say much about most organizations which is anything other than a gross generalization. If you trained in the ASU it would be a totally different expereince of you trained under me or under Kevin Choate Sensei (6th Dan in Chicago). Training directly with Ikeda Sensei would be completely different than training at one of the dojos that joined the organization in the last few years. People ask about the ASU and I never feel like there is anything in particular of interest that I can say about it, and I am a founding member. It's an organization like the others... It's the individual teachers within the organization that are of interest I think. At least I assume that questions of this nature relate to a desire to find a good place to train...

George S. Ledyard wrote: Well, like many of the organizations, the ASU was created for folks who wish to be associated with a particular teacher to do so. In this case the teacher is Saotome Sensei and, these days, his senior student Ikeda Sensei. The senior folks within this organization basically fall into two groups, those who trained directly under Saotome Sensei and those that trained under Ikeda Sensei originally. The balance of the organization, and probably the majority, are folks who affiliated after the ASU joined the Aikikai in the late 80's. So they form a fairly diverse group with people formerly affiliated with just about every organization I can think of. Realistically, and I know you don't want to here this, you can't really say much about most organizations which is anything other than a gross generalization. If you trained in the ASU it would be a totally different expereince of you trained under me or under Kevin Choate Sensei (6th Dan in Chicago). Training directly with Ikeda Sensei would be completely different than training at one of the dojos that joined the organization in the last few years. People ask about the ASU and I never feel like there is anything in particular of interest that I can say about it, and I am a founding member. It's an organization like the others... It's the individual teachers within the organization that are of interest I think. At least I assume that questions of this nature relate to a desire to find a good place to train...

Thank you for your honest answer. In that case, do you know either Dan Penrod Sensei or John Messores Sensei, and if so, what style of aikido they teach? (ie softer vs. harder, more focused on self defense vs. less focused on self defense, emphasize things like atemi and/or randori)

Daniel Chong wrote: In that case, do you know either Dan Penrod Sensei or John Messores Sensei, and if so, what style of aikido they teach? (ie softer vs. harder, more focused on self defense vs. less focused on self defense, emphasize things like atemi and/or randori)

Haven't trained with Penrod myself, but I have with his teacher, Messores; the whole dojo seems to hold Dan in high regard. He was a student of Messores, but I don't know if he originally began with him.

Messores' aikido has much ATEMI and he invites strong attacks. His techique can be quite soft, however. A very fine technician. From what I gather, so to is Penrod.