Affiliation

Hirarki no Ken Aikido is a member dojo of Aikido Shimbokukai.

An association striving to bring people together for friendship and the exchange of experience and ideas through Aikido training. Aikido Shimbokukai is officially recognized by the 
Aikikai Foundation in Tokyo.

About Aikido Shimbokukai

Aikido Shimbokukai is a growing community of instructors, dojos, and Aikido practitioners united by a common purpose: to study, develop, and share the martial art of Aikido as created by Ueshiba Morihei O-Sensei, and carried forward by his descendants.

We exist to honor the heart of Aikido—connection, harmony, and mutual growth—by creating a space where friendship, respect, and open exchange flourish.

Mission & Values

Our mission is grounded in tradition, but always open to evolution. Aikido Shimbokukai exists to:

  • Provide instruction and guidance in Aikido aligned with the teachings of the Founder and Hombu Dojo.

  • Promote the art as a path to better connection, presence, and community across all walks of life.

  • Uphold standards of training, rank, and instruction while respecting the unique identity of each dojo.

  • Support the ongoing development of instructors, students, and leaders through guidance, certification, and direct registration of ranks with Hombu Dojo.

  • Serve as an umbrella organization that empowers individual growth rather than controlling specific operations or events within member dojos.

We maintain a structure of Directing, Instruction, Grading, and Advisory committees, ensuring that our development remains thoughtful, inclusive, and in harmony with the traditions of Aikikai.

Friendship Through Aikido

The name Shimbokukai itself means "a gathering of friendship"—and that spirit is at the heart of everything we do. Our organization does not seek to limit teaching styles or restrict training across lineages. Rather, we encourage the open exchange of ideas, experiences, and practice across boundaries of affiliation and style.

We welcome all who train sincerely. Our members are free to attend events, seminars, and gatherings across organizations. We believe in respectful cooperation, valuing inclusivity over division, and honoring the Founder’s ideal that Aikido should lead to better relationships among people.

Open, Apolitical, and Supportive

We strive to be apolitical, broad-minded, and fluid, remaining responsive to the needs and voices of our community. We welcome input from members and continuously evolve to serve them better.

Aikido Shimbokukai actively supports:

  • The development of seminars and training events with diverse instructors and backgrounds.

  • Opportunities for all practitioners, regardless of level or lineage, to come together and train.

  • Aikido as a living tradition—rooted in form, alive in spirit, and continually growing through connection.

Our Guiding Lineage

Our relationship with Hombu Dojo is one of both respect and gratitude. Through our training, activities, and principles, we aim to honor and support their vision while cultivating our own expression of Aikido in the modern world.

About Hombu Dojo

Aikikai Foundation – Aikido World Headquarters
Tokyo, Japan

Hombu Dojo is the global headquarters of Aikido and the central training and administrative center of the Aikikai Foundation. Located in the Wakamatsu district of Shinjuku, Tokyo, it stands as the spiritual and technical home of the art created by Ueshiba Morihei O-Sensei, the Founder of Aikido.

Founded in 1931 and officially recognized by the Japanese government in 1940, Hombu Dojo has become the worldwide guiding body for traditional Aikido. It is from here that the art has spread across continents—through the dedication of teachers, the commitment of practitioners, and the living legacy of the Ueshiba family.

Lineage of the Ueshiba Family

Aikido at Hombu Dojo is preserved and developed under the direct lineage of the Founder. We are deeply committed to the teachings of::

  • Ueshiba Morihei O-Sensei – Founder of Aikido

  • Ueshiba Kisshomaru – 2nd Doshu (Nidai Doshu)

  • Ueshiba Moriteru – 3rd Doshu (Gendai Doshu)

  • Ueshiba Mitsuteru – Hombu Dojo-cho (Head of the Dojo)

This lineage continues to embody and transmit the essence of Aikido as a martial, spiritual, and social practice.

A Global Standard

Hombu Dojo is responsible for:

  • Maintaining the technical standards of Aikido through recognized instructors worldwide.

  • Issuing Dan (black belt) and Kyu (student rank) certifications internationally.

  • Certifying teaching titles such as Shidoin and Fukushidoin.

  • Supporting a global community of dojos through guidance, seminars, and official affiliation.

As the official authority of Aikido, the Aikikai Foundation promotes a unified standard while allowing room for diversity and personal expression within the art.

Our Connection

As members of Aikido Shimbokukai, our connection to Hombu Dojo is both formal and heartfelt. We honor their guidance, register ranks directly through them, and uphold the standards and principles set forth by the Aikikai.

Our practice seeks to reflect the depth, spirit, and evolution of Aikido as carried forward by the Ueshiba family, and we are proud to be part of this living tradition.