Shodokan Aikido
 
Shodokan Aikido is the most recent of the major styles influenced by accomplished students of Aikido’s founder Morihei Ueshiba. Sometimes also named after Kenji Tomiki, the student who developed it, Shodokan Aikido is the only one of these styles to hold contests. To some, Shodokan Aikido is at odds with the way taught by the founder for whom the joint locks and holding techniques taken from Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu and transformed into what he then called Aiki Budo ‘the martial way of harmonizing life energy’ became as much a spiritual discipline as a means for self-defence. Shodokan Aikido, on the other hand, has introduced an element of competition as an alternative way to keep mind and technique sharpened.  See Invincible Warrior for a pictorial  biography of the founder of Aikido
 
Unlike older Japanese martial arts which evolved from battle and stressed victory at all costs, this new Budo was a means for achieving non-violent resolution to conflicts, cultivating the individual and promoting harmonious interaction in all walks of life.  There are now a number of traditional schools and related styles that follow this holistic training system under the name Aikikai.  The styles of the major students, including Shodokan Aikido, were influenced to a great degree by the style and philosophy being taught by Ueshiba at the time the student was with him, and also, for some, by contact with other martial arts as the students found their own way. Iwama-ryu still aims to preserve the style originally taught at that school, while Ki-Aikido emphasises the softer, flowing techniques and development of ki energy. On the other hand, there are hard styles such as Yoseikan, influenced by Karate and Judo, and Yoshinkan, with more basic movements practised as solo kata and now used by Japanese riot police.  The Goshin no Kata of Shodokan Aikido includes both empty hand and weapons techniques that come from Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu. Also, Tomiki had previously studied to 5th Dan in Kodokan Judo, hence Shodokan Aikido also emphasises freestyle sparring, or randori, in training as well as kata and shiai competition. The competition arena therefore replaces the battlefield in keeping the skills alive. In Shodokan Aikido, the kata preserves the classical forms while the contest gives the chance for real application of techniques, but without undue risk of injury. Nonetheless, in line with the original principles of cultivating the individual, Shodokan Aikido shuns a ‘victory at all costs’ attitude and, rather than training to enhance performance in competition, Shodokan Aikidoka, or practitioners, compete as a way to enhance training and, thus, the individual. Also, Shodokan Aikido, like most other styles, recognises that application of technique is the last thing that happens in a real self-defence situation. In these respects, Shodokan Aikido can also be seen as having a holistic approach that extends beyond the confines of the dojo. The book Living Aikido may prove useful for the beginner through to the advanced practitioner in achieving this approach.
 
A judo gi, or uniform is also appropriate wear for Shodokan Aikido. Click here for our recommended dogi. However, click here for hakama that are worn in competition and formal ocassions of Shodokan Aikido.