Aikido World Alliance

The Aikido World Alliance is an international association dedicated to the transmission and preservation of the traditional martial art of aikido, the physical and spiritual teachings of the art's founder Morihei Ueshiba, and the teachings of his students and descendants. We are committed to ensuring that these teachings remain relevant to the 21st century and beyond. We believe these teachings, which, at their core, emphasize empathy, compassion, and peaceful conflict resolution are deeply needed and wanted, and cultivate the spiritual and physical wellbeing of aikido's practitioners and those around them. 

The AWA was started by Andrew Sato Shihan and several dedicated dojo and students in 2005. The association now includes more that 50 dojo in the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Central America. It is the AWA’s mission to further the art of aikido through the teaching and training methodologies developed by Sato Shihan and his late teacher Fumio Toyoda Shihan (1947-2001). The AWA is an organization with official recognition (Konin) under the Aikikai Foundation, Aikido World Headquarters, in Tokyo, Japan. 

The AWA offers seminars taught by Sato Shihan and members of the AWA's Technical Committee at its member dojo throughout the world. The association also offers its members internationally recognized Hombu Dojo accredited dan (black belt) ranks, standardized curriculum and promotion requirements, instructor training and certification, and administrative and business guidance.