Aikido is a traditional Japanese martial art, which was conceived by its creator as non-competitive. It is a non-aggressive system designed solely for self-defence against armed or unarmed attackers.

Force is never opposed to force. Instead, by means of flowing circular movements, an attacker’s force may be diverted and turned back upon him in the form of throws or pins applied to the joints. Although the techniques may be painful and induce immediate submission, they are not aimed at causing injury, but rather at controlling and restraining the assailant. Thus it is one of the most subtle and graceful of the martial arts.

Aikido techniques do not require physical strength, or aggressive spirit. Therefore Aikido is practised equally by everyone regardless of age or physical condition.

In the Yorkshire Aikikai, under the guidance of Kanetsuka (Shihan), we practice traditional Aikido as taught by the founder Morihei Ueshiba and his disciples through Hombu Dojo, Tokyo, the world headquarters of Aikido.

Minoru Kanetsuka (Shihan), is the official representative of Hombu Dojo in England and Wales, and the technical director of the BAF. Kanetsuka (Shihan) is also the technical director of the Scottish Aikido Federation. He regularly teaches courses in Leeds, around the country and elsewhere in Europe.


About the Founder

Master Morihei Ueshiba (pronounced ‘oo-eh-shiba’) was born in 1883. At that time Japan had not fully emerged into the modern world and many of the martial arts were still taught there by masters in the old tradition.

In his early manhood Morihei Ueshiba mastered several martial arts including swordmanship and various forms of unarmed self-defence. At the same time he developed into a deeply religious person and envisaged a new system of ‘budo’ (the way of the warrior) which would provide a basis for both physical and spiritual development. This he named Aikido; the way (do) of harmonising (ai) the spirit (ki). By ‘ki’ is meant the creative, life spirit of the universe; one’s own life energy.

Morihei Ueshiba meant Aikido to be much more than a method of self-defence: "I want considerate people to listen to the voice of Aikido. It is not for correcting others; it is for correcting your own mind".

"True budo is the way of great harmony and great love for all beings" wrote Ueshiba.

Minoru Kanetsuka

Born in Tokyo in 1939, Minoru Kanetsuka began studying Aikido in 1957 while he was a student at Takushoku University (Tokyo) under Fujita Sensei and Shioda Sensei. After graduating, he went to Nepal and during his eight year stay there gave instruction to the Nepalese royal family and the Nepalese police force.

In 1972 Kanetsuka Shihan came to Britain and became assistant instructor to Chiba Sensei (then the Technical Director of the Aikiai of Great Britain). After Chiba Sensei's departure from Britain in 1977, Kanetsuka Shihan became Technical Director of the renamed British Aikido Federation. As such, he is Britain's official representative of the Aikido Hombu (the World Aikido Headquarters, Tokyo).

As well as conducting frequent courses throughout Great Britain and Europe, he teaches regularly at the Ryushinkan Dojos in London and Oxford.

Copyright ©, British Aikido Federation

Ken Marsden

Ken started practising traditional aikido in 1971, following the instruction of Chiba Shihan and subsequently Kanetsuka Shihan.

Ken was one of the founding instructors of the dojos in Leeds in 1973 and subsequently in Bradford. Ken has taught regularly in Yorkshire since that date. He is currently based in the Leeds dojo.