SPANISH ASSOCIATION OF AIKIDO SHODOKAN (AEASHO)
School of Aikido Shodokan at the University of Málaga (E.A.S.)
1. THE AIKIDO SHODOKAN OF KENJI TOMIKI SHIHAN
Aikido was founded by Morihei Ueshiba Osensei (1883 - 1969) after a deep study of the old styles of Jujitsu and of some other arts, mainly Daitu-ryu Aiki Jujitsu.
Kenji Tomiki Shihan (1900 - 1979) was one of his best pupils. He was the first one to be granted the 8º Dan. Tomiki Shihan began to practice Aikido in 1926. By then he was already a renowned judoka (5º Dan), having been taught by Jigoro Kano the art of Judo. Tomiki helped Kano to establish the Kodokan and his still used training syllabus.
It was in fact the influence of Judo that lead Tomiki Shihan, between 1959 and 1960, to reformulate the teaching and practice of Aikido through the introduction of his principle of free practice (Aikido-Randori). During the development of this principle he was supported by the Waseda - Bu, the University of Waseda's dojo of Judo, where he imparted class. Nevertheless, Tomiki Shihan's dream was having a Dojo devoted exclusively to Aikido, and not restricted only to university students, but open to everyone. Thus, in 1967 the Shodokan Hombu Dojo was settled down, and becomed the main dojo of Aikido, in the same way that master Kano's Kodokan Dojo was the neural center of Judo.
The Shodokan was established thanks to the patronage of Mr. Masaharu Uchiyama, President of the Real State Society Showa Tachi Tatemono, and also Vice-president of the Japan Aikido Association, created by Tomiki Shihan for the promotion of his style of Aikido.
In 1970 Tomiki Shihan incorporated Tetsuro Nariyama Sensei as instructor of the Shodokan Hombu Dojo of Osaka, once he concluded his university degree.
In 1975 Mr. Uchiyama collaborated again in the creation of a new Shodokan, with up to 70 tatamis, that replaced the old one.
Finally, in 1988 the current Shodokan Hombu Dojo was inaugurated. It is located in a modern building of 5 plants in Osaka, and his facilities include 100 tatamis. It still is directed by Tetsuro Nariyama Shihan (8º Dan Shodokan, 5º Dan Aikikai).
Today, the style promoted from this Dojo is known worldwide as Aikido Shodokan, the name chosen by Tomiki Shihan for his Dojo, much in the same way that the Judo Kodokan trascended over master Kano's name.
Tomiki Shihan was also able to fulfill his desire of firmly establishing his style of Aikido, and of creating an organization and practice centre akin to Jigoro Kano's Kodokan. This objective was accomplished by the constitution of the Japan Aikido Association (JAA), and of the Shodokan Hombu Dojo of Osaka.
2. MEANING AND ORIGIN OF THE NAME SHODOKAN
In Japanese, the word "Shodokan" means School (KAN) of the Way (DO) of the Opening (SHO).
The name Shodokan has a double origin. On one hand it is inspired in the name adopted by emperor Hirohito for his kindom's historical period. This name was Showa Era, and its meaning is Illumination and Harmony. On the other side, it coincides with the name of the Real State Society Showa Tachi Tatemono, Presided by Mr. Masaharu Uchiyama, the great benefactor of Tomiki Shihan's Aikido.
Also the denomination Shodokan is a homage to master Jigoro Kano and his Kodokan, source of inspiration for the organization and system settled down by Tomiki Shihan.
In 1964 Tomiki Shihan established the fundamentals of the competition (Shiai) of Aikido. His idea was to introduce an incentive for practice, especially among the youths, with the hope that, after having matured for some time, they finally ended perceiving the true spirit of the Aikido. This decision brought on him a great number of critics, and it was even outlawed in certain environments of the most traditional Aikido. Oddly enough, the help of a great teacher of the Aikikai, Hirozaku Kobayashi Shihan, of the region of Kansei, was decisive in setting-up the competition in Aikido. Kobayashi Shihan promoted the organization of courses of Aikido-Randori among his students at the universities of his region.
This way, in 1970 the first inter-university competition of Aikido saw the light. In 1989 the First Festival and International Championship of Aikido Tomiki was held in Nara (Japan). In 1997 the Third Festival was held in Imabari (Japan), and it is foreseen that in 1999 the Fourth Festival will be celebrated in Brisbane City Hall (Australia).
These encounters are an unique opportunity to gather the whole great family of the Aikido Tomiki, with all its their diverse styles, among which the Shodokan is accounted for.
4. THE SPANISH ASSOCIATION OF SHODOKAN AIKIDO (AEASHO)
In 1997 the Spanish Association of Aikido Shodokan (AEASHO) was constituted in Málaga. Its objective is promoting among its associates the art of the Aikido Shodokan created by Kenji Tomiki Shihan. The AEASHO depends on the Japan Aikido Association, and it is a proud and grateful member of the International Shodokan Network, directed by Tetsuro Nariyama Shihan, of the Shodokan Hombu Dojo of Osaka. The Association receives the technical and informative support of Nariyama Shihan himself.
The AEASHO maintains contacts with the Shodokan section of British Aikido Association (Newcombe Sensei), with the Association Suisse d'Aikido Tomiki Shodokan (Koshiyama Sensei) and with the Shodokan HQ of France (Satoru Sensei).
The Association's Dojo in Málaga is the School of Aikido Shodokan at the Málaga University (E.A.S).
The Technical Director of the AEASHO, recognized by the JAA, is Mr. Rafael Moreno (1st Dan)
Rafael Moreno Ruiz was born in 1946 at Málaga, in a humble neighbourhoood called El Palo. He lived in Málaga until 1969, when he emigrated to Geneve (Switzerland). In 1970 he began the practice of martial arts (Judo, Karate and Aikido) under the guide of the japonese master MITSUHIRO KONDO. Afterwards, as a pupil of the japonese master KOSHIYAMA, he impruved his knowledge of the Aikido Tomiki.
He has reached the following degrees of the black belt:
While he was learning all these martial arts, Rafael acted also as
teacher for lesser degree pupil at the KONDO-DOJO, the JUDO-CAROUGE
and the JUDO-KWAI-LANCY, all of them in Geneve. Indeed, he introduced
the teaching of the Aikido Tomiki at the JUDO-KWAI-LANCY (where still
today it is imparted).
He has attended and collaborated to a large of courses in Switzerland,
imparted by such renowned japanese masters as (among others) sensei
TAKESHI INOVE, sensei FUDOH, sensei AMAKURA an sensei NARIYAMA.
Rafael belongs also to the Japonese Federation of Kodokan (license number 3147).
In 1988 he returned to his native Málaga, where (with a great amount of personal effort and involvement) he founded the Gimnasio-DOjo BUDO MODOKAN, which lasted up to 1993. By the end of this year he founded the Spanish Association of Aikido Tomiki (AEATO), which he presided until late 1996.
5. SCHEDULE AND TRAINING FACILITIES OF THE E.U.A.S.
Under the direction of Mr. Rafael Moreno classes are imparted on Mondays and Wednesday, from 19:30 to 21:30 hours, in the Sport Pavilion of the University of Málaga (UMA), in the Campus of Teatinos. The Club (Dojo) is called School of Aikido Shodokan at the UMA. Inscription for the classes is managed by the General Comission of Sports, whose administrative offices are sited in the pavilion itself. Inscription is open throughout the whole year, and belonging to the University as student or staff is not compulsory.
To begin the practice it is not required to buy any special clothes; a sweatsuit is enough. However, if after some time you still like the practice of Aikido, and are seriously thinking on continuing it, buying a kimono is highly recommended.