News after the 14th Aikido Summit in Japan
A new IAF Board and news on the Senior and Technical Councils
The first female Chairperson of the International Aikido Federation was elected at the 14th International Aikido Summit, in Tokyo, Japan.
The 14th International Aikido Summit was structured in two parts: the first two days had meetings, debates, forums and elections on the agenda, whereas the next five days had a schedule with Aikido classes conducted by honorable Shihans, the Embukai session given by each country and also by a part of the Shihans and the seminar conducted by Doshu on the last day of the event.
The new IAF Officials
Following the elections on the 1st of October 2024, the new IAF Directing Committee is composed of:
Chairperson: Mrs. Yoko Okamoto (Japan)
Vice-Chair: Mr. Adam Manikowski (Poland)
General Secretary: Mr. Corrie Human (South Africa)
Treasurer: Mr. Satoshi Kaga (Japan)
Assistant General Secretary: Mr. Ethan Weisgard (Denmark)
Mr. Charlie McGinnis (USA)
Mr. Fritz Heuscher (Switzerland)
Mr. Magnus Burman (Sweden)
Mr. Gergo Pasqualetti (Hungary)
The Senior Council is composed of:
TADA Hiroshi Shihan - Chairman
OZAKI Sho Shihan
Tony SMIBERT Shihan
Christian TISSIER Shihan
MIYAMOTO Tsuruzo Shihan
YOKOTA Yoshiaki Shihan
OSAWA Hayato Shihan
The Technical Council is composed of:
SUGAWARA Shigeru Shihan
KURIBAYASHI Takanori Shihan
Wilko VRIESMAN Shihan
4 countries became Full Members of the IAF: Canada, Guam, Malaysia and Malta.
11 countries became new Associate Members of the IAF: Georgia, Syria, Iraq, Kenya, Samoa, Algeria, Lybia, Republic of Congo, Sri Lanka, Dominican Republic, United Arab Emirates.
The three IAF Forums – Youth, Gender Balance and Business based on Aikido principles - had fruitful discussions and workshops on various relevant topics.
The number of participants at the General Assembly was approximately 200. A total of 80 countries and regions were represented at the Summit. The Yoyogi Hall with its 1632 square meters of tatami was packed but allowed for excellent training. The attendants enjoyed altogether 16 Aikido classes, an international Embukai session, a class by Dojo-cho, a seminar by Doshu and a Farewell party.
The 15th International Aikido Summit will take place in 2028 at Tanabe city in the Wakayama Prefecture of Japan, the birthplace of O’Sensei.
Enjoy the beautiful photos taken during the Summit, published on the main IAF facebook channel: https://www.facebook.com/InternationalAikidoFederation . Photo credit goes to mr. Yassine Afqir for the majority of the pictures.
Also, see the demonstrations of the Shihans during the Embukai session on the IAF Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/@Aikido-internationalOrg . Video edit credit goes to mr. Guillaume Erard.
Irina Gaspar
IAF Media Officer