About Sensei

History

Aikido Kokikai® is a school of Aikido founded by Sensei Shudo Maruyama (born 1939), one of the early teachers of Aikido in the United States, and an uchideshi, (live-in student) of the founder of Aikido, Morehei Ueshiba. Aikido Kokikai® emphasizes effective self-defense through natural movement, ki development, relaxation, good posture and mind-body coordination for finding one’s strongest state. In 1966, the Aikikai organization sent Sensei Maruyama from Japan to teach Aikido in Cleveland, OH.  He later moved to Philadelphia, PA and established two dojo affiliated with the Ki Society under his earliest teacher, Koichi Tohei.  In 1986, Sensei Maruyama founded his own organization, now known as the Aikido Kokikai Federation.  In the early 1990s, Sensei set up a dojo in Nagoya, Japan, but maintained residence in the US, continuing to offer instruction at seminars and camps.  The Aikido Kokikai Federation USA (AKFUSA) supports over 40 Aikido Kokikai® dojo around the United States.  Aikido Kokikai® also has an international presence, with dojo in Australia, Japan, Germany & France.

Minimum Effort, Maximum Effect

Aikido Kokikai® techniques are purely defensive, focused on using the momentum of the attack, taking balance from the attacker, keeping that balance, and throwing with the minimum force as possible.  Instead of thinking about throwing as an act of applying force to the adversary, Kokikai students think of throwing as leading the opponent to a fall.  In that way, we aim to achieve Aikido's ultimate goal of effective self-defense and conflict resolution without resorting to unnecessary violence.

Maruyama Sensei studied under Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido

Maruyama Sensei was originally a student of Koichi Tohei Sensei, Ueshiba O-Sensei's top student, who later founded the Ki Society (Shin Shin Toitsu) Aikido.  On Tohei Sensei's recommendation, Maruyama Sensei was invited to train under Ueshiba O-Sensei as an uchideshi (a live-in student).

In 1966, Aikikai Hombu Dojo assigned Maruyama Sensei to spread the teachings of Aikido in the United States

This was both a great honor and a life-changing experience for Sensei. The world was still healing following the events of World War II and Sensei says that, at the time, getting invited to visit the victor country felt like getting invited to board a spaceship to the moon.

For years, Sensei taught Aikido in Cleveland and later in Philadelphia

During this time, he found that Americans were skeptical and independent. They questioned everything that Sensei taught and put his Aikido to the test. This was very different from his experiences in Japan requiring a new approach to teaching Aikido.

In 1986, Maruyama Sensei established an independent organization, the Aikido Kokikai Federation

Maruyama Sensei built the Kokikai as an expression of his unique experience teaching Aikido in both Japan and the United States. Aikido Kokikai® continues to evolve as both a supportive community and an effective martial art. 

Kokikai has grown to be a substantial international organization

The Aikido Kokikai Federation has headquarters at Maruyama Sensei's Shushinkan dojo in Nagakute, Japan. For over 40 years Sensei traveled and taught hundreds of students at national training camps and regional seminars in the United States and Australia.