British Aikido Board

The National Governing Body for Aikido in the United Kingdom.
Aikido is a martial art founded by Morihei Ueshiba, that focuses on harmonising with your opponent, it can be practiced as a sport, self defence and an art using hand to hand and japanese weapons.

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Welcome to the British Aikido Board

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The British Aikido Board seeks to:-

Represent the majority of bona fide organisations practicing aikido in the United Kingdom.
Support, encourage and promote the highest standards of aikido within an environment of mutual respect for offering styles practiced.
Raise awareness of the value of aikido not only as a contributor towards healthy living, but also in the development of adults, young people and children, without regard to race, gender or creed.

The British Aikido Board operates primarily through its member Associations. There are 42 currently Full Member Associations with 5 Associate and Probationary Member Associations of regional and national status, who each retain their independence, both technically and financially, with a combined membership of some 5,000 , which includes 1233 instructors holding current Coaching Awards.

The Board is recognised by Sport England , as the only governing body for aikido in the United Kingdom and is a member of the Sport and Recreation Alliance.

The Board seeks to further the advancement of all styles of aikido and to establish and monitor standards of safety and behaviour for practitioners of aikido.

The Board advises member Associations on all relevant UK and European legislation and procedures and develops appropriate policies and codes of practice.

Other services provided include:-
• Insurance cover, for members, instructors and Associations.
• Promotion of a Nationally recognised Coaching Scheme in conjunction with UK Coaching / Sport England.
• Organising a National Courses.
• Supporting initiatives to encourage the teaching of Aikido in schools.
• Publishing Newsletters and specialist information bulletins eg. Safeguarding and Coaching.

The Board has completed a number of initiatives, arising from the work of their major Governance Audit and through the adoption of a wide range of recommendations, contained in their Aikido Development Plan will support their key objective of encouraging all Aikido groups to join together under this “Aikido umbrella”.

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British Aikido Board

British Aikido Board

Andrew Buchanan – Recruitment & Member

I began practicing Aikido aged 17 in the early 1960’s. I had just left school and started an apprenticeship in Glasgow. I enrolled in a local College to improve my qualifications and there saw Aikido for the first time. This was the first Aikido club in Scotland run by Tom Weir, then an orange belt. As a young inexperienced club, we had close links with The Hut Dojo in London and had regular instruction from Sensei Ken Williams, other Hut Dan Grades, and visiting Japanese Instructors.

As part of a career change, I moved to Durham University in the 70’s and finding no Aikido took up Judo and some Aikido at the University Judo club, with a fellow student Malcolm Blackwood, a Judo black belt. From Durham, I moved to London where I practiced with various clubs around London and Essex, before moving to Fleet in Hampshire. There I met the Aikido Fellowship through a branch club of the Fellowship in Fleet becoming a student of Shihan Ralph Reynolds. I have been with the Fellowship ever since and have moved up through the ranks, thoroughly enjoying the experience and the quality of the teaching.

I also practice Taiji and am a member of various internal martial arts groups, including the 6H and the Internal Aikido groups. I am a qualified NVQ assessor and have been involved in teaching and coaching Aikido for more than 25 years.

Contact via membership@bab.org.uk