Our Aikido History

Ken Williams sensei founded the Aikikai of Wales after his personal teacher of 12 years, Kenshiro Abbe sensei returned to Japan. Abbe sensei was one of the original students of the founder of Aikido. Eight years later in 1976, Williams sensei travelled to Japan to meet Master Koichi Tohei sensei. Koichi Tohei sensei is the only student to be graded to 10th dan by the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba. Williams sensei was so impressed with The teachings of Koichi Tohei sensei that he became the British representative for the Ki No Kenkyukai (Ki Society International), the Aikikai of Wales became the Ki Federation of Great Britain.

Koichi Tohei Sensei taught at a summer school in the Swansea Leisure centre during 1978/79 with Kenjiro Yoshigasaki sensei (then a 3rd Dan) as Uke. The European representative of the Ki No Kenkyukai at this time was Koretoshi Maruyama sensei. Kenjiro Yoshigasaki would later assume this role.

Ken Williams left the Ki No Kenkyukai in 1986. The same year Richard Gardiner sensei who had started his training with Ken Williams in 1968 travelled to Japan for a special seminar with Koichi Tohei sensei. Richard Gardiner and others throughout the country formed the British Ki Society and remained with the Ki No Kenkyukai.

Kenjiro Yoshigasaki left the Ki No Kenkyukai and formed his own organisation in 2003. The senior members of our dojo decided to leave Kenjiro Yoshigasaki’s group and continue their direct registration with the Ki No Kenkyukai in Japan. At this time a large number of dojo’s listed with the British Ki Society and following Yoshigasaki’s teaching were still using the term "Ki Society", a term that is registered with the Ki No Kenkyukai in Japan.

We decided to choose a name for our Dojo’s that reflected the fact that we are directly registered with the head of our organisation in Japan.

The Cardiff and District Ki No Kekyukai Dojos have a history of 27 years of following the teachings of master Koichi Tohei sensei.