I've studied Iwama aikido at 3 different schools over the last 7 years. However, I also love to train with students of other styles; I always learn something interesting.

Forgive my ignorance, but I just started Kokikai Aikido. Is that an offshoot of Aiki or is it a separate style?

the developer of the style shuji maruyama was aiki trained at the hombu in japan under tohei.he came to america in the 60,s sometime to teach aiki, but, he didnt develope his style until he was in the u.s

I am not famliliar with the style but i will ask the right people and get some answers for you.

He is japanese , he is well trained in aiki, so i would say its aiki. thats the style, cant speak for the school.

whats the name of the school?

btw
tohei himself was a student os ueshibas but was also a rebel who was always trying to impose his ideas on ueshibas art,so his version of aikido is watered down from the original teaching of ueshiba.he was actually told by ueshiba he wasnt aloud to teach his ways of doing things while he was there. so after ueshiba died he left and created his own style.

not saying its bad but it isnt authentic aikido.i am usehiba trained 100 percent so im not familiar with toheis version . i do know it is considered the sport version,

Paul is right in that Kokikai is an orginization seperated from Tohei's Ki Aikido. They seem to follow the same ideas though.

Paul, I'd be curious as to hear more as to how you believe Tohei "watered down" his Aikido? Certainly he seems to have been one of Ueshiba's top students and teachers. By all accounts he was promoted to 10th dan by Ueshiba himself.

http://www.aikidojournal.com/blog/2010/02/02/koichi-toheis-10th-dan-promotion-by-stanley-pranin/

I am starting another thread about all of this Paul, so PM or post there as this isn't really a thread for this sort of thing!

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