Aikido
Aikido in its presents form is comparatively modern and can trace back to its origin starting from Prince Teijun, the sixth son of the Emperor Seiwa (850-880) and was passed on to subsequent generations of the Minamoto clan. The esoteric art of Aikijutsu is attributed to Shinra Sabura Yoshimitsu and was kept an exclusive secret for hundred years and became known as Daito Ryu Aikijutsu.
Morihei Ueshiba (1882-1969), the founder of Aikido, met Sokaku Takeda, the well-known master of Daito Ryu Aikijutsu, in 1915 in Hokkaido, trained intensely under Takeda and also studied Yagyu Shinkage Ryu, Kito Ryu Jujitsu and other empty hand and weapon arts.
Morihei Ueshiba developed his own approach using applied principles and techniques, to break down the barrier between mind, spirit and body. In 1922 it was formally known as "Aiki-butsu".
In April 1931, Morihei Ueshiba opened a scale of eighty mats Aiki-budo dojo inaugurated as Kobukan or "hell" Dojo. At this time, Gozo Shioda was one of the students in Kobukan Dojo. Morihei Ueshiba proclaimed the new name Aikido to identify his art as unique and a distinctive form of Budo and Aikido was officially recognized as the name of Morihei Ueshiba School in February 1942.
Morihei Ueshiba passed away peacefully on 26th April 1969 at the age of 86, leaving his students his dream of the world as one peaceful family through the practice of Aikido.
Yoshinkan
Soke Gozo Shioda was born in Shinjuku, Tokyo in 1915. His father, Shioda Seiichi had constructed a dojo and named it Yoshinkan or "House of cultivating the spirit". Various teachers were invited to demonstrate and instruct there. He enthusiastically began practicing various arts showing the determination and super abundance of energy that were to characterize his entire approach to life. He was naturally talented and made rapid progress to third Dan in Judo by the time he reached his mid teens.
At the age of 18, Gozo Shioda joined the Kobukan Dojo as an uchideshi or "residence disciple".
Shioda trained under Morihei until 1941, when he also graduated from Takushoku University. Shioda performed his first public Aikido demonstration in the presence of 15,000 spectators. He was awarded the grand price for the best performance. Within a year Soke Gozo Shioda established his dojo Yoshinkan named after his father's original dojo with its first location in Yoyogi Hachimon.
Gozo Shioda traveled all over Japan during 1950's demonstrating the Yoshinkan Aikido as a strong style, concerned with practicality and efficiency of its techniques. Yoshinkan Aikido is made compulsory to the Tokyo Metropolitan Women's police force and the annual training of an elite group of Kidotai or Riot Police. The riot Police course has been running for well over thirty-five years.
In 1961, Soke Gozo Shioda's mastery of aikido was confirmed when Morihei Ueshiba awarded him the degree of 9th Dan. Aikido was further acknowledged when in 1984 the International Martial Arts Federation awarded him the degree of 10th Dan along with the title Meijin or Grand Master. During the forty years since it was established, Yoshinkan Aikido has expanded to all over Japan,America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia.
In 1990, Soke Gozo Shioda established the International Yoshinkan Aikido Federation to follow up on the growth and coordination of worldwide interest towards Yoshinkan Aikido.
Soke Gozo Shioda, an outstanding martial artist, author, teacher and Founder of the Yoshinkan Aikido died in Tokyo on 17th July 1994.
Shudokan
Right before Malaysia's independence, a young Malaysian man named Thamby Rajah from Seremban traveled to Japan. His attention was to study Judo. In Japan, he trained under Harayoshi Ichijima Sensei and Mifune Kyuso Sensei, who was 10th Dan and the foremost teachers at the Kodokan.
Whilst training at the Kodokan, Thamby Rajah Sensei was introduced to Soke Gozo Shioda. As a result, Thamby Rajah Sensei combined his training of Judo with that of Yoshinkan Aikido. A year later, Thamby Rajah Sensei returned to Malaysia, having been awarded a Black belt in Judo and a Black belt in Aikido (the first Malaysian to achieve such status).
Upon returning home, Soke Gozo Shioda gave Thamby Rajah Sensei the name "Shudokan", which was to be the name of the founding dojo in Malaysia. 'Shu' meaning to study, 'Do' meaning the way and 'Kan' meaning house. On returning to Seremban, Thamby Sensei established the "Shudokan" - the place to learn the way. Thamby Rajah Sensei introduced Aikido to Malaysia for the first time. Having opened the first Aikido dojo in Malaysia and was the first Malaysian to practice Aikido hence making him the Father of Malaysian Aikido.