Membership in the United States Aikido Federation
We are a member of the United States Aikido Federation (USAF) and the
International Aikido Federation (IAF)
under the direct supervision of
Shihan Yoshimitsu Yamada. The USAF is a non-profit educational institution
created for the purpose of spreading and maintaining the integrity of the
Japanese martial art of Aikido, as exemplified and developed by its Founder,
Master Morihei Ueshiba, and as disseminated by the Aikikai Foundation, Aikido
Hombu Dojo, the Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. The IAF is a federation
of aikido organizations which are directly affiliated to the Aikikai Hombu in Japan.
The main aims of the USAF are to develop and
guide the practice and instruction of Aikido as established by Hombu, to
promote and develop good will, fellowship and lines of communication among its
members, to standardize gradings, to register dan (senior level) grades with Hombu, and
to establish and maintain close contact with the Shihan (master
teachers) officially dispatched as representatives by Hombu.
Registration for membership in the USAF is not required until you have taken and passed
your 5th Kyu examination. At Water Oak Aikikai we feel that being a member of the USAF is an important aspect of being
a student at WOA. Therefore, you will be registered with the USAF either at your first examination or during the annual
membership renewal period (each February), whichever occurs first.
You may take a leave of abscence from the USAF and not pay annual dues during your abscence.
However, at the time of your next promotion you will be required pay any outstanding dues. For example: Tom has been a member
of the USAF since 2001. He decides to take time off from his training to travel during 2006 & 2007. He starts back with Aikido
in May 2008. In October 2008 he passes his next examination. At this point he must pay the annual dues for 2006, 2007 and 2008
in order to bring his membership up to date.