Aikikai

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Aikikai Foundation (財団法人合気会 Zaidan Hōjin Aikikai)
Headquarters of the Aikikai Foundation.
Also known as	Aikikai; Aikikai Honbu
Date founded	c.1940
Country of origin	Japan
Founder	Morihei Ueshiba (植芝盛平 Ueshiba Morihei, December 14, 1883–April 26, 1969)
Current head	Moriteru Ueshiba (植芝守央 Ueshiba Moriteru, born April 2, 1951)
Arts taught	Aikido
Ancestor schools	Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu • Kodokan Judo • Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū • Yagyū Shingan-ryū
Descendant schools	Ki Society • Shodokan Aikido • Yoseikan • Yoshinkan • Yoshokai
Official Site	www.aikikai.or.jp

The Aikikai Foundation (財団法人合気会, Zaidan Hōjin Aikikai^?) is the original organisation for the Japanese martial art aikido, officially recognized by the Japanese government in 1940. It is also frequently referred to as "Aikikai Honbu", or more simply, just "Aikikai". It describes itself as "the parent organization for the development and popularization of aikido throughout the world", although there are several offshoots whose arts all are named aikido. The Aikikai is often referred to as an umbrella organisation for various national and other aikido organisations. Its headquarters, the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, is located in Tokyo, Japan.

After the passing of Morihei Ueshiba, his son Kisshomaru Ueshiba took over the leadership of the organisation. The current dōshu of the Aikikai is the grandson of Morihei Ueshiba, Moriteru Ueshiba. The system of having the heir of a martial arts school be the son (either natural or adopted for the sake of succession) of the previous headmaster, was common in koryū (traditional schools) and is referred to as iemoto.

Aikikai is sometimes described as Ueshiba Aikido, and is thought by some to be the most traditional of the aikido schools. It has retained many of the aspects which Morihei Ueshiba valued in his original aikido, such as the non-competitive training system and the emphasis on flowing technique.

Aikikai is also often referred to as a "style" of aikido, although aikido within the Aikikai technically can be very different. The students of Morihei Ueshiba each had their own interpretation of his art, and in many cases other influences as well. This is reflected in the technical diversity within the organisation.