AIKIDO

Aikido is a Japanese martial art created by Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969). It is a joint locking and throwing art derived from Jujitsu and several Japanese weapons systems. In large part, the physical aspects of the system rely on circularity of movement. Allegedly, this circularity was infused into the system when the founder incorporated a Chinese system into the art. The reliance on circularity is also attributed to the circularity in Japanese weapons systems.

Ueshiba’s major students, who became the teachers of the next generation, interpreted his teachings in different ways. This led to the development of many different styles. These styles are often grouped into several broad categories of: Old Schools; Modern Schools; and Sporting Schools. In the “old schools” you will find styles like Aiki-Budo, Yoseikan, and Yoshinkan. The original masters of these schools were Ueshiba’s students mostly before the advent of WWII.   The sporting schools like the Tomiki style and the modern schools like Aikikai and Iwama-ryu coalesced afterwards. Another later and significant development in the Aikido world came with the founding of the “Ki style,” or the Shin-shin Toitsu style.

Aikido came to Kim’s Martial Arts in the 1970s. It was brought by Sensei Vihn Lee, who was forced to leave his native Vietnam in the immediate aftermath of the Vietnam War. Mr. Lee was a student of  Minoru Mochizuki, who was the founder of the Yoseikan system. (He also had the honor of being a student of  Judo’s founder Jigoro Kano.) Before Mr. Lee left the Pittsburgh area, he created a cadre of teachers. Foremost among them at the Kim’s Pittsburgh Dojo was Sensei Richard Miller.

Mr. Miller’s vision was to create a style of Aikido that was a “middle way” and that borrowed techniques from various styles of the Aikido spectrum. His vision would eventually become the style practiced in this dojo; “New Model Aikido.” Mr. Miller embraced both the Yoseikan way of self-defense and the meditative aspects and flowing movement of Shin-shin Toitsu. Eventually, he would pursue the latter style and appointed one of his principal students, Mr. Barry Kukovich, to lead the New Model School.

Mr. Kukovich continues Sensei Miller’s original vision. New Model students practice a variety of techniques from various Aikido styles and Judo. Non-Japanese joint-locking and throwing has also been incorporated into the art, foremost among them being Indonesian Pentjak Silat and Chinese Ba Gua.

Currently New Model Aikido is only offered at the Kim’s Cranberry location.