Yoshokai
The Aikido Yoshokai Association of North America - AYANA (合氣道耀尚會) was founded in 1991 by Takashi Kushida. Yoshokai Aikido is based at the Genyokan Dojo in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Yoshokai Aikido is a "hard" style of Aikido by common parlance, and very similar to Yoshinkan. Those interested in seeing examples of Yoshokai Aikido can visit the Yoshokai website. Full tenkan movements are present, but partial pivots and more conservative blending motions are perhaps more usual. Atemi is common. Yoshokai ukemi is also distinct (similar to Yoshinkan ukemi), with more slapping of the spare hand/foot, and a more forward-feeling 'high fall' (called 'jumping breakfall' or 'hiyaku ukemi') than the other sideways motions employed in different Aikido styles. A special emphasis is placed on Aikido as a form of conflict resolution and a cooperative study of making harmony between two people. Like Yoshinkan Aikido, Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu names for basic techniques are retained, e.g. "ikkajo" compared to the Aikikai nomenclature "ikkyo."
Yoshokai Aikido is organized in a rather centralized fashion relative to other styles, with technique lists and explanations distributed annually. This goes hand in hand with its emphasis on meticulous attention to detail.
Yoshokai Aikido closely links techniques, basic movements, and weapons techniques. Weapons techniques (buki-waza) are prominent in the curriculum, mostly with bokken, jo, and tanto.
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Takashi Kushida
Kushida was born on May 2, 1935. He began his study of Aikido under Gozo Shioda and lived at the Yoshinkan Dojo as a professional student (uchideshi) for many years. In 1964 he became Shihan (6th Dan or above). While at the Yoshinkan Dojo Kushida handled many of Shioda's affairs and taught many of the Yoshinkan instructors in place today. Kushida left Japan in 1973 after a request was made for an instructor in the Detroit area. In 1976 Kushida founded the Aikido Yoshinkai Association of North America (also called AYANA). In 1991, Yoshinkai Aikido in Japan established a group called the International Yoshinkai Aikido Federation (IYAF). Their representatives discussed the mission, policies, and activities of IYAF with Kushida. However, Kushida did not wish to change AYANA's standards to conform with those of the IYAF. Later that December Kushida was dismissed by Shioda. It was then that Kushida changed AYANA's name to the Aikido Yoshokai Association of North America and began to work independently from Yoshinkai Aikido. Kushida continues to teach today, assisted by his son Akira Kushida.