Aikikai Honbu Dojo

Aikikai Honbu Dojo.

The Aikikai Honbu Dojo (合気会本部道場, Aikikai Honbu Dojo^?) is the headquarters of the Aikikai Foundation, an organization that brings together several national institutions of the Aikidō martial art. The dojo (martial arts training place) is located in Tokyo and was founded by Morihei Ueshiba in 1931 as a place to teach martial arts.

Originally the headquarters was called Kobukan Dōjō (皇武館道場), and it was located in the Ushigome district in the town of Shinjuku, in the city of Tokyo. The building consisted of a single story and was made of wood. After World War II (1939-1945), aikido became popular and a more modern structure was sought. In 1967 the wooden structure was demolished and the current Honbu Dojo, or headquarters was completed on December 15, and inaugurated on January 12, 1968, in the same place. The current structure has five floors and three practice rooms totaling an area of 250 tatami mats.

The dojo is directed by Moriteru Ueshiba, third Aikido doshu, there are several high grade shihan instructors, masters or sensei, and junior instructors or shidoin. There is also a small number of students who reside at the dojo as part of their intensive study program such as a boarding school or (uchi deshi).