The Yoshinkan 'House for Cultivating the Spirit' was founded after World War Two. This style of aikido is occasionally called the hard style because the training methods are a product of the gruelling period Soke Shioda spent as a student of Ueshiba.
Yoshinkan Aikido has some 150 basic techniques which are practiced repeatedly; these enable the student to master the remaining ones, which total some 3000 overall.
The Yoshinkan style of Aikido emphasises the self-defence aspect of the art. It is more practical and gruelling than the other styles of Aikido and to an outsider may appear part of a violent Japanese tradition.
Yoshinkan Aikido is not a sport. Aikido is the development and strengthening of the body and mind, and the practical side of Aikido must never be forgotten. However, Aikido is for all, irrespective of age, sex, race or culture.
THE GORYUKAI
The founder and Head Instructor of Goryukai Yoshinkan Aikido is Malcolm Crawford Sensei 6th Dan Yoshinkan Aikido. Crawford Sensei's Dojo is based at the Goryukan Chichester. With Crawford Sensei Goryukai Yoshinkan Aikido has a direct link to the Honbu Dojo Japan (Yoshinkan headquarters).Via the International Yoshinkai Aikido Federation.
Crawford Sensei started training with the Yoshinkan in 1970 under Edd Stratton. In 1974 the Honbu Dojo sent their own instructor to England, this was the formidable Yu Sensei. Crawford Sensei trained 5 days a week and all day Sunday at the time this was expected of all Yoshinkan Aikidoka. Self Defence Training as taught to the Japanese riot police was part of the curriculum (Now only practiced in Japan on instructors courses). Over his 38 years with Yoshinkan, Crawford Sensei has trained Longer than some of the honbu Instructors but also trained with all of the senior Honbu instructors and by Kancho Sensei himself. (Gozo Shioda). Crawford Sensei has taught at many national and international seminars and was promoted to Godan by the chief technical director of the Yoshinkan Honbu Chida Sensei 8th Dan, and now has been promoted to 6th Dan by Y Shioda Kancho.