International Aikido Federation

What International Aikido Federation does

The International Aikido Federation (IAF), founded in 1976 in Tokyo, is a non-profit federation of national Aikido organizations affiliated with the Aikikai Hombu Dojo — the spiritual and technical mothership of Aikido. It serves as the single internationally recognized governance body for Aikido, with 80+ member nations across all inhabited continents (up from roughly 63 in 2021 after a one-time admission of 17 new full members and 4 associate members). The Aikikai Foundation is the parent/mothership organization, and the IAF President is by tradition the Aikido Doshu (currently Moriteru Ueshiba); day-to-day governance is executed by a nine-member Directing Committee currently chaired by Yoko Okamoto, elected in 2024 as the IAF's first female Chairperson.

IAF's product surface is programmatic rather than technology-based: a four-yearly International Aikido Summit (Tokyo 2024, Tanabe 2028), recurring International Youth and Young Adults seminars (Italy 2025, Tokyo 2025, French Riviera 2026), thematic working groups (Youth, Young Adults, Gender Balance, Disability, Media, EU Funding), and regional continental platforms (European Aikido Federation, ULA-IAF for Latin America, AfriMena/Arab Aikido Federation for Africa-Middle East, Asian platform under revitalization). Supplementary programmes include the WADA-compliant Anti-Doping Programme (in force since 2008, revised with the ITA in 2020), the EU Erasmus+ SkillAi project, COVID-era online Zoom/Facebook Live trainings reaching tens of thousands of practitioners, and the annual Kagami-Biraki promotion ceremony coverage hosted via the Open Window Aikikai content syndication.

The federation's revenue mechanics rest on three streams: annual membership dues from national federations (structure set by the General Assembly, most recently revised in 2021 and not publicly itemized), transactional event and seminar registration fees (e.g., €250 youth / €160 adults for the 2026 French Riviera Youth Seminar; tiered fees for the Madrid seminar), and sporadic donations or artistic contributions from members. Distribution is non-commercial: IAF reaches end practitioners through its member national federations, continental platforms, flagship events, online channels, and earned media from Doshu/Dojo-cho visits and imperial recognitions such as the November 2025 Order of the Rising Sun awarded to Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba. The organization has remained unincorporated until a unanimous 11 September 2025 Extraordinary General Assembly resolved to begin formal incorporation.

Name

International Aikido Federation

Legal name

International Aikido Federation

Website

https://aikido-international.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The International Aikido Federation is a Tokyo-based, non-profit federation of 80+ national Aikido organizations affiliated with the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, providing internationally recognized governance, events, and continental platforms for Aikido practitioners worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Martial Arts Federation Governance

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA)

Keywords

• Martial arts federation
• Aikido governance
• International sports federation
• Member federation services
• Aikido seminars

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. National federation membership dues: Periodic membership fees paid by national member federations (80+ members). Fee structure is set by the General Assembly and revised as needed; budgeted annually and reported in financial statements (e.g., 2016, 2017, 2018, 2024 financial reports).
2. Event & seminar registration fees: Registration fees collected for the International Aikido Summit, Youth Seminars, Young Adults Seminars and similar trainings (e.g., 250€ youth / 160€ adults for the 2026 French Riviera Youth Seminar).
3. Sponsorship, donations and artistic contributions: Occasional donations and creative contributions from members (e.g., Francesco Dessì cartoon artwork donation in 2020), used to promote Aikido and fund activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The International Aikido Federation is a Tokyo-headquartered non-profit federation that regulates and promotes Aikido globally through more than 80 affiliated national member federations. Its core service offering is governance and representation, delivered via the quadrennial International Aikido Summit (General Assembly), international youth/young adults seminars, continental platforms (EAF, ULA-IAF, AfriMena), and topical working groups (Youth, Gender Balance, Disability, Media), supported by a WADA-compliant anti-doping programme and the EU-funded SkillAi youth-education project.

Product overview

The International Aikido Federation (IAF) is a federation of national Aikido organizations directly affiliated with the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Japan, offering a portfolio of programmes rather than a single unified software product. Its core offering is governance and representation for 80+ member nations, delivered through the four-yearly International Aikido Summit (formerly IAF Congress) and the General Assembly. Around this core, IAF operates a set of working groups (Youth Working Groups, Young Adults Working Group, Gender Balance Working Group, Disability Working Group, Media Working Group), regional Continental Platforms (European Aikido Federation, ULA-IAF for Latin America, AfriMena/Africa working group, and an Asian platform under revitalization), and topical programmes such as the WADA-compliant Anti-Doping Programme and the EU Erasmus+ funded SkillAi Project. International training programmes include the recurring IAF International Youth Seminars and the IAF International Young Adults Aikido Seminar (with the 2nd edition held in Tokyo, October 2025), alongside the COVID-era Online Aikido Zoom Trainings series and the annual Kagami-Biraki ceremony coverage published via the Open Window Aikikai. Complementary outputs include the Embukai national demonstration format, the #OneAikido campaign, the IAF Membership Application programme, and official governance documents (Statutes, Conflict of Interest Rules, financial reports).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• European Aikido Federation (EAF): European continental platform/federation within the IAF.
• Union Latinoamericana de Aikido (ULAIAF)
• AfriMena

Products and services

• IAF Membership Programme Quadrennial membership programme open to national Aikido organizations recognized or approved by the Aikikai Hombu Dojo; provides international sports authority recognition, eligibility to participate in IAF Summits and General Assemblies, and access to global networking. Administered via Membership Application Notes, Process and Rules documents, and the Directing Committee.
• International Aikido Summit (formerly IAF Congress) Quadrennial International Aikido Summit combining the IAF General Assembly with Aikido training, Ikigai meetings, Country Embukai, and the Gender Balance Forum. Held in Japan with national federations, the Aikikai Hombu Dojo and senior Shihan.
• IAF International Youth Seminars Recurring international seminars for young aikidoka (typically ages 12–19) conducted by Shidoin and Shihan from Aikikai Hombu Dojo and organized by IAF member federations. Recent editions priced at €250 (youth) / €160 (instructors/adults) with non-refundable deposits.
• IAF International Young Adults Aikido Seminar International seminar dedicated to aikidoka in the 18–30 age range, typically 1–3 Dan graded. Led by senior Shihan including Dojo-cho Mitsuteru Ueshiba and Suzuki Shihan, with editions in Kyoto (2023) and Tokyo (2025).
• IAF Anti-Doping Programme (WADA compliant) Federation-wide anti-doping programme aligned with the WADA World Anti-Doping Code, including the IAF Anti-Doping Policy 2022, Rules 2022, TUE process 2023, Privacy Notice 2023, Data Protection Policy 2024 and Educational Programme 2023–2024. Delivered in cooperation with the International Testing Agency (ITA).
• Online Aikido Zoom Trainings (COVID-era series) Themed online Aikido training series streamed via Zoom and Facebook Live, including the international June 2020 training series, dedicated disability-inclusive classes, weapons classes, country-specific series, and the #StaySafe IAF campaign.
• SkillAi Project (EU Erasmus+ funded) EU Erasmus+ funded Aikido-for-youth education project addressing aggression and bullying in young people (ages 11–15), initiated by the IAF EU Funding Working Group with Slovenian, Dutch and Hungarian Aikido organizations. Produces school trainings, joint seminars and a public online manual.

Quantifiable outcome

• 109,458 cumulative people reached during the 2020 Colombian Feminine Online Aikido Seminar (Facebook Live)
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship / core, core, regional core, supporting, core regulatory and flagship showcase.

• Aikikai Foundation (Aikikai Hombu Dojo)flagship / coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Aikikai Foundation is the "mothership" and parent organization for the development and popularization of Aikido throughout the world; the IAF President is always the Aikido Doshu and the IAF is advised by the Senior and Technical Council appointed by the Doshu. All member federations must be recognized or approved by the Aikikai Hombu.
• SportAccordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough its AIMS membership, IAF is part of SportAccord (post-GAISF dissolution in 2023); provides the international sports umbrella and platform for Aikido's recognition in the global sports community.
• Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport (AIMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAF is one of the founding members of AIMS, which became an Olympic-recognized organization in 2019. As an AIMS member, IAF supports United Through Sport youth initiatives and represents Aikido within the IOC ecosystem.
• International World Games Association (IWGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAF member since 1982; participates as a demonstration sport in The World Games (Birmingham 2022, Chengdu 2025). Has contributed senior Shihan for demonstrations including at TWG 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama.
• European Aikido Federation (EAF)regional coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorContinental federation aggregating IAF European members; runs the GendAi gender-equity project in partnership with Romania, Slovenia and the Netherlands; organizes continental events (e.g., 2022 Asai/Tissier seminar).
• Arab Aikido Federationregional coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorContinental federation growing out of the IAF AfriMena working group; serves as the regional aggregation point for Arab-world IAF members.
• Aikido JournalsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSpecialist media partner that has published IAF leadership interviews (e.g., "A Global Perspective on the Pandemic — Interview with Kei Izawa" in 2020); supports Aikido's international visibility.
• World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)core regulatoryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAF is WADA anti-doping code compliant; IAF's anti-doping policy and regulations are aligned with WADA rules and were revised in cooperation with the International Testing Agency (ITA) in 2020. WADA "Play True" motto guides IAF clean-sport efforts.
• Union Latinoamericana de Aikido (ULA-IAF)regional coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFounded in Colombia in 2019 at the initiative of the IAF under then-Chairman Kei Izawa; 12 member countries as of 2021. Operates ULAIAF Youth (led by José Tarrillo, Peru) and ULAIAF Gender Equity (led by Laura Copello, Argentina) working groups; coordinated by Héctor Miranda Gutiérrez.
• AfriMena Working Group (Africa / Middle East)regional coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFounding body of the Arab Aikido Federation (now in formation); will continue functioning as the IAF Africa working group with French- and English-speaking sections. Chaired by Taha NAIM; advised by Dany Leclerre Shihan; appointed member Ahmad Salih.
• SkillAi / EU Erasmus+ ProjectsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEU-funded Aikido-for-youth education project, initiated by the IAF EU Funding Working Group in partnership with Slovenian, Dutch and Hungarian Aikido organizations. Aims to introduce Aikido as a skill-development tool for young people (ages 11-15) dealing with aggression and bullying; produces a public online manual.
• World Games (multi-sport event, IWGA-organized)flagship showcaseGTM or Marketing PartnerIAF is a demonstration sport at The World Games (Birmingham, Alabama 2022; Chengdu 2025); Aikido Embukai are presented by senior Shihan including Mitsuteru Ueshiba, Patricia Hendricks and Yoshinobu Irie, with IAF member representatives.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Kendo Federation: Federation-of-federations governing Kendo, another Japanese-origin martial art with similar national-organization structure. Closely comparable to IAF as a non-Olympic Japanese martial arts federation seeking international recognition.
• USA Aikido Federation: National Aikido umbrella for the United States and one of IAF's largest individual member federations. Directly comparable as a national-level IAF member organization.
• International Judo Federation: Governs Judo internationally with the same federation-of-national-federations model anchored to Japan (Kodokan), WADA compliance and Olympic medal status. Closely comparable in mission, governance and member structure; a clear benchmark for IAF's Olympic pathway.
• All Japan Aikido Federation: National member federation representing Japan within IAF, co-located with the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. Directly comparable as a national Aikido umbrella organization operating under the IAF framework.
• World Karate Federation: International federation governing Karate with the same federation model, WADA compliance and IOC recognition (SportAccord member). Comparable to IAF in structure, scale, regulatory positioning and aspirational Olympic trajectory.
• European Aikido Federation: Continental platform aggregating IAF European member nations; runs the GendAi gender-equity project and continental events. Comparable as a regional sub-federation within the IAF architecture.
• Union Latinoamericana de Aikido: Latin American continental platform within IAF, founded 2019 with 12 member countries. Directly comparable as another regional sub-federation under the IAF umbrella.

Broad incumbents

• Aikikai Foundation: Parent 'mothership' organization of Aikido globally, based at Hombu Dojo in Tokyo; explicitly named as IAF's parent and the source of all member-federation recognition. The closest structural analog and counterparty in the IAF ecosystem.
• World Taekwondo: Olympic-recognized international martial arts federation and SportAccord/IOC peer. Comparable as a structurally similar but more commercially mature federation that IAF could benchmark against for Olympic recognition and sponsorship scale.

Others

• Aikido Journal: Long-running specialist media outlet covering Aikido globally and an IAF media partner. Adjacent ecosystem participant that shapes international perception and visibility of Aikido, with significant thematic overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AikikaiFoundation
• Xx.com/iafaikido

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Aikido Federation