United States Aikido Federation

What United States Aikido Federation does

The United States Aikido Federation (USAF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit federation of independent aikido dojos and the oldest aikido organization in the United States, established in 1976 by Yoshimitsu Yamada, Akira Tohei, Mitsunari Kanai, and Kazuo Chiba — all direct students of aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba. It serves a federation of 80+ independent member dojos across the United States, Brazil, Ecuador, and Europe, providing standardized rank certification routed through Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Japan, instructor credentialing across the Shihan/Shidoin/Fukushidoin hierarchy, and technical direction now administered by the USAF Technical Committee following the January 2023 death of Yamada Shihan. Its core products include a Wix-based public website and member portal, the USAF Aikido Online Class Series (launched June 2020 via Zoom and Facebook Live, archived on YouTube), an annual residential Summer Camp at Dolce Seaview Hotel in Galloway, NJ (next scheduled July 27–31, 2026), Dojo-cho Video Conversations for community forums, and a Dojo Spotlight campaign that elevates member visibility.

USAF's business model is structured as a subscription-recurring non-profit: member dojos pay recurring affiliation dues for access to certification and community infrastructure; the federation generates episodic revenue from summer camp registrations (full camp, day passes, dinners, banquet); and accepts tax-deductible donations through PayPal. There are no disclosed pricing tiers, no public revenue figures, and no capital-raising activity (no funding rounds, no venture or private equity involvement). Its go-to-market is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth within the aikido community, senior instructor reputation, social media presence (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube), email newsletters, and the Dojo Spotlight visibility campaign to attract new dojos and practitioners. The platform stack is intentionally lightweight — Wix for the website, Zoom/Facebook Live for streaming, YouTube for content archive, and RegFox for event ticketing — with no public API, no proprietary software products, and no mobile application.

Name

United States Aikido Federation

Legal name

United States Aikido Federation

Website

https://usaikifed.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

United States Aikido Federation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit federation, founded in 1976 and the oldest aikido organization in the US, serving 80+ independent member dojos across the Americas and Europe with rank certification, instructor credentialing, virtual classes, and an annual summer camp.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Martial Arts Federation Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Other Schools and Instruction (6116), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Combat Sports Gyms & Dojos (MMA, Boxing, Wrestling, Martial Arts) (MPAKAJAG)

Keywords

• Aikido federation services
• Martial arts training
• Dojo affiliation membership
• Aikido rank certification
• Aikido seminars events

Headquarters

HQ city

Northampton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The federation operates as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization of independent dojos. Dojos pay membership fees to be affiliated with USAF.
2. Summer Camp Registration: Annual summer camp at Dolce Seaview Hotel, Galloway, NJ offers full camp registration, day passes, dinners, and banquet options. Children 5 and under eat free; ages 6-12 at half price.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations accepted via PayPal to support maintaining high standards of aikido training and support for instructors and members.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The United States Aikido Federation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit federation of independent aikido dojos that delivers standardized aikido training, instructor credentialing (Shihan, Shidoin, Fukushidoin), and Aikikai Hombu Dojo-backed dan rank certification. It supports member dojos through technical direction, an annual residential summer camp, virtual classes via Zoom/Facebook Live, an instructional YouTube archive, and community programming such as the Dojo-cho Video Conversations series.

Product overview

The United States Aikido Federation (USAF) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization and the oldest aikido organization in the United States, established in 1976. The Federation operates as a network of independent member dojos under the technical direction of the USAF Technical Committee. The organization's offerings include in-person training at affiliated dojos across the country and internationally, the USAF Aikido Online Class Series providing virtual instruction via Zoom and Facebook Live, annual USAF Summer Camp events with intensive training and dan testing, and the USAF Video Archives on YouTube containing recorded classes and seminars. Additional services include Dojo-cho Video Conversations (DVC) for community discussions and outreach, blog-based news and announcements, and member resources through the website. The Federation also supports its members through scholarship programs, instructor certifications (Shihan, Shidoin, Fukushidoin ranks), and dan rank promotion processing through Aikikai Hombu Dojo.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dojo Affiliation & Membership Program Federation membership program for independent aikido dojos, providing technical direction, instructor credentialing (Fukushidoin, Shidoin, Shihan ranks), and Aikikai Hombu Dojo-backed dan rank certification processing for member schools.
• USAF Aikido Online Class Series Virtual aikido instruction program for aikidoka of all levels, featuring instruction from USAF Shihan, Shidoin, Fuku-Shidoin, and international instructors from Sansuikai. Classes are delivered via Zoom and Facebook Live, alternating weekly, with adult and kids programs archived on the USAF YouTube channel.
• USAF Summer Camp Annual intensive week-long residential training event held in late July at the Dolce Seaview Hotel in Galloway, NJ, featuring instruction from USAF Technical Committee members and guest instructors, dan testing, seminars, and social activities. Registration options include full camp, day passes, dinners, and banquet tickets, with discounts for children.
• USAF Video Archives (YouTube Channel) Public YouTube archive of recorded virtual and in-person aikido classes, seminars, and instructional videos from USAF instructors, including summer camp footage and documentary content. Available for public viewing and member training reference.
• Dojo-cho Video Conversations (DVC) Virtual forum and open discussion series for USAF dojo-cho (chief instructors) and member dojos, covering operational topics such as COVID-19 management, race and bias, and instructor development conversations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 29 weekly classes at flagship dojo (New York Aikikai)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 360 Visuals, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2024Production company producing documentary 'Penny Earned: A Woman's Aikido Journey' about Penny Bernath Shihan's 50-year aikido journey. Directed by Jonathan A. Weiner of Aikido of Charlotte.
• SansuikaicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2020European organization of dojos connected to Yamada Shihan legacy. USAF virtual classes feature instructors from Sansuikai. Sansuikai maintains Yamada Shihan Legacy website to preserve his teachings.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• United States Kendo Federation: National nonprofit federation governing kendo in the US through affiliated dojos, rank certification, and national tournaments. Shares the same nonprofit federation model, member dues model, and Japanese martial arts heritage as USAF.
• USA Judo: The official US national governing body for judo, operating as a nonprofit federation with member clubs, national events, and rank certification. Comparable in federation structure and member-driven revenue model, though a different martial art.
• Aikikai Foundation (Hombu Dojo): The original Aikikai headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, which serves as the ultimate credentialing authority for aikido rank worldwide. USAF is an affiliated organization under Aikikai's umbrella, making it both parent and benchmark.
• International Aikido Federation: Global governing body for aikido federations across multiple countries. Operates at a broader geographic and organizational level than USAF but shares the same federation-based model of connecting national aikido organizations.
• USA Karate: National governing body for karate in the US with a federation model of member dojos, instructor certification, and national championships. Comparable organizational structure to USAF as a nonprofit martial arts federation.
• United States Ju-Jitsu Federation: National nonprofit federation for ju-jitsu in the US, with member dojos, rank certification, and national events. Comparable in operating model and nonprofit federation structure to USAF, though a different martial art.

Direct peers

• United States Aikido Association: A competing US national aikido federation offering rank certification, dojo affiliation, and seminars. It is the most direct head-to-head competitor to USAF for member dojos and practitioner affiliation in the United States.
• Birankai International: Another US-headquartered aikido organization operating a federation model with member dojos, seminars, and rank promotion. Comparable in structure, scale, and target audience to USAF.
• Aikido Shimbokukai: A US-based aikido organization with similar federation structure, dojo affiliation model, and seminar offerings. Direct competitor for member dojos and instructor certification in the American aikido market.

Others

• Aikido Journal: A long-running media, publishing, and seminar organization in the aikido space, founded by Stanley Pranin. Adjacent to USAF as an ecosystem participant that produces training content, articles, and events for the global aikido community.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRDeBZGGWTTjFA-dC1gSVxg
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/usaikifed

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about United States Aikido Federation