THE CANADIAN AIKIDO FEDERATION

What THE CANADIAN AIKIDO FEDERATION does

The Canadian Aikido Federation (CAF) is a federally chartered non-profit corporation established on April 25, 1997, by Industry Canada's Directorate of Incorporation. It functions as the official Canadian affiliate of the Aikikai Foundation / Aikido World Headquarters (Hombu Dojo) in Tokyo, Japan, and serves as the national governing body for traditional Aikido practice across all 13 Canadian provinces and territories. CAF operates a network of 100+ registered dojos and provides standardized martial arts instruction, Yudansha (black belt) rank promotion examinations registered through Hombu Dojo, instructor training led by senior Shihan from Japan, member insurance coverage, and centralized resources (training DVDs, test materials, member portal, dojo directory).

CAF's business model is anchored in recurring membership and registration fees. Individual practitioners pay annual membership fees beginning December 1st each year, registered dojos pay dojo registration fees, and black belt candidates pay a $50 non-refundable Dan test application fee plus variable promotion fees by Dan level. Additional revenue is generated through flagship events such as the annual CAF Summer Camp (e.g., Toronto 2026 with Hayato Osawa Shihan, 8th Dan) and provincial seminars. CAF is governed by a Board of Directors with input from provincial associations (Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia) at the annual general meeting, with technical and examination committees chaired by an 8th Dan Technical Director.

CAF operates with a lean administrative footprint: one paid role (Administrative Assistant, posted March 28, 2025) and volunteer leadership including the Secretary (Grant Babin, based in Squamish, British Columbia). The federation's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on word-of-mouth across the dojo network, the official website, social media channels (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram), and the annual Summer Camp and seminars as primary member acquisition and retention touchpoints. Key strategic signals include the 2026 Kagami-biraki promotions, the 2025 Kawahara Shihan Award to Yumi Nakamura Shihan, a 2025 panel initiative on retaining young adult practitioners, and the 2026 passing of Claude Berthiaume Shihan, a senior figure in Eastern Canadian Aikido.

Name

THE CANADIAN AIKIDO FEDERATION

Legal name

The Canadian Aikido Federation

Website

https://canadianaikidofederation.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Canadian Aikido Federation (CAF) is a federally chartered non-profit federation, established 1997, that serves as Canada's official affiliate of the Aikikai Foundation / Hombu Dojo in Tokyo. It governs 100+ registered dojos across all 13 provinces and territories, delivering membership services, Yudansha examinations, and national events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Martial Arts Federation

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAKAFAC

National Governing Bodies (NGBs)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Rights Holders & Governing Bodies (Federations, Associations, Sanctioning Bodies)

SECONDARYMPAKACAD

Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Collegiate & Amateur Sports Organizations (NCAA, Federations, Clubs)

Keywords

• Martial arts federation
• Aikido instruction
• Dojo registration
• Rank certification
• Member services

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual CAF membership fees beginning December 1st each year, charged to individual practitioners.
2. Dojo Registration Fees: Dojos wishing to register with CAF must submit an application and pay registration fees.
3. Dan Test Fees: Dan (black belt) test application fee of $50 (non-refundable) plus variable promotion fees depending on Dan level.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Canadian Aikido Federation is a non-profit national federation that organizes aikido training, dojo registration, rank promotion (Yudansha) examinations, and membership services for individual practitioners and affiliated dojos across Canada. As the official Canadian member of the Aikikai Foundation / Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan, it standardizes instruction aligned with founder Morihei Ueshiba's teachings and registers black belt promotions internationally. The federation also runs the annual CAF Summer Camp, regional seminars, and a national insurance program for member dojos.

Product overview

The Canadian Aikido Federation operates as a centralized national organization managing a network of 150+ registered Aikido dojos across all Canadian provinces and territories. The organization provides member services through a login portal, facilitates rank advancement examinations (yudansha testing) with registrations processed through Aikikai Foundation World Headquarters in Tokyo, organizes annual training events including the Summer Camp led by Hombu Dojo Shihan, and offers resources such as training DVDs and test materials. The federation is affiliated with the Aikikai Foundation and dedicated to the traditional teachings of Morihei Ueshiba (O'Sensei), founder of modern Aikido.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Individual Membership Annual individual membership in the Canadian Aikido Federation providing practitioners access to CAF resources, insurance coverage, seminars, and rank promotion registration. Membership cycle begins December 1st each year.
• Dojo Registration Official registration of aikido dojos and training schools with the Canadian Aikido Federation, granting them affiliation with Aikikai World Headquarters and access to administrative support, Yudansha promotion registration, and the national insurance program.
• Yudansha (Black Belt) Testing and Promotion Rank advancement examinations for dan (black belt) levels, administered through the CAF Examination Committee. Successful promotions are registered with Aikikai Foundation World Headquarters (Hombu Dojo) in Tokyo, Japan. Application fee is $50 CAD non-refundable, with additional variable promotion fees by Dan level.
• CAF Summer Camp Annual week-long intensive aikido training camp that gathers CAF members from across Canada for advanced instruction by senior Shihan from Hombu Dojo, Japan (e.g., 2026 Toronto edition led by Hayato Osawa Shihan, 8th Dan). Early-bird registration discounts are available.
• Training DVD Instructional training DVD product offered through the CAF Resources section for aikido technique practice by students and instructors.
• Member Dojo Insurance Program National insurance coverage provided to registered CAF dojos and their individual practitioners as part of federation membership.

Quantifiable outcome

• Yudansha promotions registered with Aikikai World Headquarters (Hombu Dojo)

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Aikikai Foundation / Aikido World Headquarters (Hombu Dojo)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 April 1997The CAF is dedicated to the teachings of Morihei Ueshiba (Founder of Aikido) and is an official member of the Aikikai Foundation, Aikido World Headquarters (Hombu Dojo) in Tokyo, Japan. Yudansha (black belt) promotions are registered with the Aikikai Foundation through the CAF office. This is the core international affiliation for the federation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Judo Canada: The national governing body for Judo in Canada, comparable in structure (membership-based, dojo/club network, national events, technical committees). Much larger scale and Olympic affiliation, but analogous operating model.
• Karate Canada: National governing body for karate in Canada. Comparable in being a membership-based martial arts federation with club registration, national championships, and provincial association structure, though larger and more competitive.
• Canadian Kendo Federation: Another Canadian national non-profit martial arts federation. While focused on kendo, it shares the same operating model as CAF: dojo registration, Dan grading, international affiliation, provincial associations, and member events.
• Aikikai Foundation (Hombu Dojo): The international parent body for Aikido based in Tokyo. CAF is a direct national member of Aikikai and registers black belt promotions through it. Operates globally with many affiliated national federations, making it the overarching incumbent.
• Canadian Taekwondo Association (Taekwondo Canada): National federation for taekwondo in Canada. Structurally analogous to CAF as a non-profit national sport governing body with member clubs, Dan certification, and international affiliation (World Taekwondo).

Direct peers

• United States Aikido Federation (USAF): Sister national Aikido federation in the U.S., sharing comparable structure (national governing body, dojo registration, Yudansha testing, summer camps). USAF was formally affiliated with senior Canadian Shihan including Claude Berthiaume, making it a close functional mirror.

Regional players

• British Aikido Board (BAB): The UK national governing body for Aikido, with very similar mandate to CAF: dojo registration, instructor certification, Yudansha testing, and insurance. Comparable in scale and structure, though operating in the UK.
• Aikido Federation of Great Britain (AFGB): Another UK-based Aikido governing body. Comparable in mission to CAF (dojo registration, national events, instructor standards), and a useful international peer for benchmarking the Canadian federation's program.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@canadianaikidofederation9632
• Facebookfacebook.com/canadianaikido
• Instagraminstagram.com/canadianaikido

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about THE CANADIAN AIKIDO FEDERATION