In 1976, to unite Aikido practitioners from around the world, the International Aikido Federation (IAF) was formally established, paving the way for Aikido activities to be conducted on a truly global scale.
In 1984,
the federation became a Full Member of the General Association of International
Sports Federations (GAISF) and the International World Games Association
(IWGA). GAISF has changed its name to SportAccord.
The
International Aikido Federation (IAF) is the world federation of Aikido
organizations, which are directly affiliated to the Aikikai Hombu in Japan, the
principal organization of Aikido. It is the only worldwide federation of such
Aikido organizations. The recognition by the Aikido World Headquarters is quite
different from Membership of the IAF. At present the IAF has a rule that only
one organization from each country may be a member, while the Aikikai
Foundation recognizes any aikido organization that fulfills the conditions for
the Hombu Recognition.
The IAF
President is always the Aikido Doshu and a body called the Senior Council has
the power to monitor the decisions taken by the IAF Congress, in order to
ensure that the federation does not deviate from the way of aikido, as taught
by the Founder, Morihei Ueshiba.
Since its
foundation in 1976, the IAF has been able to fulfill several important
functions. As a member of the SportAccord, the IAF participates at the World
Combat Games. Though Aikido does not hold competitions, participation in the
World Games is an important way of making aikido better known. The IAF, also
organizes International Aikido Congresses every four years, facilitating direct
training between aikido students of different countries, sharing instruction by
the world's most senior Aikido Instructors, and also providing a channel for
official communication with the Aikido World Headquarters.
As an
internationally recognized federation, the IAF represents Aikido to the globe
and gives international recognition to Aikido, to Doshu and to the Aikido World
Headquarters-Aikikai Foundation, Tokyo.