Chapter 9

The role of the IAF – The World Games

If the previous posts tried to explain that the IAF was necessary to establish Aikido in countries with governments, this post will address what the IAF has become on top of that.

When the IAF was established its main goal was to create a foothold in the world of sport. Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba is said to have been the driving force behind that decision*.
Once looking for ways to do so, the IAF found that there was a new international organization, close to the IOC. This organization was organizing similar Games, which were named the World Games. The organization was named the IWGA (International World Games Association).

It turned out that this was a magic bullit. This was an organization that was new and open to new members. It accepted Aikido without great trouble. It allowed Aikido to participate in its games as a demonstration sport. National Aikido organizations could now claim recognition by an international body such as IOC, there was a reason for countries to be in the IAF, Aikido had a platform to present itself.

This happines however was short-lived. The IWGA quickly (after the second World Games Aikido participated in) made it clear that being a demonstration sport was not a permanent status. Just like in the Olympic Games, a demonstration sport is expected to participate in the next Games as a competition sport. This was asked from Aikido as well.

At that time the powers that be in the Aikido community were unified in their standpoint: Aikido does not have competition. And this was the position I was asked to represent at an IWGA meeting in Berlin in 2005. The response to this position was simple: no competition, no participation. So, as a consequence, the World Games in 2005 in Düsseldorf became the last World Games Aikido participated in. In 2006 – 2008 the IAF tried to negotiate its position with the IWGA, but they were just as flexible as the Aikido community, perhaps even more. IWGA looked for alternatives for competition. They proposed Aikido could hold gradings during the Games, these could be judged and this was considered an alternative for competition. But Aikido didn’t budge. And so Aikido was not invited to participate in the World Games in Kao Shung – Taiwan, or in the World Games in Cali – Colombia in 2013.

But, as one door closed, another door opened … (Read the next post 🙂

In the meantime, the World Games Aikido has participated in had been a relative success. In 1989 the World Games in Karlsruhe – Germany were a success because they were well organized by the German Aikikai under the leadership of Asai Sensei.
In 1993 the World Games in the Hague – Netherlands were not so successful as a whole, but compared to other sports Aikido drew larger crowds than many other competitive sports. In 1997 the World Games were successfully organized in Finland, and in 2001 the were successfully organized in Akita – Japan.

Each time the IAF and the national Aikido organization managed to organize a training seminar together with the Games. This turned out to be increasingly meaningful to the Aikido community. Large numbers of Aikidoka came from all over the world to attend these seminars.

This was such a success that the IAF started to see these seminars as a goal in itself. Since then all the IAF congresses have been accompanied by training seminars.

I believe this has been one of the things the IAF has done for its members.

* With certain regularity Hombu-representatives ask why the IAF wants to be in the world of sport. Let there be no mistake, because a Doshu asked so.