HISTORY OF AIKIDO SHINJU-KAI (PART 1)

1988 - 1994: The Birth
Aikido Shinju-kai was born in 1988 with a dojo in SAFRA Tampines. This was the training ground that produced the early batch of instructors and senior students. Training then was tough and strict in bringing up potential instructors. To become an instructor, one would have to go through a trial period of two years under Philip Sensei's observation, a minumum of three training sessions per week on top of conducting junior classes. The senior members from this period who went on to become instructors were John Lim, Kelly Tan, Alice Tan and Allan Lai.

1995 - 1998: The Early Growth
This period was marked by the first visible expansion of the club as the first batch of senior students reached a certain level of maturity in Aikido. Aikido Shinju-kai's second dojo was opened at Chengsan Community Centre on the 15th of February 1995. Three more dojos were opened in the following years, including the first children class at the Pinetree Club (which was renamed The Pines in January 2003) at Stevens Road in 1996. April 1998 saw the promotion of Philip Lee Sensei to the rank of 5th dan
by the Aikido World Headquarters, Japan

1999 - 2000: The Expansion
These two years saw the opening of eight more dojos, including the landmark opening of a dojo in the Gurkha Contingent - a special unit of the Singapore Police Force and the Ministry of Environment.

Aikido Shinju-kai celebrated its 12th Anniversary in August 2000 with the club standing with 12 dojos spread all over Singapore. The guest-of-honour for the event was Yoshiaki Yokota Shihan (7th Dan) from Japan Hombu Dojo. Other guests included Hironobu Yamada Shihan (7th Dan), Ikuhiro Kubota Shihan (7th Dan) and Kenneth Cottier Shihan (6th Dan). The celebration was attended by over 350 participants from Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia.

This period proved to be a significant turning point for Aikido Shinju-kai as it went through some difficult times. Under the leadership of Philip Sensei however, it emerged from its trials leaner and stronger.

The 12th Anniversary was therefore a significant milestone that marked the beginning of the next era.

2001 - 2005
On the 19th of April 2001, Aikido Shinju-kai gave a public demonstration at the 53rd Police Sports Carnival at Yio Chu Kang Stadium. This was the largest Aikido demonstration ever held in Singapore, with over 3000 spectators including many senior officers and the Commissioner of Police, Mr Khoo Boon Hui.

The club took itself a step further in 2001 with the establishment of the first dojo within the Singapore Armed Forces: the Singapore Infantry Brigade (Guards Unit). A force of 130 soldiers, including senior officers, commenced Aikido training for the immediate application of peace keeping in East Timor and for the long term target advancement in the soldiers' combat skill and mentality. Besides the Special Police Force (Gurkha Contingent), this is another great and memorable achievement for Aikido Shinju-kai to be able to breakthrough and introduce Aikido to our National Army.

In that same year, while on one of his business trips to Shanghai, Sensei visited an Aikido dojo in Yangpu Sports Hall. One visit led to more subsequent visits and a close relationship was soon built between Aikido Shinju-kai and the Aikido group in Shanghai.

This led to the formation of a joint agreement between the two parties, under the blessing of Aikido Hombu Dojo in Japan, to further promote Aikido in China. An agreement was signed on 17th April 2002 and Aikikai Shanghai was born. The first dojo under this partnership was established in June 2002, located at Xu Jia Hui Sports Centre, known as "Xu Hui Dojo".

The first examination for kyu grades at Xu Hui Dojo was jointly conducted on 16th November 2002, which saw 26 students taking their grading for 6th to 2nd kyu. The students in Shanghai had never been formally graded before despite their long years of training prior to this grading. On 19th March 2003, the first Dan grading was also conducted by Takanori Kuribayashi Shihan (6th Dan) from Japan Hombu Dojo, where 2 students took their 1st Dan grading.

In 2002, Aikido Shinju-kai resumed its rapid growth to its current size today. From April 2002, 14 new dojos were opened within the next 12 months al over Singapore. This period was also marked by the addition of a new batch of Instructors into the organisation. We were also very fortunate to have various prominent foreign Instructors visiting Shinju-kai and taking classes at our various dojos. Some of these Shihans include Seiichi Sugano Shihan (8th Dan), Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan (8th Dan) and Yasuo Kobayashi Shihan (8th Dan).		Seiichi Sugano Shihan (8th Dan) taking class at Bishan Dojo.
Welcoming Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan (8th Dan) at the airport.		Our appreciation to Yasuo Kobayashi Shihan (8th Dan).
	Aikido Shinju-kai celebrated its 15th Anniversary on February 2003 and was very honoured to have Japan Hombu Shihan Hiroshi Tada (9th Dan) as Guest-of-honour for this event. The club was also very happy to have Takeki Tsuboi Shihan (7th Dan), Hironobu Yamada Shihan (7th Dan), Ikuhiro Kubota Shihan (7th Dan), Kenji Koyama Shihan (7th Dan), Kenneth Cottier Shihan (7th Dan), as well as many old and new friends from all over the world celebrate this memorable occasion.
	In July 2003, Aikido Shinju-kai became the first Aikido Organisation in Singapore to establish a permanent Hombu Dojo and Office as its Headquarters. It is located on Level 3 of the SPANS-JOM Clubhouse (now known as HomeTeamNS-JOM Clubhouse) at 31 Ah Hood Road, comprising an area of 400sqm with 150 Tatami training mats. Daily classes are available, including Advance Class, Mixed-Adults Class and Children Class. The Clubhouse boasts an extensive host of recreational and social amenities such as resort-style swimming pools, tennis courts, gymnasium, saunas, multi-purpose hall, alfresco-style karaoke pub, restaurant and wine bar, providing an excellent environment for Aikido Shinju-kai members to relax after their hard hour of training.

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