| Our Goals | History | Organization | Examinations |
The main aim of the Federation is to develop the teaching of the Japanese martial art called Aikido in Hungary, and to help its members in high-level Aikido practice. On Aikido: Aikido is a martial art created in Japan, which aims, besides developing the individual’s self-defense ability, the realization of modern physical education and a deeper understanding of Japanese culture. Aikido quickly spread through the whole world right because its peaceful characteristics and as being available to anyone.
This Federation was founded by Hungarian Aikido practitioners who intend to continue their practice by the suggestions of Aikido Kobayashi Dojo.
A member of the Federation can be anyone who declares the acceptation of these Founding Rules and acts according to it.
Members of the Federation teach and practice Aikido according to the technical approach and teaching methods of Aikido Kobayashi Dojo.
Members of the Federation declare that they practice Aikido in its nature taught by the Founder, Morihei Ueshiba, and they avoid to confuse it with any religious or spiritual disciplines.
Members of the Federation accept that the practice at the dojos must have a co-operational, friendly atmosphere, and they feel obliged to refrain from any activity disturbing this (corporal or humiliating punishment, etc.). Leader of a dojo belonging to the Federation is allowed to warn those members who disturb the harmony of the dojo, to send them out of the dojo, or, as a final case, to exclude them, but cannot punish them in any other way.
Leader of a dojo belonging to the Federation is obliged during the trainings and other events connected to Aikido to avoid any kind of religious or political propaganda, statements that can arouse hatred, marketing or commercial activity.
Members of the Federation declare that they practice Aikido according to the teachings of the Founder, in a peaceful nature, aiming at harmony, and they avoid any use of the art which is not in accordance of this nature.
Our Federation was founded by those Hungarian Aikido-instructors, who getting in touch with Aikikai Kobayashi Dojos (Tokyo, Japan) intended to introduce its teaching methods and technical approach in Hungary.
Kobayashi Dojo’s connection to Hungary started in 1992, when Balázs Szabó, leader of Honshin Dojo got acquainted with shihan Tsuneo Tamura, an instructor of Kobayashi Dojo. After a series of letters Balázs Szabó, Csaba Juhász and László Skuczi travelled to Warsaw to meet shihan Yasuo Kobayashi, founder of Kobayashi Dojos. A month later sensei Kobayashi’s son, Hiroaki arrived in Hungary and conducted a training at Honshin Dojo.
Meanwhile a group of dojos began to assemble around Honshin Dojo, and the increasing number of our members widened our opportunities as well.
The first seminar was organized in August 1993, led by Tsuneo Tamura. In the next year, 1994 the Summer Camp was also conducted by sensei Tamura, and in September Balázs Szabó travelled to Tokyo to negotiate with shihan Kobayashi. In July 1995 shihan Tsuneo Tamura, who had been the central figure through the beginnings of the co-operation died, and his place was taken over by Hiroaki Kobayashi, who became the instructor of the 1995 Summer Camp in Sopron. In July Balázs Szabó visited Kobayashi Dojo for the second time, to continue discussions about deepening the relationship.
Our hopes came true in 1996: this year shihan Kobayashi personally arrived in Hungary for the Summer Camp and we were allowed to organize dan-examinations for the first time. In September of the same year there was a meeting of 12 Hungarian Aikido instructors, who had been working together from the beginning, and Hungarian Kobayashi Dojos’ Federation was founded.
The main aim of the Federation is to introduce and to spread the Aikido-approach and technical system represented by Kobayashi Dojo and to create an organizational structure providing background for the co-operation of the dojos. After the foundation of the Federation we got the possibility from our Japanese partner to organize a second seminar every year, so from 1997 we have an Eastern Camp as well.
See 'Programs' if you are interested in forthcoming events.
From 1999 both Training Camp includes dan-examinations, so the system of examinations crystallized, playing main role in maintainig technical level.
The highest directing level of the Federation is the Meeting of Delegates, which is held once in three years. Delegates are elected by the dojos in a way that after every 10 members 1 delegate is elected. The Meeting of Delegates has exclusive rights at fundamental decisions (uniting, dissoluting the Federation etc.) and at the election of the Board.
The Board is the organ of the Federation responsible for the management within the year. The Board contains the president, the secretary and 9 board members. The president and the secretary are the official representatives of the Federation. The Board has meetings in every 2 months - records are available to any interested member. Every decision out of the exclusive competency of the Meeting of Delegates is brought by the Board, it schedules the seminars, examinations, controlls the daily work.
Basic level of the Federation are the dojos. There are regular meeting held at every dojo, one of them yearly is dedicated to the election of local delegates. These delegates represent their dojo at the Meeting of Delegates that year.
The following Board has been elected at the General Meeting of
Hungarian Kobayashi Dojos Federation on October 27th, 2002: Szabó Balázs (president) Virga János
(secretary) Kyu-grades Transition from children to adult kyu-grades is the 8th kyu, which is defined for Japanese secondary
school students, that is, young people from 12 to
15 years in age.
Over 15 years starting grade is 7th kyu, which contains the techniques of 8th kyu as well. Examinations for children- and lower kyu-grades (8-7-6th kyu) take place at the dojo three times a year,
before the central examinations. From 5th kyu
on examinations are organized centrally, in March, July and November. Central examinations are supervised by
comitees, examiners chosen from our instructors. Dan-examinations Signs for the grades Promotion test requirements TEST REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ACTUAL YEAR:
Dan
Kyu
Our Federation organizes examinations for kyu-grades on its own, dan-examinations are supervised by
examiners from Kobayashi Dojo, Japan.
There are kyu-grades for children from 14th to 1st kyu, they enter the system according to their ages.
There are no central requirements for children-grades,
techniques for each grade are determined by dojo-leaders.
To dan-examination everybody has to apply 6 months before the date. Applications are forwarded by local dojo leaders.
Dan examinations take place in front of Kobayashi Dojo instructors during the Eastern and Summer Camps.
Signing children-grades there are various systems worked out by dojos independently, generally by the means of
stripes on the belt, colored belts and
the combination of the two. Adult grades are not signed up to 3rd kyu (white belt simply). 2nd and 1st kyu holders
wear brown belts, dan-grades wear
black belt and hakama.
Test requirements are released by Kobayashi Dojo every year on 15th January.