Aikido Shinryukan

Aikido Shinryukan is the national organisation established by instructor Nobuo Takase to promote Aikido throughout New Zealand.

Aikido Shinryukan provides the headquarters for New Zealand Aikikai Federation, the national body for Aikido.

Shinryukan training centres or dojos can be found throughout New Zealand, with classes for Adults and Children, accomplished martial arts practitioners and complete Beginners.

Aikido Shinryukan’s main training centre, (hombu dojo) is located in Mt Eden, Auckland. Nobuo Takase Shihan, is the Chief Instructor of Aikido Shinryukan and Technical Director for New Zealand Aikikai.

Shihan is the title given by the World Aikido Headquarters to a master instructor or “professor” of Aikido. Nobuo Takase Shihan is the only person to hold this title in New Zealand and is the senior Aikido practitioner in New Zealand.

The title Shihan was presented to him by the Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba, Grandson of the Founder of Aikido, O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba. Aikido Shinryukan is the Aikido school established by Takase Shihan to provide direction and leadership for the development of Aikido in New Zealand. The first Shinryukan dojo was established in Kitchener Street, Auckland in late 1984. From that first dojo Shinryukan now has spread throughout New Zealand to include over 20 Shinryukan dojos.

Aikido Shinryukan, acting in its capacity as the Headquarters for the New Zealand Aikikai Federation, each year Shinryukan Hombu Dojo (Headquarters) organises the National Gasshuku [national seminar] with visiting Shihan from the World Aikido Headquarters and in doing so provides a strong centre for the development of Aikido in New Zealand.

Aikido Shinryukan is committed to the promotion of the art of Aikido. It promotes excellence in Aikido instruction and training in New Zealand. Shinryukan is further committed to strengthening ties with the Aikido World Headquarters.

Takase Shihan is also the New Zealand representative of the World Aikido Headquarters Tokyo Japan.

Profile – Nobuo Takase Shihan

Born 6 February 1947 in Himeji, Japan, Takase Shihan began studying Aikido at Kogakkan University in Ise, Japan.

His early teachers were Chiba, Kanai, Ichihashi and Watanabe Shihan and O-Sensei the founder of Aikido – and other senior World Aikido Headquarters Shihan in Japan.

In 1969, at the age of 22, Takase Shihan emigrated to New Zealand with the intention of introducing the art of Aikido across the country.

Soon after he moved to New Zealand, Takase Shihan met and married his wife Barbara and they now have three adult children and live in Auckland.

In 2010 Takase Shihan celebrated his 40th year in New Zealand.