The founder of the Yoshinkan style of Aikido which we practice at the Seishinkan dojo was Soke (founder) Gozo Shioda. He was one of the first generation disciples of O-Sensei (founding teacher) Ueshiba and was later officially recognised as a living national treasure (a distinctive Japanese honour). 'Yo shin kan' literally means the hall to nourish/cultivate the spirit. Shioda emphasised Shu Chu Ryoku, the concentration of power that enables the execution of techniques in the dynamic and effective way that defines this particular style. Shioda gave impressive demonstrations and his reputation grew rapidly.

Yoshinkan was the martial art selected to teach the Japanese military and Tokyo Riot Police. Shioda and his instructors were faced with the problem of having to teach Aikido to large numbers of people within a designated time. Basic movements were devised to allow students to practice the essential movements of the techniques alone, with a partner and with or without a weapon. (Since Aikido is, at its origin a martial art whose movements are derived from the use of a sword, we sometimes practice movements and attacks with  a wooden sword, staff or dagger). For the same reason - to facilitate tuition - the techniques were meticulously broken down into step-by-step movements to help absolute beginners learn basic form.

Shioda felt very strongly that Aikido is a martial art with a practical element and stressed that attacks practised in Yoshinkan Aikido should be real and not purely symbolic. Students should primarily learn physical control of their own bodies before moving on to timing, distance and freestyle techniques.

As a result of this, at Seishinkan we place great emphasis on the effective, practical, application of Aikido techniques.