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British Aikido Board


The National Governing Body for Aikido in the United Kingdom.
Aikido is a martial art founded by Morihei Ueshiba, that focuses on harmonising with your opponent, it can be practised as a sport, self defence and an art using hand to hand and japanese weapons.

Welcome to the British Aikido Board

The British Aikido Board seeks to:-

  • Represent the majority of bona fide organisations practicing aikido in the United Kingdom.
  • Support, encourage and promote the highest standards of aikido within an environment of mutual respect for offering styles practiced.
  • Raise awareness of the value of aikido not only as a contributor towards healthy living, but also in the development of adults, young people and children, without regard to race, gender or creed.

The British Aikido Board operates primarily through its member Associations. There are 53 currently Full Member Associations with 0 Associate and Probationary Member Associations of regional and national status, who each retain their independence, both technically and financially, with a combined membership of some 5,000 , which includes 1228 instructors holding current Coaching Awards.

The Board is recognised by Sport England , as the only governing body for aikido in the United Kingdom and is a member of the Sport and Recreation Alliance.

 

The Board seeks to further the advancement of all styles of aikido and to establish and monitor standards of safety and behaviour for practitioners of aikido.

The Board advises member Associations on all relevant UK and European legislation and procedures and develops appropriate policies and codes of practice.

Other services provided include:-
•  Insurance cover, for members, instructors and Associations.
•  Promotion of a Nationally recognised Coaching Scheme in conjunction with UK Coaching / Sport England.
•  Organising a National Courses.
•  Supporting initiatives to encourage the teaching of Aikido in schools.
•  Publishing Newsletters and specialist information bulletins eg. Safeguarding and Coaching.

The Board has completed a number of initiatives, arising from the work of their major Governance Audit and through the adoption of a wide range of recommendations, contained in their Aikido Development Plan will support their key objective of encouraging all Aikido groups to join together under this “Aikido umbrella”.

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  • Entering Amazon from here before you purchase ensures the BAB is supported by Amazon.

Stephen Billett FIAP 6th Dan

BAB Webmaster, Executive Committe, Coaching Team,  Recruitment & Membership Team Member

Stephen Billett 6th Dan BAB Webmaster
Stephen Billett 6th Dan BAB Webmaster

Born in 1955, Steve found his first martial art ‘Judo’ during his 16th year. His first contest was within weeks of starting and fought against a team from a school for the blind in the British Schools Judo Open. From that day onwards he learned never to underestimate an opponent, he was lucky to win these contests.

During the mid to late 1970’s his judo lead him onward to become the ‘IBF European Champion’ several times at both 63 & 65 Kilos. Around this time he was introduced to Don Bishop 7th Dan ADS (Tomiki Aikido) and began to practice aikido, mainly for fun, but with Don’s help to also improve his contest judo by using some of the allowable aikido techniques.

He started teaching judo from the age of 18 to both adults and children, achieving some success, bringing pupils through to international level.

His aikido career ran in parallel with his judo, both in teaching and contest. His first aikido dan grade was awarded by the ‘Belgian Tomiki Aikido Association’ in 1976 (upon recommendation of Bill Woods) when he competed in a ‘Open Weight Tanto Randori’ competition that was run during the break of the ‘Belgian Judo Open’. He entered for fun and due to Don’s superior coaching won the event (He subsequently carried on to win the Judo event as well). Fifteen years later he graded to 1st Dan by his own Sensei Don Bishop (He was a hard man to please in those days).

His training in Japan illustrated that there is more to martial arts that just competition and it was this that motivated him to begin teaching aikido. Aikido has now overtaken judo as his first martial art with its requirements for skill rather than strength, being more appropriate these days…. Steve has been a Tomiki 6th Dan since 2012 and a Judo 4th Dan since the 1980’s, He also has a 1st Dan In Ju Jitsu and working towards his Wado Ryu 1st Dan at the moment after originally starting with Prof Tatsuo Suzuki 8th Dan and has been Chairman of the Aikido Development Society since 2000.

www.aikido-development-society.org

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