Press Release

30 / 03 / 2020

Postponement of the International Aikido Summit 2020

The International Aikido Federation (IAF) has been in close contact with the Aikikai World Headquarters monitoring the Covid-19 situation in Japan and the rest of the world in order to decide whether to host the International Aikido Summit as scheduled or not in Sep/Oct 2020. We also took into reference the situation of the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo that last week was rescheduled to a date beyond 2020, but no later than summer 2021. Furthermore, we have inquired select IAF member federations from different continents on their opinions.

Based on the above, IAF held an online Directing Committee meeting last Wednesday the 25th of March and we agreed to recommend a postponement of the International Aikido Summit to Doshu, which he consented. IAF’s decision to postpone the Summit to 2021 and beyond has been taken in close consultation with Doshu and the Aikikai.

On behalf of IAF, Aikikai will enter into negotiations with the related parties in Japan to cancel many of the facility and service arrangements that had been made. We will await the announcement of the rescheduling of the Tokyo Olympics in order to restart the future planning for our International Aikido Summit in 2021. We will keep you posted with administrative (some statute related requirements) and other information as soon as it becomes available.

Many of our IAF member dojos are closed to safeguard the health of our Aikido practitioners and the communities. We would like to recommend physical distance to safeguard our health and that of the community, but maintain online social unity (not social distance) to keep our flame of Aikido training. IAF hopes to use our website and social media to keep the connection with all of you during this difficult time. Please be safe and maintain your health and hope to see you in 2021, if not sooner.

Kei Izawa

(Chairman IAF)