United Traditional Aikido

Aims

The principal aim of United Traditional Aikido (UTA) is to promote and support the teaching of traditional style Aikido in clubs.

United Traditional Aikido have applied for full membership of the British Aikido Board (BAB) and as such are fully committed to the BAB's promotion of safe and properly insured practice of Aikido through the BAB's Coaching and Insurance schemes.

We seek to encourage a spirit of camaraderie amongst our member clubs through a policy of leaving clubs to concentrate their energies on what really matters, the development of all who practice Aikido.

Within the frameworks of safe and insured practice, that all arts taught are related historically and stylistically to mainstream Aikido, a guiding principle of UTA is to encourage and promote the exchange of knowledge with a wide spectrum of Senior Aikidodas. We have had, and continue to have, close links with Senior Aikidodas such as Sensei Vince Thompson 8th Dan & Sensei Pierre Citti 7th Dan.

As an organisation, we are constantly striving to improve. With an ever increasing membership and dedicated team of Instructors our clubs continue to go from strength to strength. We are currently working with a number of schools and local authorities in providing after-school Aikido classes for children. These have proved to be very popular and have given children a chance to participate together in a fun activity, whist also giving them better self-confidence and greater respect for one another.

History

United Traditional Aikido was founded in 2006. The founding club of the UTA was Rising Sun Aikido. Rising Sun Aikido was formed by Sensei Alan Pirie (5th Dan) in Hull in the early 1960's. After Sensei Pirie passed away in 1996 Sensei Phil Benge took over the running of the club and has remains the senior instructor.