Malaysia Aikido Association (MAA) celebrated its 30th anniversary with a two‑day event bringing together over 160 practitioners from 10 countries.
Held at a hotel in Putrajaya, the meet was attended by Dojo Cho Mitsuteru Ueshiba, the great‑grandson of aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba and head of Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Japan.
Participants were from Malaysia, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, India and the US.
The practice sessions and demonstrations were led by Ueshiba and senior international instructors.
These included Ikuhiro Kubota Shihan (8th Dan) of Nara Aikikai in Japan, Tony Smibert Shihan (8th Dan) of Aiki Kai Australia as well as Low Thian Seng (6th Dan) representing MAA.
Participants experienced intensive training sessions and witnessed demonstrations led by the instructors.
Insights into the physical, spiritual and philosophical aspects of aikido were also shared.
The anniversary dinner held as part of the meet was attended by Japanese ambassador to Malaysia Shikata Noriyuki.
MAA president Tony Yap Yew Wei said, in a statement, that the event was a tribute to the dedication and unity of the aikido community in Malaysia.
“Celebrating 30 years of aikido in Malaysia is not just a reflection of our journey but a tribute to the commitment, dedication, harmony and unity that aikido has brought to our lives,” he said.
“We are also deeply honoured to have Ueshiba with other renowned instructors and so many international friends joining us in this meaningful celebration.”
Founded in the early 1990s, MAA has grown from a small community into a nationally recognised body registered under the Office of the Commissioner of Sports.
It now oversees affiliated dojos in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor, Melaka, Penang, Sabah and Labuan.
The association is also a full member of the International Aikido Federation and an associate member of the Olympic Council of Malaysia.
