2024 Annual General Meeting Report
8th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Monday the 29th of April 2024
14:00-14:40 (JST)
Ryu Honbu Dojo, Urayasu, Japan
(Also via Zoom)
Speech from the Chairman of the Board, Kenji Iseda:
For All members of RWAF:
I am Kenji Iseda Chairman of the Board of RWAF.
Thank you for attending the 8th Annual General Meeting of RWAF.
I want to express the aims of RWAF again here.
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The RWAF aims to provide an organized structure and global network whereby all member dojo can better co-operate for the development of Aikido in member countries and across borders. ++++++
Last year, we have left from Yoshinkan Honbu Dojo and became the independent Dojo as “Ryu”.
Because of the separation, several Dojo left RWAF and some Dojo newly joined. But as the result, total number of the members remains almost the same.
After Covid 19, the situation came back to the normal little by little.
Last year Ando Sensei visited Brazil and Argentina,
but not so much other activity.
Global activity stays mostly inside SNS.
Now Japanese Yen is very weak unfortunately for Japanese, but for the members outside Japan, it is the best time to visit Japan.
We do hope that many members will visit Japan and experience the real Aikido (spirit and technique)
from Ando Sensei directly.
Of course we are planning also send Ando Sensei to various countries.
RWAF will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2026, and we are planning a major event for our 10th anniversary.
We would very much appreciate your positive participation for the RWAF activity towards 10th anniversary event.
We are expecting all of your support for RWAF activities this year,
Your kind understanding and cooperation will be highly appreciated.
Monday April 29th
Ryu Headquarters Dojo Urayasu, Japan
Attendance:
The meeting was attended in person by:
*President Tsuneo Ando
*Chairman of the Board Kenji Iseda
*General Secretary Stephanie Ando
*NPO Aikido Ryu Administration Staff Yosuke Akimoto
*NPO Aikido Ryu Board Member Lou Roger Bigard
Attendees Online:
*Dojo representatives and members or translation assisstance from Russia; Argentina; Azerbaijan; Kazakhstan; Chile; Colombia
Agenda
1. Formal Opening by the President: Tsuneo Ando
Speech from Chairman of the Board: Kenji Iseda
2. Resolutions:
2.1. 2023-2024 Membership; Event and Financial Report:
The Secretary presented the current dojo membership and financial report of the RWAF (please see attached dojo and financial report) :
*Total number of students and total number of dojos remains mostly unchanged.
*Dojos that quit and chose to remain with the Yoshinkan are: Germany (1); Iran (1); Brazil (1); Russia (2). Total number of 5. Some other dojos are no longer active for various reasons including COVID (The Netherlands; Canada; South Africa.) But from those dojos, the instructors switched their membership to individual membership so they are still members and hopefully will rejoin as dojos in future.
*New dojos joined from Chile; Colombia; Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic.
*Main activities from the last year were Ando Sensei visiting Brazil and Argentina and the first annual Intensive Youth Training camp in the summer which was attended by 5 students. The RWAF provided a subsidy of ¥5,000 for this. The training camp will be held in August this year and we hope students from RWAF member dojos will attend this year.
*Main expenses were shipping costs for certificates – many of the dojos tested and passed students for shodan and for their instructor licenses which we feel shows the growth of our member dojos.
*Since separating from the Yoshinkan last year we have realised the areas where we need to put more effort and energy into. This includes making sure the website is more regularly updated and contains all the information needed to support member dojos (dan recommendation forms; test syllabi etc.) We have produced and have for sale blank kyu certificates in English for dojos to issue kyu ranks. Shodan and above must be registered with NPO Aikido Ryu and are now listed on the RWAF website. We also need to communicate more strongly about events held in conjunction with the Ryu All Japan Federation. Now that COVID is over; we are hoping that more RWAF members will stay at Ryu Dojo for gasshkus and attend events such as the AGM and seminar in person.
2.2. 2024-2025 Presentation of Budget and Calendar of Upcoming Year: Secretary
2.3. In accordance with Article 4.4.1.a) of the Ryu World Aikido Federation Statutes: Motion to expel member dojos who have not yet submitted their resignation either to the Yoshinkan Honbu Dojo or the Ryu World Aikido Federation and still currently hold membership of both.
*This motion was passed by a majority of the members present.
2.4 Creation of project team to cooperate on organising 10th Anniversary of the RWAF and first Ryu World Aikido Demonstration.
*Due to time restraints, this motion was not passed but we are looking forward to hosting the First Ryu World Aikido Demonstration in 2026. There was also discussion on the Ryu All Japan Demonstration which will be hosted by the Aikido Soryu on the 4th of November 2024. Application details will be sent out in September and applications should be submitted in October for those planning to attend.
3. Status report from each dojo on current conditions regarding training at their dojos.
5. Decisions on the date and place of the next Annual Assembly.
*The next AGM will be held on Tuesday the 29th of April 2025 together with the instructors seminar and the seminar on the test syllabus techniques.
6. Closing Remarks by the President: Tsuneo Ando
D5 Creation