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About IMAF

A proud history...

Founded in 1951 in Tokyo Japan, the Kokusai Budoin Renmei, International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF), is the oldest continuous running Budo organization in the world. IMAF is dedicated to providing access to archives of historical information and sources of traditional instruction, as well as the promotion of friendship and cooperation among leaders and enthusiasts of the Japanese martial arts. With its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, IMAF has established branches in 17 countries, with members throughout the world.  IMAF is a registered member of the UNITED NATIONS Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

IMAF Americas was established in 1985 and is authorized to maintain membership of Budoka in all of North and South America. IMAF is comprised of the following divisions: Judo, Kendo, Karatedo, Aikido, Iaido, Nihon Jujutsu and Kobudo. All BUDO enthusiasts who are in accord with the objectives of the International Martial Arts Federation are welcome to apply for Membership. IMAF-Americas Membership is recommended for professional development of Black-belts looking for continual education or dedicated Brown belts with written recommendation by their instructor.

As an international certification headquarters for the Japanese martial arts, IMAF commends meritorious, qualified and accredited  individuals by granting grades, awards and titles through validated testing and training. The Federation sponsors regular exhibitions, tournaments and publishes pertinent information in the Gendo Newsletter concerning Japanese Martial Arts. 

Among the objectives of IMAF are the expansion of interest in Japanese Martial Arts, the establishment of communication, friendship, understanding and harmony among member chapters, the development of the minds and bodies of members and the promotion of global understanding of traditional Budo and personal growth. Furthermore, we aim to reconnect "orphaned" Dojos in the Americas that have lost a direct connection to Japan and their Art.

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The following members of the IMAF-Kokusai Budoin have earned 8-10th Dan and granted the Kyoshi, Hanshi or Meijin Title since 1952:

ASAI, Hiromu                                 ISHII, Kojiro                              KONISHI, Yasuhiro                      ONUKI, Kichitaro              
ASAKAWA, Motozumi                  ISHII, Mitujiro                          KUBOTA, Takaaki                         OSHIKIRI, Asakichi
CUNMINS, Joseph                        ITO, Kazuo                                 KUROSE, Tsuyoshi                       OSHITA, Tokuji
FUJIWARA, Kenji                          ITOH, Takasue                           KUSUNOKI, Chikara                    OTA, Tsugiyoshi
                                                         ITSUKI, Yutaka                         MATSUURA, Tsuyoshi                  OTANI. Hiromichi
                                                         IVAN, Dan                                  MATSUZAKI, Iwao                          OTSUBO, Shiho
FURUHASHI, Mamoru                 IWASA, Hidetoshi                    MIFUNE, Kyuzo                             SAITO, Hirohisa
GOSHU, Jabanada                                                                            MIURA, Kunihiro                          SAKAI, Kazuo
HARA, Hisato                                KANAZAWA, Hirokazu             MIYAKE, Takaoki                           SAKAMA, Katsutoshi
HARA, Takao                                 KANEKO, Sadao                        MOUMA, Kodo                                SAKUMA, Susumu
HIGASHIKUNI, Naruhiko           KASAHARA, Kyuzo                    MUTO, Masao                                
HIGUCHI, Ikuo                              KAWABATA, Terutaka               NAKAMURA, Taizaburo                SATO, Shizuya
HIROBE, Shusuke                        KAWASHIMA, Masahai           KANAY, Kakudo                             SHIMADA, Teruko
                                                        KIKICHI, Genshichiro               NOBETSU, Tadanori                     SHINADA, Shohei
HYODO, Noriaki                           KIMURA, Tokutaro                    NOMURA, Mitsuo                          SHINDO, Masayoshi
IGARASHI, Gozo                           KITA, Ysunobu                            NUMAO, Yoshikyo                         SHIODA, Gozo
IIOKA, Hitoshi                              NUNOKATA, Kunio                        
IKEDA, Shigeo                              KOBAYASHI, Yutaka                  OCHAI, Tadao                                 SHIRATORI, Shunichi
INABA, Shozo                                                                                     OHTSUKA, Hironori                       SOEDA, Shiro
​ISHIDA, Hiroshi                           KONDO, Mitsuhiro                    OMORO, Sogen                              TAKAHASHI, Kiichiro

TAKANO, Hiromasa                    YAMAGUCHI, Gogen
TAKANO, Tomoe                          YAMAGUCHI, Katsuo
TAKAYAMA, Koken                      YAMAMURA, Shigeji
TAKENO, Takafumi                     YAMAO, Nobutaka
TANAKA, Minoru                         YAMASHITA, Keiya
TANIGUCHI, Katsuichi               YANAGISAWA, Jinnosuke
TOMITA, Takeji                             YASUI, Ken
TOMURA, Yunosuke                    TOSE, Keiji                                   
YOSHIDA, Ryosaku                     
YOSHIWARA, Soji
TOYAMA, Kunio                          
TSUCHIYA, Yoshihiko              
TSUKIDA, Kenkichi
TSUMAKI, Seirin
TSURUI, Hiroshi
TSUTSUI, Shinji
UEMOTO, Nobukazu
UESHIBA, Kishomaru
WARIGAI, Akira
WATANABE, Kiyoji
YAHAGI, Kunikazu

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DIVISIONS

​The Kokusai Budoin/International Martial Arts Federation, is comprised of seven divisions representing the various Japanese martial arts. These include Judo, Kendo, Karatedo, Aikido, Iaido, Nihon Jujutsu and Kobudo. Each division has an extensive heritage rooted in
the traditions of classical martial arts. ​
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​​Judo

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Based primarily on Tenjin Shinyo-ryu, Kito-ryu, and Yoshin-ryu styles of Jujutsu, Jigoro Kano developed a comprehensive system he called Judo. Judo emphasizes the larger educational value of training in attack and defense, so that it could be a path or way of life that all people could participate in.  Judo practice includes two major aspects of training, randori and kata. Randori, or free exercise, is practiced under conditions of actual contest. It includes nage-waza (throwing) and katame-waza (grappling) as well as osaekomi-waza (immobilizations), shime-waza (chokes), and kansetsu-waza (joint locks). Kata, which literally means "form", is a formal system of pre-arranged exercises, including, throwing, immobilization, joint locks, striking, and the use of weapons. 

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Kendo



​Kendo, the way of the sword, is a modern martial art based on ancient Kenjutsu, the art of swordsmanship. The word Kendo is made of the characters ken (sword) and do (way or path); a way of life following the practice of Kendo. ​The Samurai (traditional warrior class) of medieval Japan were required to be proficient with the yari or naginata (spear), yumi (bow), kenjutsu (arts of swordsmanship), and kumiuchi or jujutsu (unarmed combat). However, as the sword was said to be soul of the samurai, Kenjutsu was the art most central to the ancient warriors of Japan. 

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Karatedo



The word Karatedo is a combination of three Japanese characters, kara (empty), te (hand) and do (way or path). The "way of Karate" is a means of physical, spiritual and moral development based on protracted training. ​Karatedo practice has three aspects: kihon (basic training) emphasizing stances, breathing, various blocks, hand techniques and kicks; Kata (forms) is the heart of Karatedo and enables the practitioner to fully grasp the meaning of basic breathing, concentration, balance, coordination and focus; Kumite (sparring) allows practitioners to apply methods of attack and defense in a dynamic manner that enhances timing speed and control while working with a partner under controlled conditions. Through hard training, practitioners seek to foster a spirit that strives for truth, perseverance, spirit, respecting others, and refraining from violent behavior.

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Aikido
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The Japanese word Aikido consists of three characters that mean the way of spiritual harmony. Some additional insight into the soul of Aikido is revealed by the saying of unification of technique, body, and spirit, which is used to explain the meaning and objective of Aikido. 

In its early, pre-World War II years, access to Aikido instruction was very exclusive, limited to individuals with proper, personal high-level introductions to Morihei Ueshiba. It was not until the 1950’s, under the leadership of Kisshomaru Ueshiba, the founder’s son and inheritor of the leadership of Aikido, that Aikido was widely taught in Japan. 
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Iaido

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​Iaido, the way of the sword, is a martial art that began as on offshoot of Kenjutsu, arts of swordsmanship. It was developed as a defensive method to counter surprise attacks in 15th and 16th century Japan. 

The physical practice of Iaido includes drawing, parrying and cutting motions, as well as various methods of returning the sword to the scabbard. Training focuses on Kata, pre-arranged forms that are designed as defenses against an imaginary opponent, and each form teaches several principles of correct sword handling. Some Iaido styles also practice Tameshigiri, The Art of physically cutting with the sword.



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Nihon Jujitsu



Additional martial arts form one of the cultural properties of Japan. Depictions of warriors in combat utilizing the classical weapons of the sword, bow and lance, as well as un-armed measures, known collectively as Jujutsu, can be found in ancient scrolls dating from the dawn of Japanese civilization. 

Nihon Jujutsu is a modern system of self-defense and physical exercise based on techniques commonly found in ancient and contemporary styles of armed and unarmed combat. Regular training includes physical conditioning, evasive movements, striking, throwing and immobilizations (joint locks and other methods of restraint). The training employs a systematic approach to self-defense that effectively develops speed, balance and power through graduated exercises. 

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Kobudo



​Traditional Japanese martial arts are divided into modern, gendai budo, and ancient, koryu budo or kobudo. Gendai budo refers to forms that were established after the Meiji restoration (1868), an era of major modernization in Japan, while kobudo refers to systems founded prior to that period. 

Kobudo styles or ryu follow traditions developed in ancient times; utilize the classical weapons of sword, spear, bow, Naginata and minor weapons such as the kusari-gama (sickle and chain), shuriken (throwing knives), staffs of various lengths, the sai, kama, tonfa and others.  ​

IMAF-KOKUSAI BUDOIN-AMERICAS
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