The Aikido Yoshokai Association of North America (AYANA) is a non-profit educational corporation established by Takashi Kushida-sensei in 1976.

Yoshokai Aikido has been developed by Kushida-sensei through years of hard training and teaching experience and through his continuous study and deep knowledge of the principles of and philosophy of Budo. Yoshokai Aikido became solidified with Kushida-sensei’s teachings of the underlying principles behind Aikido, and the importance of the relationship between Shite and Uke to study harmony.

The techniques and movements of Aikido may seem like fighting, but they are actually two people working together to create one technique. One person, Shite, who looks like the winner, studies balance and focus. The other person, Uke, studies off-balance and helps Shite study his best form.

Just as positive and negative currents are necessary for electricity, both Shite and Uke are needed to make one Aikido technique. There can be no technique without both parts. Furthermore, there cannot be one part without the other. Shite is Shite because there is Uke, and without Uke, there cannot be Shite. With the combination of balance and off-balance, two people try their best to create the most beautiful harmony through physical techniques. Each person studies to fully be Shite or Uke in order to best fit with his partner and to best fit each situation and moment.

AYANA is a non-profit educational organization that admits students of any race, color, or national or ethnic origin.