In 2025, Aiki Kai Australia will celebrate  60 years of Aikido in Australia, marking Sugano Sensei’s arrival in 1965 and the legacy he established. To honour this milestone, a year-long series of events will begin in July 2025, bringing together practitioners from across Australia and beyond.  

Celebration Highlights: 

Winter School – July 2025, Sydney
The celebration launches with Winter School, featuring Suzuki Sensei from Aikido World Headquarters. Some of our younger instructors will also be introduced at this event to inspire the next generation of Aikidoka.

Summer School – January 2026, Melbourne
This event will honour Australia’s Aikido pioneers—senior students of Sugano Sensei—and deepen our connection with Aikido’s roots in Japan and the teachings of the Founder, Morihei Ueshiba.

60th Anniversary Main Event – July 2026, Sydney
The final event will be a larger-scale gathering attended by the Doshu of Aikido World Headquarters or Waka Sensei and including other Australian organisations affiliated with Aikikai. With an expected attendance of around 200 attendees the focus will be on extraordinary training and preserving O Sensei's traditional teachings.

The national schools were always a priority with Sugano Shihan as they provided a level of training that couldn't be replicated in the dojo which is why he made them a prerequisite for dan grades. He would often say a week of national training was worth at least two years of dojo training, but it offered more than dojo training ever could. Perhaps the most pertinent aspect is being in the 'zone' for a number of days, which average dojo training times can’t match.

Please note, everyone is required to register before the event to save volunteer administration time and hassles when we should all be on the mat training!

-   COVID-19 Safety and daily RAT requirement:

It is recommended to take a COVID-19 test as close to the time of the event as possible, ideally within 1-2 days. This will help you make informed decisions about your health and prevent the spread of the infection to others. Our daily testing regime during the past three National Schools has helped us limit the spread of COVID-19. Therefore, Aiki Kai Australia requires all participants to take daily RATs to ensure a safe training environment.

Please help keep everyone safe by following all instructions below and anything requested by medical officers or event organisers during the school.

• While it would be a huge shame to miss any of the school, if you feel unwell, please stay at home/in your accommodation. Do not attend the dojo or social events if you have symptoms of any illness, even if not COVID-19 related.

• If you test positive during school, please contact Ben Lippmeier

• To enter the dojo daily, you must have a photo of a negative rat — see the RAT catchers at the door!

• Sufficient RATs will be provided at the school during check-in

-   Training Fees

We use a sliding scale for training fees based how much travel is required to attend the event.

++ Concession training fees are for AKA members only and relates to your current membership level.

Without appropriate confirmation, the full adult fee will be charged. Evidence of current full time student card or government concession card or an email from your Area Representative or senior instructor at your home dojo, can be uploaded during the registration process.

-   Draft Timetable

This timetable is only an indication of anticipated training times, these may change at the actual event, please check regularly.
This is the DRAFT timetable, and updates will continue up to and during the school. Please check here for updates.

-   Accommodation and meals

Further details will be provided soon. Cut-off date for registering for Accommodation and meals is Saturday 21st June 2025.

College rooms are provided, with shared facilities and a great common room for social evening activities. Accommodation fees include the cost per night for the room, and an option to purchase meals, based upon the fee schedule for meals as per the table below. There are no cooking facilities on site. Day attendees may book lunch meals at the venue and family and friends are invited to the Thursday night party - both need to be booked in advance by Saturday 21st June 2025.

• Accommodation is $66 per per person per night.
• Meal prices are set by the venue. We have negotiated the best price possible. The meal costs are as follows:

• Meals	Cost (per meal)
  Weekday hot breakfast	$37.82
  Weekday light lunch	$43.90
  Weekday dinner	$56.00
  Sunday breakfast	$48.10
  Sunday light lunch	$55.15

  
  
• Non live-in students can book meals - please tick your requirements on the registration form.
  
  
• Thursday Formal Dinner/Party night only: $79 per person - 2 course meal with complimentary drink on arrival.
  Venue - The Alcott, No. 1 Birdwood Avenue, Lane Cove  https://thealcott.com.au/

-   Non-Smoking Campus
St Ignatius is a NON-SMOKING campus - please do not smoke or vape on the grounds.

-   Payment options

Either complete the online registration form with payment, or tick the EFT box to advise payment will be sent via bank transfer. Online payment is made via PayPal. if you don't have a PayPal account choose the credit card payment option (turn off the request for a PP account option if it appears.).

We will be unable to accept registration for accommodation and meals after DATE.

Bank transfer details:
Aiki Kai (Aust) National Aikido Assoc Inc
BSB no. 063-550
Account no. 1039 1212. 

-   Registration desk 

The registration desk for interstate and international students will be set up on DATE and LOCATION Please advise if you anticipate arriving early or late.

The map below shows the best gates to enter St Ignatius for access to the dojo (via main gate - blue line), and the accommodation ( at Kevin Fagan house - red line).  There may be road and building works happening on campus at the time of our event. If either gate is blocked, access can be obtained through the other gate.

-   WhatsApp 

Aiki Kai Winter School 2025 - Group Chat:  

Two WhatsApp group chats have been created for the School:

Live-In Attendees. This will be most useful for live-in students to communicate any in-school ‘news’ (eg. social gatherings, lost and found, timetable updates), Registrants Living in will be added to the Group. Please contact Wayne if you wish to be added or for any changes

A separate WhatsApp group chat is available for people who may wish to try to co-ordinate ride shares from the airport - the link to this group will be on the registration form.

-   Transport to/from Riverview

Public transport from the airport to Riverview is not direct – it involves train/bus changes. The NSW Transport on-line planner is helpful for finding information: https://transportnsw.info/trip#/trip  

Some options are:

Airport train direct to Wynyard station, then a bus (or two!), and a 25-minute walk to St Ignatius.

Airport train Central, then change to train to St Leonards station, then short taxi/Uber to St Ignatius ( - this is likely better than the train/bus option)

Sydney has a convenient ‘tap’ payment system linking all modes of public transport. The system uses a local ‘Opal card’, but can be used with a standard credit card that has a ‘tap’ facility.  If your bank card shows the contactless symbol   you can use it to pay for your travel. (see: https://transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/opal/contactless-payments )  You simply ‘Tap-on’ when you start your journey, and ‘Tap-off’ at your final stop. You MUST remember to Tap-on and Tap-off, otherwise extra charges are incurred.

A taxi or Uber from the airport to Riverview is approx. $60-$90, depending on the time of day and traffic conditions.  (see: https://book.13cabs.com.au/fare-estimate)

View a Google Map of the location.

-   WS25 Commemorative long sleeve T-shirt - $29.99
Unisex sizes, medium weight material      Add to your registration form to save time at the event!

-   General enquiries

School Registrars

Ben Lippmeier  ben1@ouroborus.net
0421 381 880

Eri Atkinson   eriatkinson@live.com.au
0425 267 754

Location of main venues

PLEASE BOOK QUICKLY AS YOU CAN!
The venue is looking for an estimate
of number of people on campus
by early June.