About – Sri Lanka Aikido Association

Tracing the history of the very first Aikido training in Sri Lanka ends up in quite uncertain timelines as the art was taught by many local and international travellers who travels and settles for short periods in both Japan and Sri Lanka. Searching for the proper introduction period ends up giving us forming the story that it must be introduced in early 80s, however pointing to number of Japanese individuals who often travelled to Sri Lanka for working purposes. Number of sources points to few locals who returned from Japan and started giving classes here in small groups, as a result of learning the art in Japan during their stay.

However the progress of these classes were not quite successful as the authority for grading and continuity of sustainable leadership were always subjected to the frequent travelling agendas, resulting in groups forming and collapsing with intermittent practices, failing to claim a proper affiliation from Japan atleast for the next decade.

A sustainable foundation to form into an authoritative body was seen in mid 90s when Sensei Ajith D. Goonetilleke (then 2^nd Dan) returned from Japan. He was a 3^rd Dan holder of Kyokushin Karate, and represented Sri Lanka in Asian level competitions. He was a well renown figure and earned immense reputation in Sri Lankan Kyokushin Karate circle. By this time he had started Karate classes and slowly introduced Aikido to his students. Forming a successful group of active practitioners Sensei Ajith had a vision of forming a Sri Lankan Aikido body, with the support he could obtain from his teacher Shihan Seishiro Endo (8^th Dan).

In 2001 Shihan Tadashi Komenoi (then 4^th Dan), a Japanese who stayed in Sri Lanka almost for a decade for working purposes, (employed as country manager of Sri Lanka by a Japanese company) accidently met a group of practitioners who had been practicing Aikido. This group was formed and lead by various locals and foreigners who was teaching them Aikido time to time, during their stay in Sri Lanka. The now Sub-Chief Instructors of Sri Lanka Aikido Association, Sensei Gamini Wickramaratna(4thDan) and Sensei Nagasinghe(4^th Dan) were members of this group, and became the very first disciples of Shihan Komenoi. Being an Aikido instructor during his prequal stay at Philippines, Shihan Tadashi Komenoi, started a dojo absorbing the practitioners of this group forming ‘Sri Lanka Aikikai.’

This must be the first instance that Sri Lanka having a Japanese instructor who has the authority of grading, and most importantly who will stay for a reasonable time to form a club. As the practices were all setup and running under Shihan Komenoi, various groups practicing in different parts of the country were seeking support from Shihan, and wanted him to attend their classes. But Shihan Komenoi made it clear by inviting them to his classes, and validating the vision of creating his own entity. Several groups were absorbed into the body as a result.

Sensei Ajith, who always envisioned a harmonised journey, joined Shihan’s class with his group of practitioners, hence expanding the club and forming into an organisation, thus Sri Lanka Aikido Association (Sri Lanka Aikikai)

Shihan Tadashi Komenoi (7th Dan)
Founder and Patron - Sri Lanka Aikido Association

Shihan Tadashi Komenoi was born in 1948. He started to practice Aikido when he was 18 years old at his university Tokyo Merchant Marine’s Aikido club in Tokyo. He learned the art under Shihan Kosaku Iwakiri who was an Uchideshi (live in Student) of ‘O Sensei’.
Shihan Komenoi was the chief instructor at Makati Aikido Club from 1988 -1993 period. This was when he lived at Philippines as an expat executive for the Japanese company he was working. He paved the way with much fame and growth of Aikido in the club and overall Philippines.
When the company selected him as the country manager for Sri Lanka, he had move to Sri Lanka for working purposes. Shihan Komenoi started living here and formed the Sri Lanka Aikido Association (Sri Lanka Aikikai) in year 2001. He was living in Sri Lanka until his retirement in year 2011 completing almost a decade with Sri Lanka Aikido Association, thus being our founder and patron of the Association.
Shihan Tadashi Komenoi received Foreign Minister’s commendation awarded by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in 2011 for his outstanding contribution in promoting Aikido in Sri Lanka.