Japan Myanmar Aikido Association (Non-profit organization)
Japan Myanmar Aikikai
Aikido in Myanmar
overview
Aikido in Myanmar celebrated its 60th anniversary in August 2013, and a grand commemorative demonstration was held.
As of December 2015, there are over 500 Aikido practitioners in Myanmar, with more than 80 holding black belts.
The Japan-Myanmar Aikido Association supports the Myanmar Aikido Association (MAA, an Aikikai-approved organization). Every year, Shigeru Inagaki and others from Japan visit Myanmar to provide training instruction and conduct promotion examinations. Furthermore, once or twice a year, fellow Aikido practitioners from Japan visit Myanmar to deepen friendships with the local community through exchange training sessions.
Furthermore, since 1999, we have been inviting Myanmar trainees to Japan for one to two years to develop their leadership skills, and already 10 of them have returned to their home countries and are actively working as leaders there.
History
Myanmar was the first country outside of Japan to introduce Aikido. Aikido has a history of over 60 years in Myanmar.
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1953 Aritomo Murashige Shihan and Mr. Kimio Kuroishi were dispatched to the Mandalay Police Academy as cultural envoys—in place of Japanese war reparations—to instruct in Aikido. (2 years)
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1955 Establishment of the Burma Aikikai
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1958 Seigo Yamaguchi Shihan was similarly dispatched as a cultural envoy to instruct the National Defense Forces in Aikido. (until 1961)
For 26 yearsInstruction from Japan was suspended due to the country’s isolationist policy (U Thaung Din led training during this period). Due to a change in the country’s name, the organization was renamed from Burma Aikikai to Myanmar Aikikai.
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1994 Exchanges with the Aikikai Headquarters Dojo resumed with the cooperation of Mr. Yuichi Ohashi of Fujitsu.
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1996 November: A major demonstration was held at Tsuwana Stadium (featuring a demonstration by 10 members from Japan, including Shihan Hiroshi Isoyama and Shihan Shigezane Inagaki, along with 50 local members; the audience included government officials and others, totaling 8,500 people). December: U Thaung Din passed away
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1997 Shihan Shigemi Inagaki began providing training instruction three times a year. Shihan Yukimitsu Kobayashi and 15 fellow practitioners visited Myanmar to donate a dojo and hold an opening ceremony; they also conducted exchange training sessions with local Aikido practitioners (May)
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Since then, training instruction, exchange training sessions, and grading examinations have been held two to three times a year.
Yamaguchi Shihan / Murashige Shihan
U Thaung Din
Open-Air Dojo
Three training seminars/examinations per year
A brief biography of Murashige Aritoshi Shihan
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Born January 7, 1895 in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
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In 1909, he began training in judo at the Butokukai.
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In 1930 Started learning Aikido
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In 1935, I traveled to Manchuria.
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In July 1953, he began teaching Aikido at the Burma (present-day Myanmar) Police Academy. He spent two years in Mandalay. After that, he taught students at Rangoon University and others in Rangoon (present-day Yangon) until July 1959.
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In 1961, he began teaching Aikido in Belgium.
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He died in a traffic accident in 1964 in the suburbs of Lupin, Belgium.
Biography of Seigo Yamaguchi Shihan
Born April 13, 1924 in Fukuoka Prefecture.
In 1950, he became a disciple of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, and has since dedicated himself to Aikido.
From July 1958, he provided Aikido instruction to the Burmese (present-day Myanmar) Defence Force. He was dispatched by the government.
In 1961, he returned to Japan and began teaching Aikido at the headquarters dojo and in various locations throughout the country.
In addition to regular training sessions, the main dojo frequently held special training sessions for black belt holders, and sometimes even provided instruction to professional baseball teams.
Since 1977, he has taught Aikido annually in Europe (mainly in France), and continued to teach annually in France (mainly Paris), England (Oxford), and Germany (mainly Mannheim) until 1995. Notably, Aikido is a regular course at the University of Mannheim.
In January 1992, he received the Martial Arts Meritorious Service Award from the Japan Martial Arts Council.
In January 1994, he was awarded the rank of 9th dan in Aikido.
On January 24, 1996, he passed away at home due to a worsening of a chronic illness, despite having continued to provide training instruction until two days prior (aged 71).
The funeral was held by the Yamaguchi family at Taisoji Temple in Shinjuku Ward.
Biography of U Thaung Din Sensei
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Born in Yangon in 1930.
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He attended school in Darjeeling, India, where he learned boxing. After returning from India, he became a coach at the Yangon University Boxing Club.
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In 1953, I met Master Murashige at Yangon University. From then on, he studied Aikido under Murashige shihan.
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In 1955, he continued to study Aikido under Seigo Yamaguchi Shihan. He established the Burma Aikido Association at his home.
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In November 1960, he obtained the rank of 2nd Dan from the Aikikai (No. 264).
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In November 1963, he obtained the rank of 3rd Dan from the Aikikai (No. 288).
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He obtained his 4th dan rank from the Aikikai in January 1996.
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He passed away on December 5, 1996, due to kidney disease.
Introduction to dojos in Myanmar
This information is from January 2026.
We are sharing information about dojos in Myanmar. Please visit if you are going there. Please note that practice dates and times may have changed. We will confirm this through the Japan-Myanmar Aikido Association, so please contact us.
Y.I.H. Aikido Dojo
(Temporarily Closed)
Yangon International Hotel, No.330, Ahlone Road, Dangon Township, Yangon
leader;
Win Thein Aung
It is located next to the Yangon International Hotel.
The dojo master, Win, is also fluent in Japanese.
*Currently, due to the impact of the coronavirus, our dojo is closed, so we are holding training sessions at two branch dojos.
Y.I.H. Branch
(Lan Ma Taw Class)
No.27, First Floor, Shwe Taung Tan Street,
Lower Block, Lan Ma Taw Township, Yangon.
Dojo Cho: Win Thein Aung (4th Dan)
Instructor: Nyan Bhone Htin (2nd Dan),
Instructor: Arkar Paing (2nd Dan)
This is the first branch dojo of the YIH Dojo.
Practice day
Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Monday and Wednesday 3:00p.m.-4:30p.m.
Monday and Wednesday 5:00p.m.-6:30p.m.
Y.I.H. Branch
(Kamayut Class)
No.004/16, Ground Floor, Yuzana Street,
4 Ward, Kamayut Township, Yangon
Dojo Cho: Win Thein Aung (4th Dan)
Instructor: Nyan Bhone Htin (2nd Dan),
Instructor: Arkar Paing (2nd Dan)
This is the second branch dojo of the YIH Dojo.
Practice day
Saturday and Sunday, 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Millennia Aikido Dojo
No. 29, 6th Floor, Mingalar Street, Sanchaung Township, Yangon
Instructor: Nay Myo Shin
This is a dojo run by Neimyoshin, who was an apprentice at Iwama.
Practice day
Sat., Sun., Mon., Tue. 4:30pm-5:45pm
Water (Wed.) Weapon Class 9:30am-10:45am
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 9:30am-10:45am
Okkalar Aikido Dojo
No.176/1, Yin Mar Street, 14/3 Quater, South Okkalar Township, Yangon
Dojo Cho; Khine Maung Aye (4th Dan)
This is a dojo located in Ok Kala, south of Yangon.
Practice day
Sat., Sun., Mon.
8:30am-9:30am
4:30pm-6:00pm
Pyay Aikido Dojo
No.484(B) Tatlan Street, Kyaugn Gyi O Dan Quater, Pyay
This is a dojo located in the P district.
Practice day
Monday-Friday 6:00am-7:00am for Weapon
Mon.-Fri. 5:30pm-6:30pm for Taijyutsu
Kazoku Aikido Dojo
Da - 1/77-67x 68Between - 40x41 Between GantgawLan Street:Maharmyaing - MANDALAY
Instructor:
Hein Thu Ra Soe
Closed due to the effects of the earthquake (2025)
Taiyo Aikido Dojo
1st floor, Speak Takraw Building, Department of Sports/Physical Education (Kyaik Ka San), Ministry of Health/Sports, Yangon, Myanmar
Instructor:
Dojocho: Bo Bo (4th Dan)
Helper Instructor: Tun Lin Maung (2nd Dan)
Practice day
Tue. to Sun. 5:30pm-7:00pm
Closed on Mondays.
Hlaing Aikido Dojo
No.121, Sabai Chan 2 Lane, 11th Ward, Hlaing Township, Yangon
Dojo Cho : Ye Kyaw Thein (4th Dan)
Guest Senior Instructors:
Ye Kyaw Thu (3rd Dan) Ota-ku Aikikai
Aung Thu Thet (3rd Dan) / Aikido Shinju-kai Aikido Shinjukai (Singapore)
San Min (2nd Dan) / Aikido Federation (Singapore)
Assistant Instructors:
Thet Tun Kyaw (2nd Dan)
Nway Nway Phoo Eain (2nd Dan)
Practice day
Tuesday and Wednesday, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM; 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Closed on Mondays.
We also close on public holidays or due to Aikido commitments
Naga Tomo Aikido Dojo
116/4B, 46th Street, Upper Block, Botahtaung Township, Yangon
Instructor: Ko Ko Myint
Practice day
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday (Mon., Tue., Thr.,) 8:30am-10:00am
Ootori Aikido Dojo
(Hō Aikido Dojo)
No.225, 29th St. Pabedan Township, Yangon
Instructor: Myo Thiha Kyaw
Practice day
◆Regular Class:
Saturday and Sunday, 9:00am - 10:30am
Sat., Sun. 2:00pm-3:00pm
Sat., Sun. 3:30pm-5:00pm
◆Advanced Class:
Monday
Yangon Aikikai Aikido Dojo
No.16, Kyauk Myaung Street, Kyauk Myaing Gyo Ward, Termwe Township, Yangon
Instructor: Kyaw Oo Lwin
Saw Tamazar Wah
Myo Myint Thu
Practice day
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
3:30pm-4:30pm
5:00pm-6:00pm
Sat., Sun.
9:00am-11:00am