The Federation was established in Australia, November 1978 by Sensei Takeshi Nakajima, under the authority of the late aikido master, Gesshu Sugawara Shihan 10th Dan, who was the Founder of the Japan Fuji Ryu in 1961.
Sugawara was a long-time student and colleague of O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba (the acknowledged Founder of aikido), and in establishing the Japan Fuji Ryu, Sugawara received Ueshiba's personal licence to represent aikido and to develop a structured study schedule and conduct rank examinations etc.
With the return of Nakajima Sensei to Japan in 1981, Sugawara Shihan formally appointed Sensei Tim Waters 6th Dan, to head the Fuji Ryu. Sugawara died in 1985.
The Federation is now represented by affiliated dojo (clubs) in Australia and New Zealand. It is a formally-constituted and administered international organisation, whose aims include the promotion of an interest in and study of, traditional aikido, the setting of a structured study programme and adjudication of internationally-recognised gradings.
In its overall context, Fuji-Ryu traditional Aikido is characterised by its smooth, free-flowing movements of deceptive power, control, and beauty. The techniques also display a clear logic and structural efficiency.
As an organisation, the Federation has no interest whatsoever in the politics that can sometimes pervade sports in general and martial-arts in particular. Consequently, the Federation enjoys a wonderful reputation for high technical standards and its singular interest in the promotion and study of aikido 'without strings'. We have a strong rapport with dojo throughout Australasia and our members have been invited to participate in the special sessions of other groups and vice-versa.
We think that this is what aikido is all about.