It started with a Vision.
Aiki Extensions (AE) was founded in 1998 by University of Chicago sociology professor, dean, and aikido instructor Don Levine.
Don’s early efforts were inspired by the work of Wendy Palmer, Philip Emminger, and others around the world who were applying the wisdom of aikido in nontraditional, “off-the-mat” settings.
AE’s initial membership included about 20 U.S. collaborators, but quickly grew to include supporters around the world. In the history of AE to date, we have had board members serve not only from the USA, but also Germany, Belgium, and the UK. Continued international development remains a primary goal.
Since the creation of AE, various hallmark events have characterized what we are about. These include:
The spectacular 2005 Training Across Borders seminar in Cyprus, which brought together 100 aikidoka from conflict regions around the world to train and to replace stereotype and fear with trust and understanding. The event was repeated in Athens in 2015.
Conferences held at various time in the USA bringing together aikido practitioners both on and off the mat no matter what their lineage
Conferences in Germany, Belgium and a series of ‘Aiki Extended’ seminars in the UK, that brought in presenters, teachers, and participants from the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Greece, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Poland, and the UK.
More recently, AE has initiated many great events online, including our Round Table seminars, on developing aiki in business, encouraging youth programs, and a seminar exploring the origins of practitioner’s passion for aikido and what it led to. In The UK, Board Member Quentin Cooke created the Burwell Online weekly sessions during the pandemic, that explored various topics related to aikido and interviewed great teachers/ practitioners of aikido and related arts.
Other great achievements have included:
The work that Don Levine carried out in Ethiopia at the Awassa Youth Campus to found the Hawassa (nee Awassa) Dojo . A program that still bears much fruit.
The introduction of International Aiki Peace Week
The creation of a seed grant program, which has supported a number of great initiatives and will continue to do so into the future.
Today, Aiki Extensions supports a growing international network of members, sponsors and provides a platform for supporters and members alike to share their passion, action and ideas and promote peace around the world