Auteur:
Michael Lévy Neuman
pays: France et Israël
An effective martial art, accessible to all.
A philosophy of life that is based on a tradition, shaped by the martial practise
An art of life and a discipline of health.
An international forum for exchange of ideas and knowledge
I.S.T.A the only space where traditional aikido is practised.
In accordance with the spirit in which Master Ueshiba's aikido was born and grew, many international teachers have united to found ISTA (International School of Traditional Aikido), an organization without managerial staff or leaders.
ISTA is the only place of exchange centred on genuine aikido where, as it has always been the case in Japan, there is no administrative authority over the teacher.
ISTA stands within a radically different current from that proposed in existing federal organizations : it follows the way shown by O Sensei without straying from it.
Aikido needs a distinct space of thought from that in which sports express themselves and ISTA provides this space.
ISTA is aimed as well at people, masters and pupils, as dojos.
It does not intend either to federate them under any authority, codification or norm whatever, or substitute itself for teachers.
ISTA is an international school.
For the purpose of clarification : EPA – European Aikido School, has been the founding stone for ISTA (International Aikido School) and is still a member of ISTA.
"One master, one dojo" : traditional concept and foundation of ISTA.
The principles of the traditional discipline have existed through time and space, and were established by the cumulation of experience and habits.
The art forms that are created in this way are transmitted from teacher to pupil.
The aikido way of living will be taught in a way that is fully adapted by the teacher to the features, skills and experience of the pupil.
This way, the transmission is adapted to the pupil concerned, takes into account the specific aspect of any pupil, looks forward to freedom and contributes to the creation of autonomous pupils.
Aikido is such an art form. The aikido master is the one who possesses the knowledge and the practice and who ensures their perpetuity. In his dojo, he is the maker : of his discipline, whose research he carries out without any possible compromise ; of his practice, which he shapes according to his experience, constitution, personality and search ; of his teaching, which he teaches his apprentices according to his own conception of aikido.
Being the master in his own dojo with no authority to be accountable to, he constantly assesses his work and issues ranks and certificates of proficiency to his students in accordance with his own judgment.
His quality and that of his students are the only testimony to his competence.
Aikido Teachers with high reputation, such as Alain Peyrache
Alain Peyrache, is an international expert, who has transmitted his educational skills and experience for over 35 years to his pupils.
His practice shows a degree of fidelity, without failure, to the the traditional dojo thoughts, he has invested himself in the essence of practising aikido…
Viewed as one of the most reknown actual experts, he is being called upon by aikidokas of numerous countries, instructing them on a very pure technique based on simplicity and efficiency.
To those who have chosen them as teacher, he is always ready to hand over his experience and knowledge, with respect to a natural pedagogic way of teaching and a generosity that is unique.
His way of teaching aikido has been recognized by numerous pupils on the international level who were instructed in his aikido school and who have become teachers in their own dojos.
Aikido really is an authentic vocation with Alain Peyrache. He is the founder of EPA and ISTA and was accompanied in his search by numerous teachers of different countries.
The advantages of ISTA
For the pupil ?
Choose to practise with an autonomous teacher who is loyal to the founding principles of aikido and to the martial japanese tradition
Acquire an efficient and adapted technique, suited to his of her personality, to the own morphology, to the own possibilities.
Exercise in a school that favours the autonomy and independence of every pupil. (The word « do » means «way of self realisation» and thus « way of autonomy»)
To participate in the daily caretaking of a traditional dojo, so that personal involvement becomes important which isn’t the case when you become member of a club.
To be able to praticse on numerous inernational aikido seminars and enjoy the benefits of the experience of different teachers who developed their personal way of practising aikido.
To become, if desired, an autonomous reacher and to benefit from all the technical, pegagogic and human support that ISTA offers.
For the teacher ?
To teach an authentic aikido without being restrained by those who want to normalise aikido on the national level with certain personal interests that are of a political nature.
To develop an autonomous dojo, with the full knowledge of his teachings
To develop his own aikido knowledge and insights, his personal practise and his personal expertise.
To be free to organize and animate national and international seminars.
To benefit from the dynamics and the support of the means of communication, promotion and exchange that ISTA develops (internet, publicity leaflets, books, tapes…)
An aikido pupil can become member of ISTA by simple registration in one of the numerous ISTA dojos of which the list can be found on the website.
An aikido teacher , as an individual, can become member of ISTA by following the same simple registration as described before, by registering in an ISTA dojo where he studies aikido being an uchi deshi – pupil in the dojo. If desired the teacher can create his own dojo, based on the principles of liberty and autonomy.
A dojo can become member of ISTA : for this the teacher-sensei can become member of ISTA (or one of its representatives, e.g. the European Aikido School (EPA) in Europe). And he will see to it that the pupils within his dojo will also become members themselves of ISTA.
The process of study of the martial discipline of aikido, whether it concerns a pupil or a teacher, is based on the fundamentals of ISTA. With respect to the principles of liberty and being autonomous, one is free to become member of ISTA or to resign as a member of ISTA.