Nihon Goshin Aikido

Nihon (Japanese) Goshin (Self-Defense) Aikido was founded by Master Shodo Morita in Hokkaido, Japan. Soke (founder) Shodo Morita was a student of Sokaku Takeda and Yoshida Kotaro in Daito Ryu Aiki Jiu-Jitsu. Additionally, Master Morita trained in other methods of self-defense, such as Aikido, Karate, Judo, Kendo, Bo-Jitsu, and Jiu-Jitsu. He combined techniques from each style to form a practical, well-rounded and efficient martial art. He called it Nihon Goshin Aikido.

Shihan Richard Bowe introduced the art of Nihon Goshin Aikido to the United States. During his military career he was stationed in Hokkaido, Japan where he reviewed a variety of martial art systems and was ultimately accepted as a student of Master Shodo Morita. Upon completing his training with Master Morita, he was awarded the rank of black belt and later returned to the United States. In 1963 he established the first Nihon Goshin Aikido dojo in the United States.


In today's Nihon Goshin Aikido academy, students will find a proven, well-rounded system of self-defense that integrates techniques from Aikido, Jiu-Jitsu, Judo and Karate. At each belt level, the student will learn a set of ten self-defense techniques consisting of throws, strikes, joint-locks and grappling. The techniques are taught from a stationary position, usually a wrist grab. Once the student performs the technique proficiently, they will then be taught numerous applications to the technique from realistic "street" types of attacks. In Nihon Goshin Aikido, the students are also taught to incorporate strikes into their techniques. In addition to basic techniques, strikes and applications, defenses against knive, club, guns and multiple attacker's are practiced.