Ilham Guliyev
5th Dan Aikido

Chairman of the Azerbaijan Aikikai Aikido Clubs Public Union. He was born on March 26, 1976 in the city of Aghdam, Republic of Azerbaijan. On June 18, 1995, he began practicing Aikido at the Sports Society of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan. From December 14, 1996 to August 31, 2001, he was a member of the Aikido Federation of Azerbaijan. On September 10, 2001 (until 2007), he began working as an Aikido instructor at the Sports Society of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan. At the same time, until October 2004, he worked at the Aikikan Martial Arts Club Limited Liability Company under the Azerbaijan Jiu-Jitsu Federation. In 2006, he founded of the Azerbaijan Aikikai Aikido Clubs Public Union. From March 2006 to December 2017, he worked as the chief instructor of the union. From December 2017 to December 2024, he was the technical director of the union.

Under the “Aikikai Aikido Clubs” Public Union, the “Aikikan” Martial Arts Club, the “Hombu Dojo Azerbaijan” Aikikai Aikido Club, the IDDO Aikido Aikikai Club, the “Freestayle Combats Sports Club” Public Union, the “Katana Aikido Sports Club” Public Union, the “Cynology Sports Club” Public Union, the “Sakura” Aikido Aikikai Club and the “Shinjutsu Aikido Sports Club” Public Union were established. The  established the Aikikai Foundation Azerbaijan Aikido Headquarters and the Aikikai Foundation Azerbaijan Aikido Branch. In addition, in 2019, the “Azerbaijan Aikikai Aikido Foundation”, the Azerbaijan Aikikai Aikido Academy, the “Aikikai Aikido Psychology” Public Union and the “Kendo & Iaido” Japanese Culture Public Union were established. In 2017, the “Aikikai Aikido Clubs” Public Union was accepted as a member by the Aikikai Foundation World Aikido Headquarters. In 2021, the “Aikikai Aikido Clubs” Public Union was accepted as a member by the International Aikido Federation and a representative office was granted to Azerbaijan.

Note: Aikido classes in Azerbaijan were first introduced by Sensei Farhad Alesgerov in the early 1990 year.