Kuribayashi Takanori
7th Dan Aikido
Shihan
www.shihan.az

Aikikai Aikido Clubs Public Union is the only official aikido organization recognized by Aikikai and the International Aikido Federation in Azerbaijan, which is confirmed by relevant certificates. Our Public Union is the only legal organization that has the right to represent Azerbaijan in the international arena. Our organization is the only official organization that has the right to take exams for Kyu and Dan degrees according to the Aikikai (IAF) charter. Kyu and Dan degrees issued by us, as well as instructor licenses, give the right to represent Azerbaijan in the international world.

AIKIKAI Hombu Dojo examination  (head examiner) curator Kuribayashi Takanori Shihan.

Ilham Guliyev
5th Dan Aikido
Chief examiner
www.sensei.az

Ilham Guliyev – Chief Examiner
Senan Hasanzade – Examiner
Arzu Mikayilov – Examiner
Elnur Nematov – Examiner
Tofig Najafov – Examiner

10 clubs have been officially registered under the Union: “Aikikan” Martial Arts Club, “Emin” Aikido Club, “Hombu Dojo Azerbaijan” Aikido Aikido Club, “IDDO” Aikido Aikikai Club, “Katana Aikido Sports Club” Public Union, “Cynology” Sports Club Public Union, “Sakura” Aikido Aikikai Club, “Shinjutsu Aikido Sports Club” Public Union and Tajikistan Aikido Club. The clubs under the Union conduct examinations with an independent examination commission in accordance with the legislation and international rules. The chief examiners for the clubs are members of the Union’s chief examination commission. The examination commission is composed of Ilham Guliyev, Sanan Hasanzadeh, Arzu Mikayilov, Elnur Nematov, Tofig Najafov, Ruslan Mammadov, Rovshan Nazarov, Anar Ganjiyev, Emin Hasanov, Aygun Mirzali and Fotex Tabarov. Four people from each of the four schools are selected from the board and form the Union’s General Examination Commission. According to international standards, the chairman of the Examination Commission is the chairman of the Union.

The Examination Committee is divided into two parts. The first team is the General Examination Commission of the Union. The Commission manages the admission of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Dan degree exams. The second team consists of the examination commissions of the clubs under the Union. The General Examination Commission (or High Dan Degree Commission) is responsible for the admission of exams and compliance with the examination rules, and if new rules are adopted, preparing the staff according to the new rules. The second team carries out the admission of the Kyu and Dan exams of the clubs under the Union.

Club Aikikan

Examiner: Sanan Hasanzadeh
Assistant: Emil Yusifov
Assistant: Ramil

Emin Aikido

Examiner: Elnur Nematov
Examiner: Emin Hasanov
Assistant: Fakhri Gafarli

Hombu Dojo

Examiner: Arzu Mikayilov
Assistant: Ikram Rzayev
Assistant: Togrul Manafli

Club IDDO

Examiner: Rovshan Nazarov
Assistant: Movla Musayev
Assistant: Ariz Gulmammadov

Club Katana

Examiner: Anar Ganjiyev
Assistant: Elvin Alizade
Assistant: Turan Ibrahimli

Club Cynology

Examiner: Ilham Guliyev
Assistant: Aygun Mirzali
Assistant: Tajeddin Afandiyev

Club Sakura

Examiner: Tofig Najafov
Assistant: Nazim Karimli
Assistant: Orkhan Jafarov

Freestayl Combat

Examiner: Ruslan Mammadov
Examiner: Emil Gurbanov
Assistant: Mikhail Volkov

Club Shinjutsu

Examiner: Elnur Nematov
Assistant: Fakhri Gafarli
Assistant: Ruslan Musayev

Club Budokan

Examiner: Chingiz Mammadov
Assistant: Elnur Nematov
Assistant: Emin Hasanov

Club Misogi

Examiner: Togrul Manafli
Assistant: Hafiz Mustafa
Assistant: Natevan Khanmammedli

Tajikistan Aikido

Examiner: Fotekh Tabarov
Examiner: Dzhomakhon Abdulloev
Assistant: 

Tajikistan Aikido Club has been operating under the supervision of Sakura Aikido Aikido Club under the Public Union of Azerbaijan Aikido Aikido Clubs since January 3, 2025.

As a member of the Aikikai Foundation and the International Aikido Federation, in order to support the development of aikido in Tajikistan, we have begun organizing and developing a program for conducting Kyu and Dan exams in accordance with the rules on behalf of AIKIKAI at the Tajikistan Aikido Club. According to the program, starting from 2025 and until 2033, the Tajik team will have 2 people with the 4th Dan degree and will train other Dan degree holders, and then obtain the HRO of the Aikikai Foundation and become a member of the International Aikido Federation.

Starting from 01.12.2024, the examination admission from the 6th Kyu (6th Kyu rank to 1st Kyu rank) to the 4th Dan (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Dan) ranks is entrusted to the examination commission of the clubs under the union. In this regard, the examination commissions in the clubs of the union are certified and the examination admission is entrusted to the commission staff of the clubs. The Examination Commission must have 1 examiner and 2 assistants in the clubs. The club chief examiner must have a minimum 4th Dan rank. 1 member of the examination commission for the club must be part of the Examination Committee of the Union. The composition of the Examination Committee of the Union is formed by selecting 1 person from all clubs. The chairman and chief examiner of the Examination Commission of the Union is the chairman of the union. Only a person with a 4th Dan or higher rank can be appointed as a chief examiner for the commission for clubs. It is strictly forbidden to appoint 2nd and 3rd Dan holders as examiners! If necessary, if the club leader’s rank is at the 3rd Dan level, the club may be allowed to accept examinations up to the 6th Kyu and 2nd Dan level by appointing a 4th Dan curator.

On 01.12.2017, the first aikido player registered as an examiner for Kyu and Dan grades in Azerbaijan at the Aikikai Foundation was Ilham Guliyev, the chairman of the union’s examination committee. Starting from 2017, it was allowed to take exams for the 1st and 2nd Dan grades on behalf of Ilham Guliyev. Starting from 2020, it was allowed to take exams for the 3rd Dan grade. In addition, for the 4th Dan grade, permission was obtained from the AIKIKAI authority each time. Starting from January 5, 2025, it was allowed to take exams for the 4th Dan grade.

On 01.07.2024, according to the decision of the Chairman of the Azerbaijan Aikido Exam Committee, the Chairman of the Aikikan Martial Arts Club, Sanan Hasanzadeh, and the Chairman of the Sakura Aikido Aikikai Club, Tofig Najafov, were allowed to take exams for the 1st and 2nd Dan degrees for their club staff and have the degrees approved by the Aikikai Foundation with the status of examiner. This decision has not yet come into force at the Aikikai Foundation!

In addition, on 01.12.2024, Sanan Hasanzadeh and Tofig Najafova received permission to take exams for the 3rd and 4th Dan degrees for the staff of their clubs.

• Permission to certify 3rd Dan grades with examiner status at the Aikikai Foundation will be granted to an instructor who has obtained a 5th Dan grade and is the club leader.
• Permission to certify 4th Dan grades with examiner status at the Aikikai Foundation will be granted to an instructor who has obtained the 6th Dan grade and is the club leader.

Members of the “Aikikai Aikido Clubs” Public Union who do not pay the annual membership fee are not allowed to participate in the exam.