ABOUT BIRANKAI NORTH AMERICA

OUR MISSION

Birankai North America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of its members through the practice of martial ways (budo) as exemplified by Aikido, Weapons, Iaido (the study of the Japanese sword), and Zazen meditation.

For our full values, mission, and vision, click here.

BNA prides itself on its standards for teachers and members. Read the BNA Teachers Statement of Professional Ethics, here.

BLACK LIVES MATTER

Birankai North America denounces systemic racism and violence against the Black community. We stand with the communities of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and we pledge to continue to work toward a future of greater empathy and inclusion. In the words of Morihei Ueshiba, “True Budo is the loving protection of all beings with a spirit of reconciliation. This means allowing the completion of everyone’s mission.”

OUR HISTORY

Birankai North America is a part of Birankai International, an organization established by T. K. Chiba in the year 2000. Chiba Sensei had led the Western Region of the United States Aikido Federation since his arrival in the U.S.. In 2006 Birankai North America was established as a separate organization from the USAF, and many of the dojos that had been in the USAF Western Region became members of BNA. Birankai North America-U.S.A. received official recognition from the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo in May of 2009. While the majority of dojos in BNA are in the U.S., Birankai Canada is officially recognized in its own right by Aikikai Hombu Dojo, Birankai Canada dojos and members also maintain membership and participate fully in the activities of Birankai North America.

ABOUT BIRANKAI INTERNATIONAL

Birankai International, which was established in 2000, brought schools under Chiba Sensei’s aegis in Europe, Britain, and North America together under a single umbrella organization to support their training. In 2001, Chiba Sensei wrote this account of the formation of Birankai International.

Birankai International currently includes Birankai North America and Birankai Canada with dojos in the United States and Canada, Birankai Europe, with dojos in France, Austria, Germany, Poland, Greece and Israel; British Birankai, with dojos throughout Britain; and Scottish and Borders Birankai, with dojos in the northern U.K.

BENEFITS OF BIRANKAI MEMBERSHIP

• Access to high-level Aikido instructors

Birankai members have access to a wealth of highly skilled and qualified Aikido instructors, many of whom trained directly under T. K. Chiba Shihan for a number of years. Chiba Sensei’s lineage has gained a reputation throughout the larger Aikido community for its rigor, particularly in the area of weapons training. BNA dojos in general, place a high priority on physical conditioning and weapons proficiency. Many BNA dojos offer training in Iaido, Zazen, and/or Misogi, in addition to Aikido study.

All BNA instructors must meet the organization’s certification standards and are expected to demonstrate their continued progress in the art on a regular basis. Furthermore, Birankai members are welcomed, and will find familiar training, at any of the organization’s dojos, as well as at dojos affiliated with the United States Aikido Federation.

• Direct affiliation with Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Japan

• Financial Support for Opportunities for Aikido Training – Seminars and Scholarship Programs
– Learn more about our Seminar Endowment Fund and Seminar Grants Program here
– Learn more about our Scholarship Program here

• Access to training materials through our online store and published curriculum guidelines here

• An inclusive community of Aikido practitioners that welcomes people of all ages, abilities, beliefs, incomes, races, nationalities, genders, and sexual identities

HOW TO BECOME A BIRANKAI NORTH AMERICA DOJO

• For information on how to become a member dojo in Birankai North America, click here

OUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

BNA is governed by three equivalent bodies: The Senior Council, the Teachers’ Council, and the Board of Directors.
Birankai North America comprises the following structure:

Our Vision:
We desire to create a healthy, stable community which will preserve the technical and ethical principles transmitted to us by our founder, and develop clear guidelines through which the dynamic nature of his methodology and curriculum may be transmitted to future generations.

Birankai North America: We are an association of Aikido Practitioners and dojos founded by T.K. Chiba, Shihan, forged by rigorous training, tempered by mutual respect, andcommitted to the relentless pursuit of the art.

Objectives:
1.Curriculum
a. Advise and decide (SC)
b. Evaluate and develop (TC)
2.Planning(BoD/SC)
3.Organization/Management (BoD)
4.Participation (TC)
5.ResourceManagement (BoD).

Senior Council (SC):
Composition: All active BNA Shihans, Chair of the Teachers’ Council
Primary Functions: Oversee, recommend and make decisions about BNA curriculum, teaching practices and teacher certification(with the Teachers’ Council), generally support the development of teachers and conduct of seminars, oversee promotions to 4th dan and above and shidoin, advise on policies for dojo and individual membership, liaise with Hombu Dojo, establish an ethics policy.
Contacts:
Chair of Senior Council: Robert Savoca
Senior Advisor: Elizabeth Lynn
Liaison to Hombu Dojo: John Brinsley
Ethics Committee Chair: Tom Grimaldi

Teacher’s Council (TC):
Composition: All active BNA Shidoin, plus Fukushidoin Chief Instructors
Primary Functions: Evaluate, develop and teach BNA curriculum. Support and encourage teacher and member participation, elect examination committee to conduct fukushidoin tests and 1st – 3rd dan tests at Summer Camp and instructors‘ seminars, process applications for shidoin/fukushidoin certifications (Chair and Secretary), develop projects that encourage interaction between member dojos and assist dojos. Plan, conduct and support seminars.
Contacts:
Chair of Teacher’s Council: John Brinsley
TC Secretary: Terri Park
Scholarship/Grants Committee Chair: Ed Hernandez

Board of Directors (BoD):
Composition: Active BNA members with significant experience within the organization, at least one Shihan selected by the Senior Council (SC) and one Shidoin
selected by the Teachers’ Council (TC).
Primary Functions: Establish, monitor, execute and oversee administrative/operational programs and policies of BNA, including, planning, finances, resource management, and employee decisions, oversee the activities of all committees to ensure requirements for nonprofit status maintained, and provide direction to the Executive Director (currently vacant).
Voting Officers:
President: Todd Fessenden
Nathalie Daux, Deborah Fisher, David Stier (SC), Mark Sharp, Suzane Van Amburg (TC)
Non-Voting Officers:
Treasurer: Joshua Karlin
Corp. Secretary: Gerard Enriquez

Board Administrative Staff:
Executive Director: Vacant
Accounting Coorindator: Suzanne Gonzales-Webb. Manages day-to-day administrative tasks, processes applications for BNA dojo membership, oversees registration of members, tracks annual dues and reports, manages accounts and bookkeeping, updates BNA seminar schedule, facilitates general communications and monitoring of BNA activities.

Membership Coordinator: Suzanne Gonzales-Webb
Summer Camp Coordinator: Bianca Zeinali
Youth Committee Chair: Mark Sharp
Medical Director: Vacant

Dan Registrar: Scott Swank
Processes registration of Dan grades, helps maintain lists of current BNA yudansha and certified teachers

Birankai International’s Purpose:

A single organization to support the training of the students of Chiba Sensei.

Method
• Establish good communication between organizations, teachers and members.
• Strengthen the connection between continental Europe, the UK, and the US.
• Support the clear, high standards that Chiba Sensei has developed.
• Stimulate the growth of the art by providing strong support for the teacher-student relationship.

Desired Endstate: Sincere, committed, noncompetitive practice to ensure the transmission of Aikido into the future.