Katsuaki Asai
Japanese aikidoka
浅井勝昭
Katsuaki Asai (born 1942 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese aikido teacher, the founder of the Aikikai in Germany and the highest-ranked teacher in that country and teacher of aikido in Slovakia.
Asai started training under aikido's founder Morihei Ueshiba aged 13, at the Hombu dojo in Tokyo, and continued during his studies at Meiji University. He was sent to Germany by Kisshomaru Ueshiba in 1965 to teach aikido, and has lived in the country ever since. His first occupation was to teach aikido to policemen in Münster, and he now runs a school in Düsseldorf.
In the early days of German aikido, Asai clashed with the Deutscher Judobund (DJB) over whether his art should be included under their organisation. In this, he was opposed by Gerd Wischnewski, another student of Ueshiba, who was also a prominent member of the DJB. Although the DJB retained an aikido division, Asai remained independent of them and continued to operate as part of the Aikikai. He retains the German trademark on the term "Aikikai."
External links
Facts from Wikidata Q1688169 (CC0); quoted introduction from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.
Last posts
- Are Engraved Bokken Good Gifts and Can You Train With Them
- Best Wooden Naginata for Practice and How to Choose Yours
- Choosing a Keikogi for Hakama Compatibility and Performance
- What Size Hakama Should I Order for Proper Fit
- Best Aikido Hakama for Beginners Choosing Your First Pair
- Kendo Bogu Costs and Timing Your First Purchase
- Best Kendo Starter Sets for Beginners and How to Choose
- Best Sword Oil and Cloth Kits for Wooden Training Weapons
- Is Hickory a Good Wood for a Practice Sword
- Best Bokken for Tall Practitioners Choosing the Right Fit