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Updated January 19th, 2008

Tun Rahman

On January 3rd, 2008, Tun Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul Rahman Ya'kub turned 80 years old.  

Tun Rahman had served as the third Chief Minister of Sarawak from 1970 to 1981, before becoming Head of State from April 1981 till 1985.   

At the 80th, Hilton Hotel.
Yamada Shihan and Mrs Yamada were invited to his birthday celebration in Kuching.   It was an auspicious moment to rekindle with aikidoka in Sarawak and in sweet memories of the past 30 years in Sarawak.
In his speech delivered during his birthday party, Tun Rahman mentioned his passion in martial arts; silat and aikido.   Tun was directly involved in the starting of Aikido.   He wished that the population of Aikido practitioners will continue to grow.
He gave his blessings and encouragement to Shihan Yamada and the Akademi Aikido Jyuku.  Later, Tun rendered a Japanese sentimental song 「Aikoku no Hana」 which he learnt in the early 1940s. 

Among the 1,000 guests present were the Head of State, Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin and Toh Puan Nokiah, Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud and his wife Datuk Amar Puan Sri Dr Laila Taib, State Cabinet Ministers and beloved old faces namely Haji Deli, Tan Sri Mohd. Jamil Bin Johari.

1973, Tun Rahman's a courtesy call to Kisshomaru Doshu at Hombu Dojo, looking at O'Sensei's calligraphy.

Aikido literally translated means "way of harmony". It is a complete and unique style of self-defense founded in 1942 by O-Sensei (Founder) Morihei Ueshiba. It is non-competitive and non-combative and is essentially based on the principle of harmony and non-resistance to one's opponent.

More than just martial arts, Aikido has also been described as an art of assimilation and unification according to the way of chivalrous spiritual harmony where one's action is trained to function in perfect union and harmony with the spirit of the universe.

There are many styles of Aikido. The Aikikai Hombu Dojo style, the Yoshinkan Aikido, the Yoseikan, the Tomiki, the Ki-Society etc all originated from the teachings of O-Sensei, whose style and teachings are today inherited by the Hombu Dojo and taught around the world in affiliated Aikido Dojos including in Malaysia.


Academy Aikido Jyuku was formed in 1971 when Jun Yamada Shihan first introduced Aikido in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

The late Mr. M.K.Lee sitting in the center in the first row next to Tun Rahman Yakub, The Chief Minister of Sarawak at that time.

The first ever Aikido exhibition in Kuching in 1971.  The late Mr. M.K.Lee, a pioneer of Singapore Aikido flew in and showed strong support to young Yamada Shihan and Aikido in Malaysia.

Tun Rahman Yakub explaining the philosophy behind Aikido, where in Aikido there is no tournament. In the background, Shihan Yamada in his younger days
Shihan Jun Yamada arrived in Kuching and right after his arrival a dojo was set at
the Chief Minister's residence in November 1971. It was the first dojo of Malaysia Aikikai.

Soon after Academy Aikido Jyuku was established by J.Yamada Shihan, he was visited by Kisshomaru Doshu and a strong team of senior instructors from Hombu in a show of support - (following picture from left ) Sensei K. Miyamori, M. Fujita , Y. Odera, Doshu, H. Somemiya, S. Endo and J. Yamada.
The delegation also successfully made a first ever Aikido demonstration in Kuching, Malaysia in August 1972 with the cooperation of the state government.

Beside busy schedules of Aikido activities in Kuching, Doshu and Shihans had rare experiences of Dayak folk customs.
From L: Yamada Jun Shihan, Miyamori Sensei, Somemiya Sensei, Fujita Sensei and Mdm Kimiko at Kuching Airport (August 1972)
Helicopter arrangement made by the Sarawak Government brought Doshu Kisshomaru
and the delegation to Kuching when they missed their Malaysia-Singapore Airliner.

In June 1973, the then Chief Minister of Sarawak, Tun Rahman Yakub accompanied by the Federal Secretary, Encik Wan Sedek and J. Yamada Shihan made a courtesy call on Kisshomaru Doshu at Hombu Dojo in Wakamatsu-cho, Tokyo to thank them for their support and encouragement and for the propagation of Aikido in Malaysia.

In O-Sensei's room at Hombu, Wakamatsu-cho,Tokyo

The late Osawa Sensei and Mohd.Azami Nawawi In May 1974, in further show of support from Hombu, the late Osawa Shihan, then 56 years old accompanied by Fujita Shihan and Shibata Shihan visited Academy Aikido JyukuMalaysia  and held another successful public Aikido demonstration.  Shibata is now Shihan for Aikido in San Diego, U.S.A.

Strong relationship between Academy Aikido Jyuku and Hombu Dojo is evidenced by continued visits by senior Hombu representatives.

Moriteru Ueshiba, then Hombu Dojo-cho came to Kuching in 1989 and held public demonstration at HIKMAH Dojo.

He was accompanied by Kanazawa, a young instructor in Hombu.

The late Osawa Kisaburo Sensei made his courtesy call to Tun Rahman Yakub, The Chief Minister of Sarawak at his official redsidence, Rumah Sarawak in May 1974

Moriteru Dojo-cho(now 3rd Doshu) and 15-year-old Atsushi Suhaimi Yamada

Academy Aikido Jyuku celebrated its 30thAnniversary in commemoration of Yamada Jun Shihan's three decades of Aikido life in Malaysia.

The 30th Anniversary began with Doshu's seminar at HIKMAH Multipurpose Hall in Kuching, then at the International University Malaysia, Police Training Centre (PULAPOL) in Kuala Lumpur and Penang from 21st to 25th of September 2001.

In conjunction with the 30th Academy Aikido Jyuku Anniversary we have moved from Kuching to Kuala Lumpur.
Known as Academy Aikido Jyuku HQ Dojo that is located at Desa Sri Hartamas.

It was a longing moment for Malaysia Aikikai to relocate the HQ to Kuala Lumpur. Ueshiba Moriteru Doshu and Mrs Kyoko Ueshiba were invited as guests of honor for the Dojo Opening on September 25th, 2002

The rite then proceeded with Hounou-Embu (dedicated demonstration) by Ueshiba Doshu and Yamada Shihan.
Ueshiba Doshu conducted his demonstration with three Shidoin from Aikido World Headquarters (Hombu Dojo, Tokyo) as Uke.  They were Mr. Kanazawa, Mr. Fujimaki and Mr. Sakurai.  Yamada Shihan conducted his with son, Atsushi.

It was an honour for Yamada J. Shihan to be in Malaysia under the recognition and support from the Japanese Embassy, The Japan Foundation and Aikido World Headquarters(Hombu Dojo).

The present Honorary President of Academy Aikido Jyuku is Y.A.B Tun Dr Abdul Ghafar Baba, (former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia).


The Commander ACP. Mohd Noh bin Kandah showing his gratitude to Yamada Jun Shihan for introducing Aikido
Concentrated Aikido training at the Malaysia Royal Police in Samara, KL

Interest of The Malaysian Royal Police (PURPOL) for Aikido was tremendous and studies and searches for a suitable qualified individual as their Aikido instructor took place in the recent years.

After taking steps in their search the Malaysian Royal Police asked Yamada Jun Shihan to teach Aikido at their training centre in Kuala Lumpur.

This very first Aikido training at the Malaysian Royal Police, Police Training Centre (PULAPOL) in Kuala Lumpur was scheduled as a full day training course event which continued for a month.

The AIKIDO practice at the police-training centre (PURPOL) began in May 2002.  Participants were beginners in Aikido, nevertheless they were all experts in other martial arts.

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