UAE Aikido was represented in Japan recently as senior Club members attended the International Aikido Federation (IAF) Congress. The Congress meets every 4 years and is a great opportunity to meet and train with Aikido-ka from many countries all around the Aikido world.

UAE Aikido was represented in Australia recently as senior Club members attended Aiki-kai Australia's National Aikido Summer School in Melbourne. 
Intensive Schools occur twice per year. Students "live-in" and experience full time, 'uchi-deshi' type training over a 7 day period. Whilst the daily training is physically demanding, there is always time in the evenings to socialise over dinner sharing Aikido stories and experiences.

Morihei Ueshiba (1883–1969), founder of the Japanese martial art of Aikido, is one of the greatest and most beloved martial artists in history. Remembering O-Sensei is a portrait of Ueshiba as told by his uchi-deshi, the students who lived and trained with him as his disciples. This collection of memories—gathered here for the first time—captures the essence of this extraordinary martial arts master and visionary, revealing Ueshiba's teaching style, his daily habits, his philosophy of life, the lovably human aspects of his personality, and his deep belief that Aikido could be used as a means to creating peace and harmony in the world. 

The book also provides a snapshot of a fascinating time in Japanese history when a student would apprentice with his master by essentially moving in with him and receiving instruction through rigorous training sessions, and also by serving him and observing his actions in daily life. Most of the students whose remembrances are included in this book went on to spread the teaching of Aikido throughout the world and became masters in their own right.

Taken from :  http://www.randomhouse.com.au/books/susan-perry/remembering-o-sensei-9781590300817.aspx

Louis Van Thieghem Shihan is Sugano Shihan’s most senior student in Europe and assisted him to pioneer Aikido in a number countries including; Belgium, Russia and Cameroon. Amongst the many positions he holds in Europe, he is part of the Grading Committee for the AFA Belgium in Southern Belgium and also for the VAV (the northern organization that follows Sugano Sensei's teachings). He is also part of the panel which accredits Aikido teachers for the Belgian Government (equivalent to Shidoin and Fuku- shidoin). In addition, he is the Technical Director of the Inter-regional Aikido Federation of the Crimea and Sebastopol, and Technical Director of the Yamato Aiki Kai Aikido Foundation in St Petersberg, Russia, and of the Aikicen of Cameroon.