Aikido is a Budo (martial art) created by Morihei Ueshiba. After the Founder's passing in 1969, his son Kisshomaru Ueshiba was inaugurated as Aikido Doshu. At present, Moriteru Ueshiba, grandson of the Founder, has succeeded his father as Aikido Doshu.
The Aikikai Foundation, officially recognized by the Japanese government in 1940, was founded in order to preserve and promote the ideals of the true Aikido created by the Founder. As the Aikido World Headquarters, it is the parent organization for the development and expansion of Aikido throughout the world.

Suginami Aikikai (Aikido Club) was established in April, 1987 under the leadership of Shihan Hiroshi Kato, 8th dan, a student of the Founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba.

Kato sensei is widely admired as an Aikidoist not only in Japan but also abroad, and there are affiliated dojos in San Francisco, Danville, and Palo Alto, CA. Also, headquartered in Houston, Texas is the Shudokan Aikido Association which has 6 affiliated dojos in Houston, and other dojos in Corpus Christi, Midland, San Antonio, Victoria, Carthage, Mission, and Laredo, Texas. The Shudokan group also has 5 dojos in northern Mexico affilated as well. All these dojos are affilated with the Suginami Aikikai as branch dojos. Suginami Aikikai also has 40 affiliate dojos in Indonesia with over 60 dojos worldwide that are under Kato Shihan's guidance.

Practice at Suginami Aikikai includes training with the bokken (wooden sword) and jo (staff). The training place is Ogikubo Taiikukan at 3-47-2, Ogikubo, Suginamiku. Go east from the JR station's south entrance and you can reach it within 6-7 minutes by walking.