The act of birth of martial art in Italy has usually coincided with the landing at Fiumicino a teacher from the eastern sky: it happened in 1952 with judo for the master Otani and twelve years later, in 1964, aikido with the master Tada.
But if the first case rather than the birth would be more accurate to speak of decisive impetus to the development of the art, because the seeds of judo had already been thrown from ecomiabili pioneers Italians, aikido for the two events, the arrival of Tada beginning teacher dell'aikido, coincided perfectly.
Before 1964 there were few reports of this, a television documentary, which had an, sull'ideatore dell'aikido, M ° Ueshiba (or sensei), participation in a training programme required by the master Abe in France by belts Black judo school Police State of Neptune, a few sporadic individual initiative, which the sculptress Onoda, and nothing more.
Finally, in the spring of 1964, this time coming in the West and precisamene from New York, arrived in Italy a young student After name Motogake Kawamukai, who had practiced at aikido dojo held by the Italian-American pair composed by Oscar Ratti and Adele Westbrook, well known for valuable studies and publications on martial arts and sull'aikido.
For events that do not affect the reader, Kawamukai (or Charly, as was hastily called by the Americans), as a true "ronin" suddenly decided to leave New York and to fly in Italy for diffondervi the aikido.
Our young hero, who had with him a briefcase with keikogi, hakama and a piece of paper with the address of the teacher Betti, known in the national and international judoistico, landed at Fiumicino and became lead in the middle of the night immediately Piazza Cavour where homemade Betti, the Entry all'alibito landlord said in English "I want to Kawamukai and aikido in Italy.
After the initial surprise good Betti, after convenevoli of use and, perhaps influenced by telegraphic style with which the young guests expressed phoned us saying, "Want to make aikido? I have here at home who does for you. "
He began by qulla evening so far the avventuta dell'aikido in Italy: immediately began to organize courses aikido "on the sidelines" (as often happens still) those of judo at the club Monopoli Judo old company business in the heart Trastevere which were responsible, and will Kawamukai began to make the first public event often included in the intervals of judo competitions.
But it's not working too much for the good, Kawamukai, who had obtained the 2nd dan at Waseda University in Tokyo, had a feeling that with its forces alone would never have achieved the goals that unusual for his perseverance eighteen years, was determined.
At this point, with one of those resolutions that were dramatic features of our temperament, Kawamukai decided to "hand" to a more qualified him and we propose to write a letter of invitation to master Tada, trentacinquenne 6 ° dan, degree in law at Waseda usual known personality dell'hombu dojo in Tokyo.
With italic scepticism was signed the letter with which practically wanted all'ignaro far maestro:
A-coming soon in Italy;
B-to come at his own expense;
C-stay to teach aikido in a manner to be determined after his arrival.
Incredible Tada accepted the teacher, and on October 25, 1964 we went to receive a Fiumicimo, the day after the arrival began to teach, first in the SS Monopoli Judo, and subsequently also in Morirei Ueshiba, then began in the months following the public events and organization of the first stage in Italy.
It was finally the turning point, but the way dell'aikido was anything but smooth: it was not time to "sponsor" or patrons and then throughout the administrative initial moved on the shoulders of a few willing including us like to remember Paudice, Veneri, Serpieri, Granone and Cesaratto.
The structure was still teaching is organizing with the call by the M ° Tada of Masatomi Ikeda, who was in charge of Naples and southern Italy and subsequently, Yoji Fujimoto, who came to Milan, dealing with Kawamukai Northern Italy . For several years he taught in Turin also Toshio Nemoto, finally there was the arrival of Ideki Hosokawa, with a mandate to deal in central Italy.
Nevertheless difficulties continued, want to competition from other martial arts that were spreading at that time.
The Filpj went straight for its road and founded a section of aikido aggregandola an existing section of karate; what caused a small earthquake between aikidoisti, some of which led dall'imprevedibile Kawamukai trasmigrò weapons and hakama the new association .
The crisis was felt quite Aikikai but recovered quickly and the subsequent developments were all positive: in 1973 the institution was changed to "Association of Japanese traditional culture" and five years later, by decree of the President of the Republic, on the proposal of Minister for the Cultural Heritage, came the much longed-recognition of the legal personality.

(This article was translated by a machine translation software and not by one person)