The aura of Alain Peyrache’s teaching and of his European school have inspired a few dojos outside of Europe (in Canada, Israel…) to come together under the ISTA (International School of Traditional Aikido).

Indeed, many teachers have joined this school to teach and manage their dojos in an autonomous and independent way, far from the monopoly of federations and their methods, while benefitting from an international visibility which is also proof of their quality.

Within the EPA / ISTA, there are therefore not only Alain Peyrache’s students, but also teachers and students with different backgrounds.

Tokens of their quality: each dojo functions autonomously as long as it respects local legislation, the deontology of Aikido and the principle of autonomy within the school.

So many teachers of Aikido, so many styles. Aikido is an art; hence the importance to choose your teacher wisely. People training Aikido talk of themselves as following or having followed the teaching of such or such a Sensei.

That’s the first thing you learn in Aikido: montei, monka; the student stands on the threshold of the dojo and asks the Sensei to be allowed in…

Like in other arts (music, painting, and so on) , it is up to you to find the Aikido that suits you best.

Other traditional Asian martial disciplines are now asking to join the EPA-ISTA so as to guarantee their autonomy and their traditional methods, which is what the EPA-ISTA has been doing for over 18 years with increasing success.