About the Alliance of International Wado-ryu (AIWa)
AI-WA - 'Mutual harmony'. The initials also stand for the '(A)lliance of (I)nternational (WA)do-ryu'. The Alliance of International Wado-ryu is an international organisation which acts as an information centre proving guidance and support to all Wado Groups in the persuit of 'Wa'
AIWa is not a National Governing Body of Karate and it is not affiliated to any other organisation. Our aim is simply to provide information about Wado, irrespective of style, to anyone who may have an interest in it.
AIWa President
Gary E Swift Saiko-Shihan
57 South Hill,
Hooe,
Devon.
PL9 9PT.
United Kingdom
Telephone: 01752 493210
Email: garyswift@wadokai.co.uk
Also find us on: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/Alliance-of-International-Wadoryu/
The History of AIWa and the AIWa Badge
The name AIWa is made up from the initials of the Alliance of International Wado-ryu - A.I.Wa. The initials are made from '(A)lliance of (I)nternational (Wa)do-ryu'.
However there are also further connotations. AI-WA also refers to 'Mutual harmony', the ‘underpinning’ foundation and principle of AIWa. The badge, also originally created by Gary E Swift (7th Dan) Kyoshi, resembles the Yin-Yang (blue for yin and the white ‘half’ dove the yang), which represents the ‘Ai’ (harmony) in AIWa, the Kanji ‘Wa’ represents peace.
The Alliance of International Wado-ryu was originally an international umbrella organisation, which was founded to unify Wado clubs and autonomous groups in order to retain and promote the 'purity' of the system. It existed as a means of providing facilities and support to those groups in affiliation to it. However, AIWa was forced to restructure when it became clear that the implications of the WKF Statute 21.9 made Wado unity an impossibility for the foreseable future. AIWa no longer has clubs in affiliation to it and now exists purely as an information centre for Wado.
By appointment to HRH Princess Linda Tomislav Karageorgevitch Nidan.