ULF EVENÅS, 8th DAN, SHIHAN (Aikikai)

Australian Takemusu Aikido Renmei Inc. (ATARi), extends our heartfelt congratulations to Ulf Evenås Sensei on his recent promotion to 8th Dan in Aikido.

Ulf Evenås Sensei has been a guiding force in the global Aikido community, embodying the true spirit of Aikido with dedication, skill, and humility. His lifelong commitment to training, teaching, and preserving the legacy of Saito Morihiro Shihan has inspired countless practitioners worldwide, including many within our Australian Aikido family.

From our perspective, this promotion is a hugely deserved recognition of his exceptional contribution to the art and his role in shaping future generations of Aikidoka. We celebrate this milestone with deep respect and gratitude, knowing that his influence will continue to strengthen and enrich the practice of Aikido for years to come.

Congratulations, Sensei!

Aikido Biography of Ulf Evenås Shihan

After training Karate, Ulf Evenås started Aikido in 1968 and Iwama Takemusu Aikido in 1969. He became an uchi-deshi for the first time in Iwama, for six months, under Morihiro Saito Shihan in 1973, followed by many more visits to Iwama, and seminars.

Ulf stayed as a close and loyal student of Morihiro Saito Shihan for 29 years. Morihiro Saito Shihan awarded Ulf 6 dan, appointed him as Shihan and his personal representative in 1992, and 8th dan in 2025. Ulf also has full teacher certification (mokuroku) in ken and jo, and the authorisation to give ranks.

Ulf Evenås received the Aikikai Shihan title on January 14, 2007, and the 7 dan on January 12, 2008, by Aikikai Doshu, Moriteru Ueshiha, Evenås Shihan received the highest decoration in Swedish Sports – the Swedish Sports Confederations Merit in Gold, in 2015. He received an award from the Russian Union of Martial Arts for “high activity level, and great personal contribution in the development of the martial arts in Russia” (2016), the Swedish Budo & Martial Federations (SB&K) highest medal (2010), and the SB&K award “Traditional Martial Artist of the year” (2014). Ulf also received an award from the Romanian Government “for the development of Aikido” in 2016, and in 2017 an Honorary Diploma from Romanian Aikikai Aikido Foundation.

Ulf Evenås serves as the International Aikido Federations (IAF) representing Shihan, instructor and demonstrator in major events such as IAF's Congress and World Combat Games.

Ulf is a co-founder of Gothenburg Aikido Club, where he currently is the head instructor. He is also a member of the Swedish Aikikai Grading Committee. Ulf Evenås has been teaching close to 1000 seminars in more than 25 countries worldwide.

We are very proud to have Ulf Evenås Shihan as our Patron.