The current method of breaking the techniques into steps and the kihon dosa were developed in order to facilitate teaching beginners in a group.

The kenshusei codified many of these methods in consultation with Gozo Shioda, especially Kyoichi Inoue and Takashi Kushida.

"breath throws"), or techniques in which uke attacks and shite makes a non-mandatory, short and decisive response.

The syllabus contains a few weapons forms, although they are rarely practised outside the hombu dojo, where they are taught to senshusei students.

Besides the usual attention to distance, timing and balance, the Yoshinkan style places particularly heavy emphasis on stance and basic movements.

Yoshinkan aikido students practice these diligently to understand how to move their kamae around to put themselves in a strong position.

Under current dojo director Susumu Chino, the Yoshinkan hombu dojo, located in Shinjuku Tokyo, runs an annual 11-month intensive course called the Senshusei course, in which students from Japan and foreign nations train with the Tokyo Metropolitan Riot Police.

Then-9th dan Kyoichi Inoue, shihan, resigned from the Yoshinkan in March 2006 following an internal dispute,[9] later establishing his own branch, Aikido Shinwakan (合氣道親和館).

[10] Following Inoue-shihan's departure, Tsutomu Chida, 8th dan[11] and then-dojocho of Yoshinkan hombu dojo,[12] also broke away, establishing Aikido Renshinkai (合気道錬身会) in 2008.