Description

Portuguese aikido teacher, 5th dan Aikikai and technical director of the Associação Cultural Portuguesa de Aikido (ACPA). After judo (1969-1974), he began aikido in 1977 in Almada under Katsumi Motomura and then Toshio Kawakami of the Shiseikai association, and later followed Nobuyoshi Tamura and Seiichi Sugano as his main references. He has taught in Almada since 1985 and served as president of the Federação Portuguesa de Aikido.

Teachers (5)

• person
  Katsumi Motomura

  sports_martial_artsAikidō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Vaz states in his 2003 interview that he began aikido in 1977 under Katsumi Motomura at the Ginásio Clube do Sul in Almada, corroborated by the Aikido Marcial Dôjo Clube biography

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  (1977–1978)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Vaz states in his 2003 interview that he began aikido in 1977 under Katsumi Motomura at the Ginásio Clube do Sul in Almada, corroborated by the Aikido Marcial Dôjo Clube biography

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “iniciei o estudo do Aikido em 1977, em Almada no Ginásio Clube do Sul, com o Prof. Katsumi Motomura, o qual ensinava também em vários Clubes de Lisboa.”

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2003). Entrevista ao Professor Agostinho Vaz (Pedro Escudeiro, 2003). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistory info

  “iniciou o estudo do Aikido em 1977, em Almada no Ginásio Clube do Sul, com o Prof. Katsumi Motomura, o qual ensinava também em vários Clubes de Lisboa.”

  — Mestre Agostinho Vaz (Aikido Marcial Dôjo Clube). Aikido Marcial Dôjo Clubelink history info
• person
  Toshio Kawakami

  sports_martial_artsAikidō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Vaz states in his 2003 interview that Motomura was replaced by Toshio Kawakami of the Shiseikai association, who taught him aikido alongside Kashima Shin Ryu kenjutsu until late 1979, corroborated by the Aikido Marcial Dôjo Clube biography

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  (1978–1979)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Vaz states in his 2003 interview that Motomura was replaced by Toshio Kawakami of the Shiseikai association, who taught him aikido alongside Kashima Shin Ryu kenjutsu until late 1979, corroborated by the Aikido Marcial Dôjo Clube biography

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Em 1978, K. Motomura regressou ao Japão sendo substituído por Toshio Kawakami da mesma Associação japonesa, a "Shiseikai". Este professor tinha a particularidade de ensinar, a par do Aikido, o Kenjutsu "Kashima Shin Ryu" [...] também este prof. regressou ao Japão em finais de 1979”

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2003). Entrevista ao Professor Agostinho Vaz (Pedro Escudeiro, 2003). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistory info

  “Em 1978, K. Motomura regressou ao Japão sendo substituído por Toshio Kawakami da mesma Associação japonesa, a "Shiseikai".”

  — Mestre Agostinho Vaz (Aikido Marcial Dôjo Clube). Aikido Marcial Dôjo Clubelink history info
• 
  Tamura Nobuyoshi

  sports_martial_artsAikidō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Vaz states in his 2003 interview that he has followed the teaching of Nobuyoshi Tamura in Portugal and abroad since 1986, one of his two main references

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  (1986–2003)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Vaz states in his 2003 interview that he has followed the teaching of Nobuyoshi Tamura in Portugal and abroad since 1986, one of his two main references

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Desde 1986 que tenho seguido em Portugal e no estrangeiro o ensinamento do Mestre N. Tamura, o qual em conjunto com o Mestre S. Sugano, que nos visita regularmente desde 1996, constituem as minhas principais referencias.”

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2003). Entrevista ao Professor Agostinho Vaz (Pedro Escudeiro, 2003). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistory info

  “Desde 1986 que tem seguido em Portugal e no estrangeiro o ensinamento do Mestre N. Tamura, o qual em conjunto com o Mestre S. Sugano, que visita Portugal regularmente desde 1996, constituem as suas principais referencias.”

  — Mestre Agostinho Vaz (Aikido Marcial Dôjo Clube). Aikido Marcial Dôjo Clubelink history info
• 
  Sugano Seiichi

  sports_martial_artsAikidō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Vaz states in his 2003 interview that Seiichi Sugano has visited Portugal regularly since 1996 and, together with Tamura, constitutes one of his main references

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  (1996–2003)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Vaz states in his 2003 interview that Seiichi Sugano has visited Portugal regularly since 1996 and, together with Tamura, constitutes one of his main references

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Desde 1986 que tenho seguido em Portugal e no estrangeiro o ensinamento do Mestre N. Tamura, o qual em conjunto com o Mestre S. Sugano, que nos visita regularmente desde 1996, constituem as minhas principais referencias.”

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2003). Entrevista ao Professor Agostinho Vaz (Pedro Escudeiro, 2003). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistory info

  “o qual em conjunto com o Mestre S. Sugano, que visita Portugal regularmente desde 1996, constituem as suas principais referencias.”

  — Mestre Agostinho Vaz (Aikido Marcial Dôjo Clube). Aikido Marcial Dôjo Clubelink history info
• 
  Saitō Morihiro

  sports_martial_artsAikidō Probable

  Probable

  Vaz mentions in his 2003 interview that he had the honour of practicing under Morihiro Saito during his 1992 stage in Lisbon, a single seminar rather than a sustained relationship

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Seminar (1992)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Vaz mentions in his 2003 interview that he had the honour of practicing under Morihiro Saito during his 1992 stage in Lisbon, a single seminar rather than a sustained relationship

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “De referir também a presença em Portugal de outros importantes alunos de O-sensei, sob cuja direcção tive a honra de praticar: Y. Yamada, e em 1992 o saudoso Mestre Morihiro Saito. [...] Neste campo, foi também importante para mim, o estágio do Mestre Morihiro Saito em Lisboa, 1992, o qual foi de uma extraordinária riqueza em ensinamentos de armas.”

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2003). Entrevista ao Professor Agostinho Vaz (Pedro Escudeiro, 2003). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistory info

  “De referir também a presença em Portugal de outros importantes alunos de O-sensei, sob cuja direcção teve a honra de praticar: Y. Yamada, e em 1992 o saudoso Mestre Morihiro Saito.”

  — Mestre Agostinho Vaz (Aikido Marcial Dôjo Clube). Aikido Marcial Dôjo Clubelink history info

Lineage

• Aikidō Tamura Nobuyoshi ← Ueshiba Morihei · 2 generations

Ranks (4)

• sports_martial_artsAikidō

  military_techDan grade Probable

  Probable

  Vaz states in his 2003 interview that he has been a black belt since 1987; the specific dan grade at that date is not stated

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Dan-Kyu System (1987)

  granted by Aikikai Foundation

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Vaz states in his 2003 interview that he has been a black belt since 1987; the specific dan grade at that date is not stated

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Digamos que, sou cinto negro desde 1987.”

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2003). Entrevista ao Professor Agostinho Vaz (Pedro Escudeiro, 2003). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistory info

  military_tech3 dan Probable

  Probable

  Vaz states in his 2003 interview that he is a 3rd dan

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Dan-Kyu System (2003)

  granted by Aikikai Foundation

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Vaz states in his 2003 interview that he is a 3rd dan

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Não sei a quem possa interessar saber a minha graduação, sou 3º dan.”

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2003). Entrevista ao Professor Agostinho Vaz (Pedro Escudeiro, 2003). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistory info

  military_tech5 dan Confirmed

  Confirmed

  The ACPA president announced the award of the 5th dan Aikikai to Vaz at the Kagami Biraki held on 10 January 2016 at the Hombu Dojo

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  Dan-Kyu System (2016-01-10)

  granted by Aikikai Foundation

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  The ACPA president announced the award of the 5th dan Aikikai to Vaz at the Kagami Biraki held on 10 January 2016 at the Hombu Dojo

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “a atribuição da Graduação de 5º Dan Aikikai ao nosso Director Técnico, Prof. Agostinho Vaz, no Kagami Biraki realizado hoje, dia 10 de Janeiro de 2016 no Hombu Dojo - Japão.”

  — (2016). Graduação de 5º Dan Aikikai - ACPA linkhistory info

  “É orientada tecnicamente pelo Prof. Agostinho Vaz, 5º dan Aikikai.”

  — Jean-Marc Duclos. História do Aikido em Portugal (FPA)link history info

  military_tech6 dan Confirmed

  Confirmed

  The official FPA announcement of the meeting celebrating 30 years of aikido at SFUAP on 1 April 2023 describes Vaz as a 6th dan; the exact promotion date is not stated

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  Dan-Kyu System (2023)

  granted by Portuguese Aikido Federation

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  The official FPA announcement of the meeting celebrating 30 years of aikido at SFUAP on 1 April 2023 describes Vaz as a 6th dan; the exact promotion date is not stated

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “O prof. Agostinho Vaz, 6º dan, celebra 30 anos de Aikido na SFUAP com um encontro no dia 1 de Abril de 2023 no complexo desportivo da Sociedade Filarmónica União Artística Piedense em Almada.”

  — (2023). Encontro 30 anos Aikido SFUAP (FPA) linkhistory info

Offices held (2)

• corporate_farePresidentePortuguese Aikido Federation Probable

  Probable

  His own interview; one side only.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  2003

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  His own interview; one side only.

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “O Prof. é actualmente o Presidente da Federação Portuguesa de Aikido.”

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2003). Entrevista ao Professor Agostinho Vaz (Pedro Escudeiro, 2003). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistory info
• corporate_fareDirector Técnico Portuguese Cultural Association of Aikido Confirmed

  Confirmed

  The association's own page and the FPA history agree.

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  The association's own page and the FPA history agree.

  “É orientada tecnicamente pelo Prof. Agostinho Vaz, 5º dan Aikikai.”

  — Jean-Marc Duclos. História do Aikido em Portugal (FPA)link history info

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “a atribuição da Graduação de 5º Dan Aikikai ao nosso Director Técnico, Prof. Agostinho Vaz, no Kagami Biraki realizado hoje, dia 10 de Janeiro de 2016 no Hombu Dojo - Japão.”

  — (2016). Graduação de 5º Dan Aikikai - ACPA linkhistory info

Sources