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Morihei Ueshiba lived, farmed, and practiced his aikido with great intensity in Iwama after the war left Japan in a poverty-stricken state. For the first time in years, he was able to concentrate his efforts on the perfecting of his martial techniques and spiritual development. This period is generally regarded as the birth of aikido as recorded by Morihei’s son, Kisshomaru Ueshiba. O-Sensei used the term “Takemusu Aiki” to refer to his art at this stage…
May
20
“Takemusu Aiki — O-Sensei’s Crowning Creation — Conceived in Iwama”
May
20
Video: “The Vast Curriculum Forged in Iwama by Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba”
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The Iwama aikido curriculum as disseminated by Morihiro Saito, 9th dan, has its roots in the techniques taught by Founder Morihei Ueshiba in the postwar era in Iwama, a small town in the countryside of Ibaragi Prefecture. Morihei Ueshiba lived, farmed, and practiced his aikido with great intensity in Iwama after the war left Japan in a poverty-stricken state. For the first time in years, he was able to concentrate his efforts on the perfecting of his martial techniques and spiritual development.
May
20
Tai no henko video: “Foundation of stable hips and the execution of ura techniques”
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Daily practice begins with tai no henko. First open your fingers. The basis of ura movements is footwork. Bring the toes of your left foot to meet the toes of your partner’s right foot. Turn in a circular movement into a position along your partner’s side. When pivoting, open your fingers fully and extend your ki. Learn to keep your hips stable regardless of whether your partner pushes or pulls. At one time the founder executed tai no henko with a single hand, but in his later years he used both hands. Pivot around and bring the fingers of both hands to the same level…
May
20
Historical photo: “Morihei Ueshiba’s remarkable physical development,” by Stanley Pranin
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This is quite an interesting photo taken from the “The Secret Teachings of Aikido.” I believe the photo dates from the mid-to-late 1950s, which would put him in his 70s. His upper body development is quite remarkable, and the Founder took pride in his physical conditioning…
May
19
Ninjutsu anyone? Rumiko Hayes uses deceptive ninjutsu skills to outwit a much larger opponent!
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A fascinating video clip of Rumiko Hayes, wife of Stephen Hayes of ninjutsu fame, who demonstrates her highly developed skills in deftly controling a much larger opponent. No use of physical strength is apparent as Mrs. Hayes executes deceptions, deflections, various atemi with hands and feet, foot trapping movements, etc. that provide food for thought for the aikidoka…
May
19
Historical article: “Morihei meets Sokaku — “The Untold Story”
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Morihei Ueshiba was a martial arts enthusiast and had heard of the reputation of jujutsu expert Sokaku Takeda who was conducting jujutsu seminars in Hokkaido and elsewhere. Benefiting from an introduction from a mutual acquaintance Kotaro Yoshida, Morihei seized the opportunity to meet Sokaku in person in Engaru, a nearby town, in the winter of 1915. On this occasion, Morihei remained to study for about 30 days, impulsively leaving behind his family and leadership responsibilities in Shirataki…
May
19
Rare training manual: Takemusu Aiki — Katatedori by Morihiro Saito
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This is the first of two technical volumes produced by Saito Sensei based on a series of several hundred black and white photos shot inside the Iwama Dojo. “Takemusu Aiki: Katatedori” was published in 1979 and contains 22 techniques, all from katatedori, the single-hand grab…
May
18
Popular! Morihiro Saito demonstrates ryokatadori techniques
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Morihiro Saito, 9th dan, once again reveals his encyclopedic knowledge of aikido by demonstrating a series of ryokatadori techniques. Morihiro Saito was one of the closest and talented of Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba’s students in the postwar period. Over his nearly 60 year aikido career, Saito Sensei taught widely both in Japan and abroad and left an important body of book and video materials that are considered among the best sources on aikido technique…
May
18
Shoji Nishio: “His technical legacy is totally unique in the aikido world”
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Nishio’s technical legacy is totally unique. Although Morihiro Saito’s aikido also included the use of the sword and staff, what Saito did was to preserve and formalize the founder’s weapons techniques with little modification. Nishio, instead, mastered the basics of several of the modern weapons systems from which he drew many elements in addition to his prior experience in judo and karate….
May
18
Video: Shoji Nishio: “Enter immediately from ‘shizentai’… a natural stance”
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Nishio chose the sometimes controversial path of not imitating the founder’s technique, but rather absorbing aikido’s essential principles and adapting them to the current cultural context. In this regard, his technique was constantly evolving as his technical understanding and skills improved. For this reason, Nishio’s aikido bore little resemblance to orthodox aikido exemplified by the Hombu approach that tended to be conservative in nature. “Budo must always reflect its surroundings. If it isn’t newer and stronger, it isn’t valid…”
May
18
Video: Shoji Nishio: “The highly complex and sophisticated techniques of Aikido”
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Aikido represents a major departure from its predecessor arts that focused exclusively on winning or defeating an opponent. It was created as an art to foster moral character. It is natural that the way to present aikido techniques differs greatly from that of other martial arts. It goes without saying that aikido techniques are highly complex and sophisticated…
May
18
Video: Shoji Nishio — “Successive atemi are always available!”
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When Nishio Sensei explained the use of atemi in aikido techniques he demonstrated their application at successive points in the movement showing that they are always available. No physical contact actually takes place in order to assure safe practice conditions. The movement corresponding to the atemi does indeed neutralize the opponent’s mind and body rendering him unable to continue his attack…
