Aikido Journal Online's Official Blog
Aikido Journal Editor Stanley Pranin is conducting regular classes in Las Vegas on Mondays and Thursdays, 7:00-8:30 pm
The home dojo is located near the South Point Casino and Iwama Aikido is the style practiced. If you live in the area or are a visitor and would like to stop by you may contact us as described below:
In 1978 I started training in my first martial art, western fencing. My favorite weapon was the saber. The man who taught me fencing was a decorated Pearl Harbor war veteran, Navy Capt. Hart Kait.
What I remember of my training with Capt. Kait is amazingly clear given the time that has passed. It was always the highlight of my week to sneak away from my studies to go to the Santa Barbara YMCA, fitting a fencing class or two into my tight schedule.
Aikido is a solitary path that leads to self-realisation. When this occurs you will be at one and in harmony with reality as it is occurring in this moment. The dualistic distinction between a ‘me’ and a ‘you’ will disappear as both concepts are lost in the experience of being in harmony with what is happening in this moment.
Aikido is a path that should lead to this realisation. In true Aiki there is a loss of conflict and an embracing of the unity of the energy as it is happening within the individual moment. The energy that is arising in you and the energy that is arising within another person is recognised as one. These feelings of complete connection leads to the realisation that your essence is also arising within another, therefore you cannot be in conflict because it is the same energy. This awakening connects your essence with the essence of nature and you will recognise it all as an expression of your true being.
Let’s face it, most of you came to Aikido with ambiguity in mind about the practical efficacy of Aikido in real combat, or the allure of a mystic dream mingled with the fantasy about the idea of being invincible as a fighter.
Well you came to the wrong place!
People walk into a dojo, see what they imagine to be a “throw” and either leave or come back to train but remain entangled in the illusion they are “throwing” someone.
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“As a freshman in college I was a State Champion in karate. I worked out all the time and was proud of my flexibility and kicks. One day, I was sitting in my room in the freshman dorm with my circle of friends and with one guy who had sort of insinuated himself into our circle. Nobody liked him. He was arrogant and annoying – and I was far from the only guy that thought so. Let’s call him Q-. Well, we all made some excuse to leave the room and go eat together or something. Nobody invited Q- and we all hoped he’d get the message, but no, he hopped up and started out the door to go eat with us. I was seething at his boorish insensitivity as I walked out the door with Q- right behind me. (I’m sure there was a girl to impress in the group or something too).”
“In the course of my training and working security in night clubs, I have some to meet some very, very nice members of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, aka JSO, aka, the fuzz. Their humanity has reminded cops are people too. It’s sad that JSO has such a reputation for being rather not nice, with these shining individuals out there. It’s because of them that I am always respectful to JSO whenever I cross their path. Every officer that I have ever met knows each of the officers that I know, and they always speak highly of them. That’s what makes these stories awkward to tell. Anybody that reads this and thinks that I get a hard-on beating on cops, well, you’re wrong, and I don’t encourage it in anyway whatsoever.”
More exciting news on the book front! We are now accepting pre-orders for Traditional Aikido, Volume 3 – Applied Techniques by Morihiro Saito, 9th dan. This important book begins the presentation of the vast subject of taijutsu, that is, the empty-handed techniques of aikido following on the Aiki weapon techniques introduced in the first two volumes. This book was revolutionary at the time of its publication and remains the standard text on the subject even today.
Just as with Traditional Aikido, Volume 1 and Volume 2 recently republished, this is a brand-new edition done in the exact style and format of the original books by Saito Sensei that took the aikido world by storm when they were released in the 1970s. These are hardcover volumes made for durability featuring a semi-gloss paper like the originally published volumes.
Aikido has its roots in Japanese Shinto, the original teaching of which is the kototama. It is from the kototama, which translates as “the souls of words,” that the innate sensibilities of language and thought are created.
The kototama, however, should not be seen as a tool for dividing people or distinguishing one race from another. As the root of thought itself, and therefore of all spoken language, it is a tool for understanding our common origins and ultimate unity.”
Brian Kagen is an avid web researcher with a particular interest in martial arts. His training background includes both judo and aikido. He has contributed hundreds of article links over the years for AJ readers.
“While in a practical sense, the ability to throw our uke is fine, aikido is a way of life for which training never ends. Furthermore, Aikido practice is conducted in a more co-operative manner than would be found on the street or in a tournament. Those who feel that they highly competent based on their proficiency in the Dojo could well be in for a surprise out on the street.”
Brian Kagen is an avid web researcher with a particular interest in martial arts. His training background includes both judo and aikido. He has contributed hundreds of article links over the years for AJ readers.
Seigo Yamaguchi Sensei (1924-1996) was one of the most prominent of the postwar generation of aikido instructors of the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. Yamaguchi Sensei’s aikido was totally unique and he had many followers the world over and was especially popular in France. Unfortunately, he did not leave any books or commercial videotapes so little information is available about him. A viewing of the video clips on this website will give you an idea of how his aikido looked and why he was so highly regarded by all who had an opportunity to train with him.
Seigo Yamaguchi at 1993 All-Japan Aikido Demonstration
Seigo Yamaguchi at 1983 All-Japan Aikido Demonstration
Seigo Yamaguchi at Aikikai Hombu Dojo, 1973 – Part 1
Seigo Yamaguchi at Aikikai Hombu Dojo, 1973 – Part 2
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“What if…?” What if indeed! There is no what if and things are as they are and can be no other way.
We were once practicing buki tori and a nobody who presumed himself some sort of budoka came up and made the lofty statement, ” Yes, but if that was a real sword and the swordsman knew how to use it, you could not do that silly aikido technique…”
I don’t know what it was he was seeing in his mind because fortuitously, I’m not the possessor of it. Contest sportists entangled in the idea of collecting trophies will never understand budo. Nor will the miserable cowards who run pseudo dojos so they can use smaller, less experienced people as crash test dummies for abuse.
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A reading by the famous spiritual master Ram Dass of Terry Dobson’s classic recounting of an incident aboard a train in Japan where he experienced an example of the principles of aikido applied at the highest level.
Brian Kagen is an avid web researcher with a particular interest in martial arts. His training background includes both judo and aikido. He has contributed hundreds of article links over the years for AJ readers.
