The interview below has been selected from the extensive archives of the Online Aikido Journal. We believe that an informed readership with knowledge of the history, techniques and philosophy of aikido is essential to the growth of the art and its adherence to the principles espoused by Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba.
It wasn’t until 1961 or 1962, when a representative from the Hombu Dojo, Mutsuro Nakazono Sensei, came to Vietnam to begin laying the foundations of aikido there, that I was able to spend more time practicing the art. Because of my ten years of judo training, I was able to absorb the essence of aikido without much difficulty, and I progressed quickly. Nakazono Sensei taught both aikido and judo at the Association for Judo and Aikido, founded by Tri Thong Dang. Since I was often able to accompany Nakazono Sensei to his many seminars at training centers for paratroopers and police officers, I was able to learn many of his special techniques.
“The club house was overflowing with people when I arrived Tuesday evening for the meeting about the proposed disc golf course at McLaren Park. There were a couple hundred people crowded together in chairs, with another fifty standing at the back of the room.”
We have been asked to provide a link to Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei’s European website where he has posted a message concerning the recent passing of his good friend and sempai, Nobuyoshi Tamura Sensei.
“Last night’s class featured a special treat: Sensei S’s sensei – Kyoshi K! Part amazing practitioner, part comedian, Kyoshi took us through kicking and punching drills as well as kata for three solid hours – but the self-defense intro that preceded all that was incredible. He still chided me for ‘fighting like a small person’ but he recognized that some of the scenarios and add ons to the one-steps (ippon kumite techniques) we’d created on the spot might not work for someone my height (6’2″). Same for my 5’4″ training partner – and he let us modify them accordingly, which was really cool.”
“In my view people sometimes get caught up asking the wrong question: ie. a question that contains one or more false assumptions which serve to distract you from seeing the full picture.
How do you develop the radar-like, almost x-ray vision that some budoka have?
“Once upon a time, this was the standard response to meeting someone with a martial arts interest: yelp a few times, wave your arms around, do a judo/ninja/karate chop, then hold for applause. But times have changed. People no longer believe televised ninja movies are real. Now they believe televised MMA competitions are real, and nobody uses a karate chop in the UFC. (It’s illegal to strike the trachea, in case you were wondering.)”
To my friends and associates. I’ve just uploaded a 
The interview below has been selected from the 
This screen grab from “Divine Techniques” featuring Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba will give you a good idea of what’s in store for you!
“I was put in mind of this question when I read some comments a colleague had made about board-breaking. Breaking boards is unquestionably an exercise in physics. But my colleague, through his remarks, revealed that he didn’t quite understand the physics involved. Now, he is an excellent martial artist and a fine instructor. Furthermore, if students followed the practical instructions he was stressing at the time, they’d probably be helped in their chances of breaking their boards. The only problem would come if they relied on his underlying explanation when taking a physics test. And if they were taking a physics test, they would most likely have already figured out his mistake… No harm done?”