Click here to read the article titled “The Vast Iwama Aikido Curriculum”
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 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.
Nov
21
Morihiro Saito: “The Vast Iwama Aikido Curriculum”
Nov
20
Free video: Hitohiro Saito’s amazing demonstration of Kokyunage
Click here to view Hitohiro Saito’s Kokyunage video
A video shot in November 2007 in Florida where Hitohiro Saito Sensei expertly demonstrates kokyunage variations from a variety of attacks. His poise, blending ability, and the martiality of his technique are exemplary. Hitohiro Saito is the son and successor of Morihiro Saito, 9th dan. His father was one of Founder Morihei Ueshiba’s closest students and was Dojo-cho of the Iwama Dojo and guardian of the Aiki Shrine for several decades until his passing in 2002. Hitohiro Sensei teaches independently and frequently travels abroad spreading the technically-rich Iwama Aikido.
Nov
20
Video: Superb Seigo Yamaguchi Tokyo Demo from 1988
Click here to view Seigo Yamaguchi at the All-Japan Demonstration in 1988
This is a rare six-minute video clip of Seigo Yamaguchi, 8th dan. This particular demonstration took place in Tokyo in 1988. Yamaguchi Sensei presents an outstanding performance with numerous taijutsu and sword techniques. Seigo Yamaguchi was one of the most important of the first generation of aikido instructors of the postwar era. Yamaguchi Sensei influenced several generations of practitioners within the Aikikai system during his career including many of today’s senior instructors of the Headquarters school.
Nov
19
Ebook: Morihiro Saito: Takemusu Aikido, Volume 2, covering shihonage, kotegaeshi, and iriminage
Click here to read more about Morihiro Saito’s “Takemusu Aikido, Volume 2″
This volume, titled Takemusu Aikido: More Basics, is the second of the technical series authored by Morihiro Saito, 9th dan. This manual covers in detail 76 techniques from the following series of basics: shihonage, kotegaeshi, and iriminage. Volume 2 is presented in bilingual format (Japanese-English) and provides step-by-step explanations of each technique with over 700 illustrations.
Nov
19
Video: Harvey Konigsberg talks about the importance of using your center while executing aikido techniques
Click here to view the demonstration by Harvey Konigsberg Shihan
This video of Harvey Konigsberg Sensei was filmed during a seminar he conducted in October, 2011 at Aikido of Central New York. Konigsberg Shihan speaks at length about the importance of using your center while demonstrating techniques.
Nov
19
Video: Stanley Pranin explains and demonstrates Shomenuchi Kotegaeshi at private Las Vegas Seminar
In this video, Stanley Pranin explains and demonstrates shomenuchi kotegaeshi. Some of the main points he stresses are:
- the importance of nage initiating the attack
- the role of atemi in unbalancing uke
- use of a soft hand grab and the “tether principle”
- why “pain compliance” is not needed to execute this throw
Pranin is the founder of Aikido Journal and will be conducting a joint seminar with Pat Hendricks Sensei of Aikido of San Leandro, one of the highest ranking female aikido instructors in the world, in Las Vegas, March 9-10, 2013. Click here to view video of Stanley Pranin demonstrating shomenuchi kotegaeshi
Nov
18
Screencast: “Morihei Ueshiba’s Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Teaching Certification,” by Stanley Pranin
“How Morihei became certified as a Daito-ryu instructor”
This is the first of a series of screencasts titled “Focus on History” by Aikido Journal Editor Stanley Pranin. This video provides detailed information on the “kyoju dairi,” or teaching certification, awarded to Morihei Ueshiba by Sokaku Takeda in Ayabe in 1922. This award was made during a six-month long visit of Sokaku to Morihei’s “Ueshiba Juku” located near the headquarters of the Omoto religion. Click here to view the screencast about Morihei Ueshiba’s Daito-ryu technical certification
Nov
18
Video: Action Highlights from Shoji Nishio’s 4-DVD Series
“LAST DAY OF SALE!”
Shoji Nishio was one of aikido’s true innovators, possessor of a dynamic style built on long years of study in other disciplines melded superbly into his unique aikido. Speed, effectiveness, and elegance are the hallmarks of Nishio Sensei’s aikido. The above video clip presents highlights from the Shoji Nishio 4-DVD Set available through the Aikido Journal product catalog… Click here to watch highlights from Shoji Nishio’s 4-DVD Set
Nov
17
Mitsuteru Ueshiba — Great-grandson of Aikido’s founder gives Moscow master class
Click here to watch the video featuring Wakasensei Mitsuteru Ueshiba
A three-day festival of Aikido was held in the Russian capital in 2010, with master classes being given to hundreds of students by Mitsuteru Ueshiba, great-grandson of Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba.
Nov
17
Shoji Nishio: “The highly complex and sophisticated techniques of Aikido”
Click here to read Shoji Nishio Sensei’s introduction to the Nishio Aikido DVD series
Aikido was created by Founder Morihei Ueshiba. Ueshiba Sensei used to say that aikido was created to lead Japanese martial arts in the right direction. This is certainly true. 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…
Nov
17
Instructional video: Morihiro Saito: Jodori – Jonage
Click here for more information on this instructional video by Morihiro Saito, 9th dan
This rare video was shot in 1988 inside the Iwama Dojo where filming was normally not allowed. Morihiro Saito Sensei explains and demonstrates the seldom-taught jo taking and throwing techniques (jodori / jonage) of aikido. Saito Sensei takes great pain to stress important details necessary to be able to successfully execute these advanced jo techniques. He also describes the common errors that many practitioners commit, and explain why such methods don’t work and precisely what does.
Nov
16
Video: Hiroshi Tada, 9th dan, demonstrates his dynamic jo forms
Click here to watch the video of Hiroshi Tada, 9th dan, explaining his jo forms
In this video shot in Italy, Hiroshi Tada Sensei, 9th dan, demonstrates jonage, and jo kata that include paired forms. Tada Sensei’s use of the jo is unique and complements his dynamic taijutsu techniques. Hiroshi Tada is one of the last remaining of the postwar generation of instructors developed at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. His aikido is based on a dynamic, continuous connection with his partner.
