May
21

“An Overview of Koichi Tohei’s Early Aikido Career,” by Stanley Pranin

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Koichi Tohei in Goleta, California at the Aikido school of Ken Goleta, April 1970. Photo courtesy of David Everett

Koichi Tohei in Goleta, California at the Aikido school of Ken Goleta, April 1970. Photo courtesy of David Everett


From the viewpoint of the Aikikai, Tohei’s actions and attempts to dictate the technical curriculum and teaching methodology were unacceptable. In Tohei’s eyes, the aikido headquarters had snubbed his leadership and failed to sufficiently acknowledge his many accomplishments and contributions to the postwar spread of aikido, both in Japan and abroad. The contentious issue was further complicated by a web of long-standing personal relationships that had gone sour…

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May
21

Video: “Tai no henko… the gateway to the execution of Aikido’s ura or turning techniques”

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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…

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May
20

Awesome technique! Seigo Yamaguchi Seminar Highlights from 1983

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This is a color 8mm film of Seigo Yamaguchi, 8th dan, shot in 1983 at a seminar. Yamaguchi Sensei is seen demonstrating shomenuchi techniques which he relates to sword footwork and linear entries. Very interesting! Yamaguchi Sensei was one of the most important of the first generation of aikido instructors of the postwar era…

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May
20

“Takemusu Aiki — O-Sensei’s Crowning Creation — Conceived in Iwama”

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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…

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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.

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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….

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