Aikido Technique Videos and Self Defense Training

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The article 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.

When Kanemoto Sunadomari began work on his biography of Morihei Ueshiba he enlisted the help of his younger sister, Fukiko, in interviewing the many people whose lives had been touched by the Master. In this interview she joins Shigeo Sakurai, who was acquainted with O-Sensei during his days at Ayabe and Hidetaro Nishimura, a talented judoka who became one of O-Sensei’s uchideshi.

From dailyzen.com:

“As you go along practicing turning the light around, you need not give up your normal occupation. An ancient said, “When matters come up, one should respond; when things come up, one should discern.” If you manage your affairs with accurate mindfulness, then the light is not overcome by things, so it will do to repeat this formless turning around of the light time and again. If you can look back again and again into the source of mind, whatever you are doing, not sticking to any image of person or self at all, then this is “turning the light around wherever you are.” This is the finest practice.”

The following post by Autrelle Holland is excerpted from a thread currently in progress in the Aikido Journal forums:

“I read through Saito Sensei’s book and wrote some brief descriptions of the KNJR based on what is in the book. This is open to correction, and I would enjoy any discussion about what appears here in the book. I plan on getting a description of the other KJNR as well.”

Without doubt, one of the finest reference sources on Aikido technique is the six-volume series titled Takemusu Aikido authored by Morihiro Saito, 9th dan, in the last decade of his life.

The Takemusu Aikido series contain hundreds of techniques that encapsulize the teachings of Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba in Iwama in the years following World War II. These wonderful reference manuals feature thousands of technical photos including historical shots of O-Sensei and Saito Sensei.

The article 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.

Only a fool would brag that he could win a fight against 10 men, a pistol or a machine gun. I think that as a result of regular, hard training a person necessarily feels humble. Aikido training is indeed very severe, but you have to teach the safest way possible. If students have a clear goal in mind you have to teach them well so they do not lose interest. Don’t stop working hard! If a student tires you must take him by the hand; if he falls down you extend your hand and help him up. From the student’s point of view, if he stumbles before reaching his goal, I think he should observe his teacher and follow his example. I don’t know how others feel, but that is my opinion.

“From a young age, [Abbe] regarded the martial arts as expressions of deeper ideas-significantly, he was strongly influenced by personal contact with Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido. And though be also studied Aikido, Kendo and Jukendo (The way of the Bayonet) and during the late 1930’s taught at the special Judo College of the Butokukwai in Kyoto, he was gradually forming his own philosophy which he later called Kyu-Shin-Do. In 1938 he was promoted to 6th Dan (age 22), the youngest in Japan, and in 1945 7th Dan (age 29).He became chief instructor in Doshisa University (the same university, incidentally where Tani represented for nearly fifty years before) as well as the instructor for the Kyoto Police.”

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.

The following is an excerpt from “The Gift of Danger,” authored by Mary Stein of the Suginami Aikikai:

“About thirty years ago, still a few years from my fiftieth birthday, I read of a martial art that was described as non-violent, resolving conflict through skillful relationship. It came from Japan, where a man named Morihei Ueshiba had questioned the destructive purpose of the martial arts he had mastered. He had gone on to transform old techniques in order to create a new art that provided effective self-defense while protecting both the attacker and the defender. He came to call his art aikido, which can be translated as ‘the way of harmonizing energy.’”

The article 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.

Although almost totally unknown to Aikido practitioners, one of the most fascinating related forms of the art was created by Minoru Hirai. Hirai served as General Director of Morihei Ueshiba’s old Kobukan Dojo during World War II, and later taught his own unique form of Jujutsu based on the principle of circular taisabaki. Aikido Journal recently visited Hirai Sensei, now 91 years of age, at his home in Shizuoka and recorded the highlights of his thought-provoking conversation about Korindo and martial arts theories.