“The International Aikido Federation (IAF) is a federation of aikido organisations which are directly affiliated to the Aikikai Hombu in Japan, the ‘mother house’ of Aikido. It is the only worldwide federation of such Aikido organisations and at present it has 43 members.”
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.
One of world’s leading Aikido instructors featured on new DVD from Aikido Journal!
We have recently placed on sale our new DVD featuring one of Aikido’s top instructors, Christian Tissier of France. This one-of-a-kind DVD presents an in-depth look at the life and art of one of Aikido’s preeminent masters, Christian Tissier, 7th dan. Having begun Aikido as a boy in France in 1962, Tissier spent eight years in Japan at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo training with many of the art’s top masters. On his return to his native France, he brought back a new kind of Aikido that soon captured the imagination of the Aikido world in his country and practitioners throughout Europe. Tissier is at present the leading figure in the FFAAA organization, one of France’s two large Aikido associations. He is the sole foreign instructor to have taught at the International Aikido World Congress.
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 I look back on those times I realize that I was too self-complacent, due to my immaturity and lack of experience. In addition, I think that the time and place in which I was living, the fact of the war and its proximity, made me behave out of character. On the personal level, such silly acts may have arisen from the fact that at the office I was in charge of accounting, in which I was not at all interested. At any rate it all stemmed from my immaturity.
“Someone asked me a while back to post what I consider to be pros and cons of aikido and judo – sort of what I like and dislike about aikido and judo. There’s a couple of disclaimers that apply. First, this is all just my view of it. Your mileage might vary. Secondly (the big secret) aikido and judo are really just the same thing taught somewhat different ways. So, it’s kinda difficult to create an explicit comparison of the two. Also, any list like the following is necessarily incomplete. With that said, here goes…”
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 post by Jason Wotherspoon is excerpted from a forum thread currently in progress in the Aikido Journal forums:
“Aikido was the foremost thing in my life. During that time my body changed a lot and my strength increased dramatically, as well the feeling of personal confidence and my sense of awareness of the world around me. It also gave me incredible focus and the ability to see into the heart of things…my worldview was molded by the techniques, principles and philosophy of Aikido. In fact, I still *think* a lot of Aikido; the way I do things, make decisions, and think strategically/tactically in the physical sense when dealing with others.
We have had many new subscribers since we launched our offer of the free back issue DVD for those subscribing or renewing their subscriptions to the Online Aikido Journal for two years.
Many of you know that this incredible DVD includes 26 years of Aiki News / Aikido Journal, more than 4,300 pages in PDF format to be read on your computer. However, this information-packed DVD also includes several bonuses. Among them is a 4-hour lecture by Stanley Pranin on the history of aikido in mp3 format. This detailed lecture will give you many new perspectives on the life of Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba not found in any book.
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.
Morihei Ueshiba’s teaching methodology that was out of synch with postwar Japanese society, his strong religious orientation, his frequent travels and irregular schedule made it difficult for most of his students to receive in-depth instruction from the Founder. To this can be added the fact that aikido developed and spread in Japan during an era of peace that later blossomed into a time of unprecedented economic prosperity. In such a societal setting devoid of the constant specter of war and a sense of physical danger, aikido training in a period of peace lacked the intensity and focus of the uneasy times of the prewar era. Also, the practice of judo and kendo was widespread before the war and taught in school. This meant that those students who learned from O-Sensei in the prewar era had a much better level of physical and mental preparation when embarking on their training compared to those after the war.
“Sophisticated ancient warrior arts had particular ways of using the eyes. This methodology maximized the brains ability to process information. The eyes don’t see, the brain “sees”. How the eyes are used determines how effectively the brain can process information. It also impacts how the brain perceives the passage of time. When the eyes are used properly, events slow down in relation to our ability to perceive sequence and rapidity of motion. Direct the eyes at a particular point in relation to your opponent (in many Koryu, you look at the distant mountain). If you need to pick up more information in another direction don’t move your eyes move your head. A small movement of your head will increase your field of vision much more effectively than moving your eyes around will. Moving your eyes from side to side to see different things in the moment can be compared to taking a picture in one direction, then turning and taking a picture in another direction. When you return to the first picture it has changed and there is no continuity for the mind to follow.”
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.
Do thoughts have wings? Can they gather momentum and multiply? Does what we believe actualize itself?
Physicists studying the infinite cosmos tell us that the logical laws of existence at some stage fly out the window and it all behaves like some great dream.