Aikido Technique Videos and Self Defense Training

Together with the announcement of our new DVD, “Morihiro Saito: Lost Seminars, Part 3,” we would like to offer you a special price for all 3 DVDs of the series. Please click here for details!

We have wonderful news for Aikido Journal readers! We have just released a new DVD featuring an Aikido legend, Morihiro Saito Sensei, one of Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba’s closest disciples. This exceptional DVD presents never-before-seen footage of Saito Sensei as he appeared in 1988 while teaching a seminar in San Diego, California. This material has been in storage for over 20 years and has been digitally remastered for optimum viewing quality.

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.

There is a pertinent Zen anecdote about a sword master’s disciple who was assigned mundane tasks, like cleaning the dojo garden, for a prolonged period after his acceptance into the dojo, without being taught any of the sword techniques he had come to learn. He complained and asked to be given some experience of real swordsmanship—only to regret this immediately when the master then began to hound him mercilessly with a wooden sword. Wherever he went, the master would suddenly leap out at him from nowhere and attack him—certainly giving him a taste of the real thing. His life became hell.

We are now offering complimentary copies of “Aikido Masters” as well as the information-filled “Back-issue DVD for customers who take out 2-year subscriptions or renewals to the Online Aikido Journal.

At Aikido Journal we have the world’s most extensive archives of aikido-related materials, all available online. Your support over the last 30-plus years has enabled us to produce and dissseminate this huge body of material, especially in this Internet age.

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 O-Sensei would return to Iwama, someone had to accompany him. It was easy to do, but it took a long time because you had to go back and forth between Tokyo and Iwama. Kisshomaru Ueshiba usually didn’t ask an instructor to handle this. When I went to Iwama with O-Sensei for the first time, we went to Ueno Station by taxi and then took the Joban line up to Iwama. When we arrived at Iwama Station, O-Sensei started to walk fast because he knew his way back home. I had to run after him because I was carrying his bag and some souvenirs he had received.

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.

From AikiWeb.com on the recent marriage of Mitsuteru Ueshiba, great-grandson of Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba:

“I am very happy to inform you that my son, Mitsuteru Ueshiba, was married to Miss. Keiko Kusano on March 2nd of this year.”

Violence begins with strong intention. So does harmony. If you understand ki more than just as a fancy, mystified conceptual label, you will know not to wait for maybes during violent confrontations.

Waiting destroys favorable Deai for Kime. Too late and you die.

I would like to notify readers that the Aikido Journal staff needs a Pal-format digital video camera for video archiving purposes. An older mini DV format video camera will work fine. The camera must have a firewire connector to allow the capture of analog video. We will be capturing and archiving old VHS Pal footage in digital format.

The camera will not be used for filming purposes, only as a video capture device. We would be willing to trade or purchase a suitable used camera.

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.

Seigo Yamaguchi Sensei (1924-1996) was one of the most prominent of the postwar generation of aikido instructors of the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. Yamaguchi Sensei’s aikido was totally unique and he had many followers the world over and was especially popular in France. Unfortunately, he did not leave any books or commercial videotapes so little information is available about him. A viewing of the video clips on this website will give you an idea of how his aikido looked and why he was so highly regarded by all who had an opportunity to train with him.

Seigo Yamaguchi at 1993 All-Japan Aikido Demonstration
Seigo Yamaguchi at 1983 All-Japan Aikido Demonstration
Seigo Yamaguchi at Aikikai Hombu Dojo, 1973 - Part 1
Seigo Yamaguchi at Aikikai Hombu Dojo, 1973 - Part 2