Aikido Technique Videos and Self Defense Training

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.

In April of 1959 the publication of the “Aikido Shimbun” (Aikido Newspaper) began. When the first issue appeared the Founder was in an unusually good mood and jokingly encouraged us to make the newspaper become as big as the Asahi or Yomiuri publications. The Founder published his oral “Dowa” and “Dobun” serially each month until just before his death. They left a deep impression on the minds of readers.

From The Boston Globe: “Bill Gleason has blue eyes, a shaved head, and a trim but solid build. He is 64 years old, has a 1-year-old son, and is fluent in Japanese. He is also a sixth-degree black belt in aikido, a martial art form dedicated to creating world peace.

Gleason’s commitment to aikido took him to Japan in 1970, where he spent a decade of his life studying with the masters. His goal was to bring his experience back to the United States and teach, which he’s been doing since 1980.”

So, as some of you may remember, my sensei Don Hebert and I went down to Baltimore last weekend for a weapons intensive. In preparation I purchased a sample suit of kendo armor since it was a full contact event and I thought it would be appropriate to test an item that I am considering selling on my website.

The armor held up just fine, though shots that came down directly on the top of my head had the potential to make me see stars. In fact, it happened quite a few times. This was ok, in my opinion, because it actually gave me some incentive for performing proper technique. I feel totally confident now in carrying and selling this kendo armor, if I was able to survive mostly intact.

Yesterday we released another important title in our DVD series by Morihiro Saito Sensei titled “The Lost Seminars.” We have now produced four volumes in this outstanding set of aikido pedagogical DVDs that warrant a prominent place in every aikidoka’s collection. These programs consist of videotape of rare seminars conducted by Saito Sensei during his prime in the 1980s and 1990s. Each volume offers footage of one or more seminars from this time frame that has been carefully edited replete with English subtitles to make this material available to a worldwide audience.

We now have a special offer available for Aikido Journal readers of 35% off the regular price for all four DVDs! This set includes more than seven hours of detailed instruction by Saito Sensei and sells for the low price of $102.95 plus shipping & handling. Order now to receive this incredible DVD value!

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 you discuss any type of a response to a violent encounter, you need to think in terms of using the correct tool for the situation. To stand here and say that every individual who is confronted by an armed assailant should react in a specific manner would be unrealistic. Our training offers us a variety of tools to utilize in our lives, and prudent persons should have a wide range of options at their disposal. If your training has centered only on unarmed, standing techniques, maybe you should expand your training to include combat on the ground, or in confined surroundings. In all of my police and budo training, I never anticipated that I would have to try to fight a drugged-up male suspect, while standing in the bathtub of his home - but it happened! Training should include all defensive ranges, and in different surroundings.

Had a recent discussion with my friends at the Itten Dojo in Pennsylvania, who are trying to integrate internal training (solo exercises) into their aikido practice. A dilemma can occur when trying to “insert” the acquired power into aikido, particularly if you’ve learned it from outside, rather than from day one. The new insights and strength that one acquires can potentially bust aikido technique, or disturb practice. One can easily begin to question the aikido form/techniques, and be tempted to simply stick to the internal training without aikido at all. Of course, that is a viable option. But if you think you ought to, why continue to do your aikido at all?

Here is a quote from the excellent Di Guoyong on Xingyiquan, V. I.

We have wonderful news for Aikido Journal readers! Today 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 1989 while teaching a seminar in San Diego, California.

With a runtime of 127 minutes, this DVD includes scores of techniques from ryotedori, shomenuchi, and morotedori attacks. Saito Sensei also gives a detailed presentation of nikyo techniques and seldom-taught releases from a variety of ushiro holds. With the release of each DVD of the “Lost Seminars” series, the body of technical information on Saito Sensei’s teaching methodology grows to the benefit of practitioners everywhere.

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.

I had thought that people involved in something as traditional as Japanese gardening would make fairly conservative tourists. It turned out, however, that most of the staff were quite young and they wanted “adventure.” In less than a week, in addition to more conventional sightseeing, they did bungy jumping, parachuting, scuba diving, horse trekking, kayaking, and “black water rafting,” which consists of floating down a subterranean river, in pitch darkness, through glow-worm caves, while suspended in an inflated truck inner-tube. They also managed to visit the hot spring resort of Rotorua, Lake Taupo, (“bigger than Singapore”) and Coromandel Peninsula, which features some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in the world. Several young women in the group were just as active as the men, but also found time to shop for sheepskins and “All Blacks” rugby jerseys.

“Ueshiba’s martial art is now global and his astonishing skills renowned. Fuzzy Ueshiba videos circulate on YouTube—his attackers flying off before apparently making contact. His words, however, share the strengths and weaknesses of religious texts—they are either dubious or enlightening, depending on the reader.”

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.