Don’t miss this exciting free video clip of new Morihiro Saito DVD!

Click here to view the exciting video preview clip of the new DVD by Morihiro Saito Sensei!

We have recently 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 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.

Stanley Pranin — July 3^rd, 2008 (read more )

Recommended reading: “Interview with Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba (2)” by Stanley Pranin

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.

During his later years, rather than teach, my father demonstrated movements which were in accord with the flow of the universe and unified with nature . Thus, it was a matter of students watching his movements, learning them by themselves, in that way understanding his technique. He wasn’t deeply concerned about teaching students… his movements were so spontaneous and natural. I think we should attain that point in the end. But since we have dojos, we tend to think in worldly terms, how to get people to come, how to develop a lot of strong students… and we get these egotistical, selfish things as a matter of course. But this was not the case with the Founder.

July 3^rd, 2008 (read more )

Brian Kagen pick: “The Occupation of Japan as an Exercise in ‘Regime Change’: Reflections after Fifty Years” by a Participant by Hans Baerwald

“The third prong of SCAP’s early efforts to eliminate the old order consisted of two inter-related directives issued on January 4, 1946. SCAPIN 548 ordered the Japanese government to abolish certain political parties and societies that resisted or opposed Occupation policy, had supported military aggression, had opposed free cultural and intellectual exchange with other countries, and—most important of all—had used assassination and terrorist tactics to alter earlier policies. SCAPIN 550 ordered the removal and exclusion of “undesirable personnel” from public office. The latter was based on Article 6 of the Potsdam Declaration: “There must be eliminated for all time the authority and influence of those who have deceived and misled the people of Japan into embarking on world conquest, for we insist that a new order of peace, security and justice will be impossible until irresponsible militarism is driven from the world.” SCAPIN 550 became known in common parlance as the political, or white, purge. I spent most of my two and a half years in GovSec working on this program and will use it as a brief case study illustrating some of the complexities inherent in “regime change.”

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.

July 3^rd, 2008 (read more )

Do No-touch throws really exist?

On September 12th, 2001, I went with my mother to a concert given by Mstislav Rostropovich, the brave, wondrous cellist, who actively stood for freedom in the Soviet Union, eventually accepting exile until the fall of communism. He walked to the stage, alone, and sat down in a chair with his cello, a small round man, with an infinitely expressive face, here solemn and still. An announcer said that Maestro Rostropovich, in memory of the victims of the attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania would play Bach’s Requiem, and that he requested that there be no applause out of respect for the victims.

He played such sadness and loss, the notes of the cello pouring like bronze tears. The piece ended and he stood, silently, facing us, cello and bow in hand. Perhaps a minute passed, he unmoving, and then the front row of the audience stood, and then the next and the next and the next, as if a wave of grief and outrage flowed from his heart and picked us up, row by row, until all of us were standing, thrown not to the ground, but up to our feet, where we belonged.

Ellis Amdur — July 3^rd, 2008 (read more » 2 comments )

5 outstanding O-Sensei DVDs at more than 30% off!

Save over 30% off retail price!

We are offering a special set of 5 outstanding DVDs featuring Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba. These DVDs contain rare film clips of Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei at various stages of his life. These 5 DVDs retail normally for $199.75, but during this special you will save more than 30% off as this special offers sells for $134.95 plus shipping & handling.

Link to “Aiki Budo”
Link to “Takemusu Aiki”
Link to “Rendez-vous with Adventure”
Link to “Way of Harmony”
Link to “Founder of Aikido”

July 2^nd, 2008 (read more )

Recommended reading: “Constant Alertness needed to Avoid Dojo Injuries” by Stanley Pranin

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.

It’s been my experience that this type of injury could have occurred almost anywhere in the aikido world. It is amazing to me that otherwise intelligent and prudent people will abandon their normal attitude of alertness when immersed in the warmth of the “family atmosphere” of an aikido dojo. I have practiced and observed aikido in numerous countries and it is not uncommon to see classes conducted under crowded conditions where injuries can easily happen. The danger is especially great during ki no nagare practice where big, flowing movements are used. Apart from a few words of admonition from the teacher in charge to be careful, I have seldom seen a systematic approach to insure a safe training environment. Students tend to throw freely into any open space.

July 2^nd, 2008 (read more )

More on Summer 2008 Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu seminar in Japan

To whom it may concern,

The deadline for the Summer 2008 Daito-ryu Special Training Session is close. Those who wish to participate and have not applied yet, please, send your application directly to Kondo Sensei by July 10.

More details on the summer seminar are available here. Kindly send your comments to Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Headquarters by email here.

Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Headquarters

July 2^nd, 2008 (read more )

Aikido training in Las Vegas: Student blog, “Too Much Strength” by Kwasi Addae

This is the third of a series of blogs submitted by aikido students of Aikido Journal Editor Stanley Pranin who are currently training in Las Vegas.

Too much strength! It’s always my problem. Sometimes it seems like the more I attempt not to use muscle strength while performing a technique, the more it happens. I could swear I’m not, but multiple training partners and teachers can’t be wrong. I never get frustrated with those types of corrections because I am sure they are accurate.

July 2^nd, 2008 (read more )

Morihiro Saito, Lost Seminars DVD Set Promo Clip on Youtube.com!

We have just uploaded an exciting video clip with highlights of all 4 DVDs from the Morihiro Saito: Lost Seminars DVD set. A viewing of this clip will give you an excellent idea of the wealth of information contained on these wonderful DVDs!

Click here to watch a promo clip of all 4 DVDs on YouTube.com!

Below you will find a further description of these DVDs along with relevant links.

Recently 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.

July 1^st, 2008 (read more )

Recommended reading: “Founder of Aikido (27): Martial Way - Human Way” by Kisshomaru Ueshiba

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 the fall of 1925, the Founder came to Tokyo to teach Aiki at the request of Admiral Isamu Takeshita. Twenty years earlier he had come to Tokyo at least two times. Once was during his early business life. The other was right after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 to deliver relief funds from Omoto in Ayabe. This time, however, he came as one of the foremost budoka (martial artists) of the time. Admiral Takeshita, who was one of the most devoted enthusiasts of budo in the navy, had been trying to find a budoka embodying the genuine essence of Japanese martial arts.

July 1^st, 2008 (read more )

Brian Kagen pick: “Timing and Timeliness” by Andrew Benioff

From AikidoOnline.com

“I took this lesson as I took all of the other bumps and bruises dished out to me, with a bit of embarrassment and a renewed desire not to err again. I had wrongly believed that what our teacher was trying to teach us was aimed at making us more polite ladies and gentlemen. That was only a very small part of the overall picture. Like almost all etiquette in budo, timeliness has much greater importance that simply being polite or for that matter, simply being.”

July 1^st, 2008 (read more )

Morihiro Saito: Aiki Ken and Jo in 3 languages!

We are now offering the outstanding Aiki Ken and Jo DVD set by Morihiro Saito Shihan in a multilingual edition. When viewing the DVDs, you can choose to listen to Saito Sensei in the original Japanese or your preferred voiceover in English or French.

We feel that this wonderful innovation will permit a much wider audience to view and understand the teachings of Saito Sensei on the weapons training of aikido.

June 30^th, 2008 (read more )

Recommended reading: “Psychology of Combat” by James Williams

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 was pleased to see a review of the book Bloody Iron in Volume 24, No. 3 of Aikido Journal. Here is a book that speaks plainly about the reality of conflict with edged weapons in circumstances involving lethal force. The authors, both long time residents of some of Americas finest prisons, describe in detail the prison environment as regards to the edged weapons conflict that is a part of daily life. The nature of such situations is presented graphically so that there will be no mistake as to their grim reality. There is much to learn in this volume and perhaps some of the information can give insight into the training that was necessary for the feudal era warriors of Japan.

June 30^th, 2008 (read more )

Brian Kagen pick: “The Point of Aikido” by George S. Ledyard

From Aikiweb.com:

“What is this fear that by doing an art like Aikido we can be beaten by someone doing mixed martial arts? Is this a worry that you live with on a daily basis? There’ll you’ll be at the grocery store when, suddenly, you are accosted by the local gang of MMA practitioners… Really, I can’t honestly say that I know even one person who was ever in a fight with another martial artist on the street.”

June 30^th, 2008 (read more )

20% off on 6-Volume set of “Takemusu Aikido” by Morihiro Saito, 9th dan!

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. We are now, for the first time, offering a 20% discount to customers who purchase the entire set. Save on postage too!

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.

June 29^th, 2008 (read more )

Recommended reading: “An Aikido Life (08)” by Gozo Shioda

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.

Ueshiba Sensei was very religiously oriented. He regarded Mr. Onisaburo Deguchi of the Omoto religion as his master. He firmly believed that having Mr. Deguchi as his teacher would make it possible to attain eternal power. Therefore, his religious services in the morning and evening used to be a major event each day. Sensei recited Shinto prayers and then offered thanks to the kami or deities (starting with the Sun Goddess to the kami of water and grass). The whole ritual took approximately one and a half hours every day. Sensei was especially severe with respect to the kami and even the slightest mistake by his students during the daily ritual would raise his ire. That was one aspect of the most difficult training we experienced. I personally could not commit myself to believing in the kami and I only followed my teacher.

June 29^th, 2008 (read more )