“A true pacifist is able to kill or maim in the blink of an eye, but at the moment of impending destruction of the enemy he chooses non-violence.” Having undergone special training in Shindo Yoshin-ryu jujutsu as...
Archive - 2012
O-Sensei’s Spiritual Writings: Where did they really come from? by Stanley Pranin
Recently, due to the publication of a series of books whose authorship has been attributed to Morihei Ueshiba, founder of aikido, I have felt compelled to weigh in on the subject of what O-Sensei actually did write...
“Change As Part of the Cycle of Movement in Aikido” by Alister Gillies
I agree with most of what George Ledyard says in his article, but it does somewhat beg the question regarding change in Aikido. Certainly, the winds of change are blowing. They have been blowing from the outset! When O...
Aikido and Injuries: Special Report, by Fumiaki Shishida
Editor’s comment: This article was originally published in Aiki News back in 1989. On a recent trip to Japan, I had an opportunity to meet again with Professor Shishida. The subject of injuries and deaths in aikido...
“The Virtues of Aikido and Realizing Its Potential” by Stanley Pranin
The popularity of aikido, both in Japan and abroad, is a post-World War II phenomenon. Early students of Founder Morihei Ueshiba, such as Koichi Tohei, Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Gozo Shioda, Kenji Tomiki and others, followed...
Stanley Pranin’s Autobiography: My Early Days in Aikido, Part I
This article is the first in a series of four autobiographical articles by Aiki News Editor-in-chief Stanley Pranin. It was first published in 1990 in Wushu, a Japanese-language magazine dealing with Chinese martial...
Morihei’s Prewar Budo: Transmission, Inheritance, Emulation 4, by Peter Goldsbury
“Morihei was unique: a martial arts genius, and therefore in the nature of things, this unique quality cannot be quantified or reproduced.” The previous column ended with a brief discussion of the third proposition...
“Meditations on Violence” by Nick Lowry
Some starting points: How do we hold the realities of violence? How do we interact with the suffering and trauma of violence? How do we transform and heal in the face of violence? What do dojos and budo (martial arts)...
Sokaku Takeda: “Is This Photo Faked?”, by Stanley Pranin
“A doctored photo? What do you think?” Take a look at this highly unusual photo of Sokaku Takeda, disseminator of Daito-ryu jujutsu and teacher of Morihei Ueshiba. First, allow me to provide some background...
Morihei’s Prewar Budo: Transmission, Inheritance, Emulation 3, by Peter Goldsbury
1. Morihei Ueshiba made no attempt to ‘teach’ the knowledge and skills he possessed to his deshi; 2. The latter all gained profound knowledge and skills during their time as deshi, but it is by no means clear that...