“Though Morihei was physically stronger than Takeda, he was powerless in the face of his teacher’s control of technique and pinning” Takeda Sokaku is recorded in modern budo history as the transmitter of...
Archive - February 2015
Josh GoldStanley Pranin demonstrates yoga and stretching exercises for Aikido
“How I saved my back for Aikido!” I’m Stanley Pranin and today I’d like to show you some of the yoga and stretching exercises that I’ve incorporated into my aikido warmup routine. About 25...
Kisshomaru Ueshiba, John Stevens, and Kodansha: “Shapers of the Image of Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei,” by Stanley Pranin
“The contents of Kisshomaru’s books on Morihei present a family viewpoint, and one that reflects the agenda of the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo” An old saying attributed to Winston Churchill is, “History is...
“O-Sensei… Why did you conceal your true techniques from us?” by Stanley Pranin
“In reference to O Sensei’s videos, Morihiro Saito used to say that O-Sensei ‘hid’ his techniques with extra fancy movements so nobody could ‘steal’ them from him. What we see is, I...
Stealing the Founder’s secrets: “Katatedori balance-breaking at the moment of contact” by Stanley Pranin
“This stops the information feed to uke because there is no longer tension in nage’s hand. Uke is left out of the loop…” Aikido’s katatedori grab presents a thorny problem. I refer to the...
Historical photo: Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei and Morihiro Saito at Self-Defense Force demonstration c. 1955 by Stanley Pranin
Here are three rare photos from the personal collection of Morihiro Saito taken c. 1955. Morihei is aged 71 years and Saito Sensei is about 27 years old. Although the exact location is unknown, it appears as though the...
Aikido and Daito-ryu in Osaka: The Unknown Connection between Takuma Hisa and Hirokazu Kobayashi
The following is excerpted from a recent email I received from André Cognard Sensei of the Kokusai Aikido Kensukai Kobayashi Hirokazu Ryuha. It contains very interesting information about the close historical connection...
Magazine: Aiki News Number 88, Summer 1991
“One day, O-Sensei said, “Taijutsu which encompasses the theory of the sword is aikido.” Aiki News Number 88, Summer 1991 Contents ● Editorial – The Winds of Change...
“Square, Circle, and Triangle” by Sakura Mai
“These three basic shapes are a visual aid and should be understood as movements of the entire body” According to John Stevens (in the Spanish-language “El Libro de Aikido”), the triangle...
The Last Swordsman: The Yoshio Sugino Story, by Tsukasa Matsuzaki
Yoshio Sugino, swordsman of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu, is respected worldwide as one of the elder statesmen in the world of Japanese kobujutsu (classical martial arts). Born in 1904, his life has paralleled much...