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”

May 8^th, 2008 (read more )

Recommended reading: “A Common Sense Look At Aikido” by Yoshio Kuroiwa

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.

As long as we persist in viewing kata superficially, we will begin to think that they are of special importance. One cannot systematically or rationally explain any kata merely by learning in a repetitive manner without an understanding of why certain kata are considered to be basic. What we acquire by learning only repetitively is the preservation of form (the transmission of external form) and not the ability to create (understanding of the essence of kata). In other words, one does not understand what he is doing.

May 8^th, 2008 (read more » 1 comment )

Radio Interview: “David Shaner Sensei - Chief Instructor of the Eastern Ki Federation”

From usaikido.com

“We haven’t had a chance to interview anyone from the Ki-Aikido realm, so we decided to remedy that with this podcast! David Shaner is the Chief Instructor of the Eastern Ki Federation and is Japan Headquarter’s Advisor to Eastern Europe and Western Russia. He has been training with Tohei sensei for 38 years and was an uchi deshi (live-in student). Shaner sensei has been teaching at Furman University for 26 years and serves as the Gordon Poteat Professor of Philosophy and Asian Studies, as well as Chair of the Department of Philosophy.You can learn more about David Shaner Sensei at the Eastern Ki Federation website:”

May 8^th, 2008 (read more )

Brian Kagen pick: “Breathing In and Breathing Out In Accordance With “Go” and “Ju,” by Chojun Miyagi

“I don’t know when it was changed, but ‘karate’ is now written with letters as ‘Empty Hand’ instead of ‘Chinese Hand’. Anyway, I am happy to know that nowadays karate is popular all over Japan as a unique Okinawan martial arts, and even it has been officially recognized by Dai Nippon Butokukai (=Great Japan Fighting Arts and Moral Association) as one of Japanese fighting arts. However, without doubt, I am sure that the roots of karate is in China. I suppose the prototype karate might be modified in various ways in my home Okinawa, but I think it is worth enough as we can see the evolution of karate which was influenced by the uniqueness of Okinawan culture. Therefore, maybe, it is not unreasonable to change the letters of karate as ‘Empty Hand’ instead of ‘Chinese Hand’.”

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.

May 8^th, 2008 (read more » 1 comment )

Only book by Shoji Nishio plus 3-DVD Set!

The only book authored by Shoji Nishio Sensei, one of the most important instructors of the postwar era, Yurusu Budo, is one of the best-selling titles in our Aiki Store. In fact, we have had trouble keeping it in stock because each shipment seems to be gobbled up by customers faster than anticipated.

We would also like to bring to your attention that you may purchase all three of Nishio Sensei’s DVDs together with the Yurusu Aikido book as a set at a 25% discount. We have posted a series of 10 screen shots from this set to give you an idea of the outstanding quality and contents of these DVDs.

May 7^th, 2008 (read more )

Recommended reading: “The Last Swordsman: The Yoshio Sugino Story” by Tsukasa Matsuzaki

The article below on famous swordsman Yoshio Sugino 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.

The fierce gleam that once characterized his gaze has given way to a gentle, affectionate light as he watches over his young charges in the dojo. People have taken to describing him as “free of worldly desires and cares,” neither flattering others nor being swayed by their evaluations. At the age of 93, he is comfortable with himself to the point that his every movement and gesture is picture-perfect. His sword is filled with a graceful, elegant energy, his smile with an irresistible attraction.

May 7^th, 2008 (read more )

Brian Kagen pick: “Clear Instructions to the Excellent Art of Wrestling” by Nicolaes Petter

“Prof. Sydney Anglo calls Petter’s book “historically speaking, the most important treatise on unarmed combat ever printed… the finest of all wrestling books and deservedly the most famous” (the Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe, p. 190). It was first published in 1674 and reprinted several times, including one complete plagiarism. The combination of Petter’s lucid descriptions, devoid of all jargon, and de Hooge’s masterful depiction of pain and violence in the engravings, elevates the book to its position of solitary eminence. It is also probably unique in presenting an effective and complete unarmed combat system in a format from which it would be actually possible to learn.”

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.

May 7^th, 2008 (read more )

New Special for all 3 “Morihiro Saito: Lost Seminars” DVDs!

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.

May 6^th, 2008 (read more )

Recommended reading: “Interview with Swordmaster: Kiyoshi Nakakura (2)” by Stanley Pranin

The interview below with the adopted son of Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba 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.

The art was called “Daito-ryu” because of the connection with Sokaku Takeda. Then a few years later it was changed to Aikido. It seems that while I was there, various names were used for the art. For example, “Aioi-ryu” or “Aiki Budo” and so on. I think that the name “Aikido” was used quite a bit later. The dojo was built before I enrolled but its name was changed to the Kobukan while I was there, probably around 1932 or 1933.

May 6^th, 2008 (read more )

Brian Kagen pick: “Translation of Complete Illustrated Book of the Teaching Method of Tying, Resuscitation, and (the Jujutsu Method of) Kenpo”

“At the first look the book just gives an interesting collection of old Jjutsu techniques, but it also allows an internal view on the state and direction of Jjutsu at the time. The writers, publishers and contributors of this book were mostly prominent experts of Jjutsu and its different related systems, or were from families with a strong Bujutsu background. Although the book is from the middle of the Meiji era, the guilds those persons belonged to developed in late Tokugawa era, and thus were rooted in the Koryu traditions of Japanese martial arts.”

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.

May 6^th, 2008 (read more » 1 comment )

Special offer to subscribers: Back-issue DVD + “Aikido Masters” book free!

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.

May 5^th, 2008 (read more )

Recommended reading: “Where There’s A Will There’s A Way” by Stanley Pranin

The article below from Aiki News #90 (Winter 1992) 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.

An infant begins to utter his first few words at about the age of one. But that’s all—only words. He doesn’t use sentences in the beginning. The child is, in effect, learning a foreign language. We would regard an infant who could manage a few score words before reaching the age of 18 months as a quick learner. Yet an adult learning a foreign language who could only produce a few words after several months of study would be considered slow. We have a double-standard for evaluating learning which is weighted heavily in favor of the child. Far less is expected of him.

May 5^th, 2008 (read more )

Brian Kagen pick: “Complete Illustrated Book of the Teaching Method of Tying, Resuscitation, and (the Jujutsu Method of) Kenpo”

“Preface by Tetsutaro Hisatomi Sensei, Jujutsu Kyoshi
Afterword by Hachiro Imaizumi
Sensei, Enbu Kancho
Pictures/Copy by Ginko Adachi Sensei
Writing/Literary Work by Matsunosuke Iguchi (or Inoguchi)
Introductory Remarks by Count Takashi Washio and Viscount Nobuyoshi Kaieda
Published May 17, 1898 (Meiji 31)
Tokyo, Kinseido. 108 pages. 50 Sen. Japanese language”

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.

May 5^th, 2008 (read more » 1 comment )

“Takemusu Aikido Volumes 1-6” 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.

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.

May 4^th, 2008 (read more )

Brian Kagen pick: “Seikenkan Dojo USA”

“The history of Yoshinkan Aikido in Japan, around the world and in the United States after 1964, is well documented. However, the history of the art prior to 1964 has been a mystery. With that in mind, I set out to find who the original Yoshinkan Aikido practitioners were and who started teaching Yoshinkan Aikido in the United States. As it turns out, there were several Americans teaching Yoshinkan Aikido in the United States long before the Japanese instructors arrived in the mid 1960’s and early 1970’s.”

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.

May 4^th, 2008 (read more )

Recommended reading: “Founder of Aikido (25): The Founder Becomes a Golden Body” 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.

The founder said, “Fine. Let’s start, you with a wooden sword and me empty-handed. Come, try to hit me any way you like.” The officer appeared slightly offended by how small the founder looked when they faced off. He must have seen an opening for the next instant he struck sharply but the founder had swiftly turned his body with perfect finesse. The kendo man then took a more cautious stance and seeing a good opportunity, he again gave a quick blow but his sword came nowhere near the founder. Now the officer was dead serious. He launched a breathless series of lightning-like strikes, but each time Morihei turned out of the line of attack in an easy and lightly flowing manner. At the end, the officer collapsed, out of breath, on the floor.

May 4^th, 2008 (read more )