For readers who would like to further deepen their study of the origins of Aikido, we have prepared a special set titled “The Pillars of Aikido” that contains Aikido Pioneers-Prewar Era, Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu: Conversations with Daito-ryu Masters, and The Great Onisaburo Deguchi. A reading of these three pivotal books will give you a deep understanding of the roots of Aikido and inform you all about Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu, the technical precursor of the art, and Onisaburo Deguchi, the famous religious leader who guided Morihei Ueshiba through a spiritual transformation.

Click here for further information and to order.

Aikido Journal Editor Stanley Pranin is conducting regular classes in Las Vegas on Mondays and Thursdays, 7:00-8:30 pm.

The home dojo is located near the South Point Casino and Iwama Aikido is the style practiced. If you live in the area or are a visitor and would like to stop by you may contact us as described below:

- Go to the following link: http://www.aikidojournal.com/askaway
- Select the “Aikido Training in Las Vegas” topic from the drop-down menu
- Write a brief resume of your aikido training background, if any, describe your training goals, mention the area of town you live in, and provide an email and contact telephone number. We will contact each interested person and arrange a meeting to go over our training procedures and answer any questions you might have.

We live in a dynamic world. Sometimes changes happen for the better, but often for the worse. When then President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, declared World War One to be “The war to end all wars,” he was unaware that future history would call that great conflict the first world war. Little could he realize that Hitler would emerge as fascist dictator not much later, and that national socialist Germany would initiate an even more brutal offensive.

Martial arts popularity is also ever-changing and unpredictable to a large degree. If an incredible movie about one of the tried and true budo were to be made, many youngsters and adults alike would seek training in dojo of this art. This happened to an extent with the excellent movie, “Karate Kid.”

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.

Some aikido teachers talk a lot about non-violence, but fail to understand this truth. A pacifist is not really a pacifist if he is unable to make a choice between violence and non-violence. 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. He chooses peace. He must be able to make a choice. He must have the genuine ability to destroy his enemy and then choose not to. I have heard this excuse made. “I choose to be a pacifist before learning techniques so I do not need to learn the power of destruction.” This shows no comprehension of the mind of the true warrior. This is just a rationalization to cover the fear of injury or hard training. The true warrior who chooses to be a pacifist is willing to stand and die for his principles. People claiming to be pacifists who rationalize to avoid hard training or injury will flee instead of standing and dying for principle. They are just cowards. Only a warrior who has tempered his spirit in conflict and who has confronted himself and his greatest fears can in my opinion make the choice to be a true pacifist..

Aikido Journal offers some of the most important aikido pedagogical materials available anywhere. The crown jewel of our collection is the 7-DVD set of instructional seminars by the famous Morihiro Saito Sensei, 9th dan.

This 7-DVD set contains detailed contents of seminars conducted by Morihiro Saito, 9th dan, during his foreign travels in the period of 1985-1994. A study of these excellent materials will provide aficionados of Iwama Aikido and in-depth glimpse of the teaching methodology of this great instructor, one of Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba’s closest disciples. This set includes more than 14 hours of seminar footage and literally hundreds of techniques. Each DVD contains complete English subtitles allowing viewers to closely follow Saito Sensei’s instruction.

If you already have some of the “Lost Seminars” DVDs and just need certain ones, feel free to take advantage of our special discount offer and choose only the titles you are missing.

“As he said these last words I winced: it was another “aggressive” act that, while understandable, could serve no useful purpose. Implicit in this remark was a lack of confidence in the ranger - a crticism of his conduct. Indeed, the ranger’s immediate response was to rush up, almost nose-to-nose, in a highly aggressive manner. “All right then,” he spat out, “what’s your name?”. Then he pulled out a notebook (as if he was going to give the elderly man a ticket!). The fact that he had no basis upon which to exercise his “power” to require a name and address appalled me, but I could see that there was no point taking him to task about this. He would use whatever powers he had - lawfully or unlawfully - in answer to the gentleman.”

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.

Click here to read entire blog.

“The FULL spectrum would have to include activities leading up to the actual encounter as well. This is aspects such as awareness, knowledge of the victim selection process and signs and indicators of agitated persons or persons about to commit a violent action. The full spectrum of low tech combat must also include events immediately after an encounter such as gathering witnesses, knowing what to say to police and being able to render first aid. Another aspect would be the day to day and ‘industry’ knowledge and lifestyle that comes with being a modern citizen warrior.”

Click here to read entire article.

We would like to remind you of the availability of a special set consisting of a book (Takemusu Aikido Special Edition) and DVD (Budo) by Morihiro Saito Sensei, that presents in great detail the famous 1938 technical manual titled Budo of O-Sensei. By purchasing the book and DVD on Budo together, you will realize a savings of 20% off the retail price of these companion products purchased separately.

Saito Sensei does a masterful job of demonstrating and explaining all of the techniques of Budo in his book and DVD that comprise this Special Set. There are several reasons why the manual Budo is of great importance to aikido history. It is the only source of organized technical sequences demonstrated by Morihei Ueshiba replete with explanations.

I have no romantic notions of what it means to be a warrior. I served in the United States Marine Corps and worked for ten years as a deputy sheriff. I have seen the dead and the dying, the deliberate and the accidental. I have seen people shot, cut, burned, beaten, strangled, crushed, even literally hammered to death. I understand how fast violence can erupt/interrupt into our everydayness and destroy our lives. My goal is simply that of any warrior/father/husband: to be prepared to protect and defend myself, my family, my community.

One of the ways I choose to do that is through Aikido. I enjoy Aikido because it is hard, because it forces me to change, because it forces me to face myself. My first Sensei was irascible and difficult, but he gave me a solid foundation in some of the basics. His emphasis was on techniques for the world off the mat, especially the breaking and keeping of uke’s balance and in delivering solid strikes.

“The purpose of this article is to practice and validate the Ki principle (Mind moves body) which is the foundation of Ki-Aikido in our daily life. Therefore, it has no meaning if you just read it without practicing it. The fundamental method of mastering anything is practice. However, it is not enough just to practice, but it is also important to validate how one has changed as a result of the practice.”

Click here to read entire article.

HURRY TO GET YOUR AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF THE NEW BOOK!
DOWNLOAD PDF FILE! (SEE BELOW)

It is our pleasure to announce the launch of one of the most important books on Aikido history ever published—Aikido Pioneers-Prewar Era by Stanley Pranin. The book is now at the printer with a scheduled shipping date of March 17. To entice readers to order early, the first one hundred purchasers will receive an autographed copy from the first edition of the book.

This new title weighs in at a hefty 364 pages and contains in-depth interviews with twenty of the most important early students of Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba. These early disciples of the art witnessed and participated in the process that culminated in the birth of modern Aikido. Their testimonies constitute an invaluable source of information for those seeking an understanding of the roots of aikido.

The list of those appearing in Aikido Pioneers and sharing their remembrances and stories reads like a Who’s Who of Aikido: Yoichiro Inoue, Kenji Tomiki, Hisao Kamada, Hajime Iwata, Minoru Mochizuki, Shigemi Yonekawa, Rinjiro Shirata, Gozo Shioda, Yoshio Sugino, Kiyoshi Nakakura, Takako Kunigoshi, Zenzaburo Akazawa, Bansen Tanaka, Tenryu, Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Minoru Hirai, Koichi Tohei, Kisaburo Osawa, Shigenobu Okumura, and Kanshu Sunadomari.

Click here to view or download (right click) a sample PDF file of Aikido Pioneers-Prewar Era containing about 1/4 of the pages of the book

Click here for further information and to order Aikido Pioneers - Prewar Era

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 first met Ueshiba Sensei at the Osaka Dojo of Bansen Tanaka Sensei. At that time I had no idea that it was the opening ceremony for the dojo. I was just passing by when I suddenly noticed a sign that read Morihei Ueshiba. I guess that it was some kind of (mysterious) guidance from O-Sensei; anyway, I went right in. That’s when I realized that the dojo had been open only the day before, and that the display, at the misogi-kai, was given by the same Ueshiba Sensei. When I mentioned it, I was immediately taken upstairs. There I asked Ueshiba Sensei, “How did you ever learn such a wonderful budo?” He answered, “Through misogi” Now, I had been doing misogi since 1941 and when I heard that Aikido cam from misogi, suddenly, “snap” the two came together. Then and there, I made up my mind that I had to dedicate myself to learning Aikido and stick with O-Sensei to the bitter end.