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.

Sokaku Sensei traveled all over, from Hokkaido in the north all the way to Okinawa in the south. It is also remarkable that he taught not only in police departments of one particular region, but throughout the entire country. I believe that if his technique was fake or ineffective, he would have been considered useless because police departments could easily exchange such information. The case would have been the same with the military . He also taught at many military establishments. It is sometimes said that Sokaku Sensei’s relationship with the military was limited and only through the Omoto religion and the connection with Morihei Ueshiba Sensei. In fact, however, Sokaku Takeda Sensei had direct connections to the military. This is clear from the enrollment books he kept.

From Forbes.com:

“In 1889, seven years before the founding of the modern international Olympics, the British author Rudyard Kipling intoned: ‘Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet/’Till Earth and Sky stand present at God’s great Judgment Seat.’”

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 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.

We would like to point out the available of book summaries and scans for books in our bibliography database.

Click here to see a complete list of books in our database. Among the many features added to the bibliography section is a book review capability replete with a star-rating system.

These features are viewable when clicking the “View entire list” option on the bibliography search page. Another feature is the ability to toggle between images for book entries that have more than one scan available. See here for an example. Remember you can click on any image to enlarge it.

The article below dealing with the relationship between Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba and Kenji Tomiki Sensei 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.

Among the many distinguished disciples of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido, Kenji Tomiki stands out for his intellectual stature and skill in articulating the historical and ethical rationale of the art. Whereas the founder viewed life and, consequently, his budo, mainly in religious terms, Professor Tomiki espoused a view of aikido which included competition and placed it within the larger context of the history of Japanese martial arts. An academician as well as an athlete, Tomiki authored several books and formulated a theoretical basis for aikido that was understandable by the average person. In this article we will briefly touch upon Professor Tomiki’s background, his relationship with Jigoro Kano and Morihei Ueshiba, and his contributions to present-day aikido.

Among the numerous video titles in our product catalog is a DVD titled “Aiki Budo” featuring Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba. This exciting DVD showcases the prewar Aiki Budo of Morihei and begins with a new 45-minute documentary written and produced by Aikido Journal Editor-in-chief Stanley Pranin that traces the life of the Founder from his boyhood in Tanabe through his retirement to Iwama in 1942. Morihei’s early martial arts training, his study of Daito-ryu aikijujutsu under the famous Sokaku Takeda, his involvement with the Omoto religious sect led by Onisaburo Deguchi, and a history of Ueshiba’s Kobukan Dojo are presented.

This documentary also includes fascinating video and audio recordings of several prewar Aikido figures commenting on their remembrances of the Aikido Founder. Among those who appear are Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Gozo Shioda, Rinjiro Shirata, Takako Kunigoshi, and Kiyoshi Nakakura.

The following post by John Driscoll is excerpted from a thread currently in progress in the Aikido Journal forums titled “Ushiro waza”:

Why is it that uke starts attacking in front of nage when uke’s intention is to grab from behind?

“I would argue that starting from a static position with uke behind tori (shite) is the simplest way to teach ushiro waza, not having someone deal with the complexities of closing maai, trapping hands, etc.

I just read Cooperation During Demonstrations by Stan Pranin and the attached comments.

This is an interesting conundrum in which all manner of instant experts abound. I’ve heard this discussion and criticisms most of my life. Coming from non-practitioners of Aiki arts such arguments hold no water because they don’t see what’s going on.

Yes indeedy sir, the uke were cooperating with the old guy because he would up the ante if they did not! And that means serious pain if not injury.

We have had many new subscribers since we launched our offer of the free back issue DVD for those subscribing or renewing their subscriptions to the Online Aikido Journal for two years.

Many of you know that this incredible DVD includes 26 years of Aiki News / Aikido Journal, more than 4,300 pages in PDF format to be read on your computer. However, this information-packed DVD also includes several bonuses. Among them is a 4-hour lecture by Stanley Pranin on the history of aikido in mp3 format. This detailed lecture will give you many new perspectives on the life of Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba not found in any book.

Here is a 15-minute sample from the lecture.

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 Aizu domain was well known for its martial activities, and Kanenori Dengoro Kurokochi is prominent among the many martial artists from that region during the last years of the Shogunate, just prior to the Meiji Restoration. Kanenori’s common name was Dengoro and he was adopted into the family of Kanehiro Jisuke Kurokochi at a young age. His adoptive great-grandfather, Kanetaka Sakon Kurokochi, was a skilled practitioner of Shinmuso Muraku-ryu iaijutsu, the principal art of the family, and as a result of his skills in this art he was awarded in 1750 a domainal position with a stipend of ten koku of rice [one koku is approximately five bushels; i.e. the amount required to feed a person for one year].