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Interview with Nobuyoshi Tamura (1) by Stanley Pranin and Didier Boyet
Nobuyoshi Tamura Sensei (1933-2010) “Although some people often say that accompanying O-Sensei was hard work, I was happy to do it because I could stay in nice places, eat delicious food and receive...
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Interview with Morihei Ueshiba and Kisshomaru Ueshiba
“True budo means to win over yourself and eliminate the fighting heart of the enemy.” A: When I was a college student my philosophy professor showed us a portrait of a famous philosopher, and now I am...
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Remembering Morihiro Saito Sensei, by Stanley Pranin
“One of his hapless ukes was sent flying into the back curtain of the stage before unceremoniously sliding down to the mat with a thud.” Introduction I have on many occasions over the years written...
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Morihei’s Ueshiba Juku, Launchpad of a Martial Arts Career, by Stanley Pranin
Morihei inside of Ueshiba Juku, Ayabe c. 1922 “The role of this much maligned religious sect in the launching of Morihei’s career, and the subsequent birth and spiritual emphasis of aikido cannot be...
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Interview with Mitsunari Kanai Sensei (2)
This is the second part of an interview with Mitsunari Kanai Sensei which took place on August 22, 1979, at the New England Summer Camp. Mitsunari Kanai (1939-2004)I think it is significant that from...
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Interview with Seishiro Endo (1) by Stanley Pranin
“O-Sensei’s eyes were really piercing when he was doing techniques, but in general he seemed to me more like a nicely aged, amiable, grandfatherly type.” Seishiro Endo, 8th danFrom Aikido Journal #106...
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Interview with Koichi Tohei (1), by Stanley Pranin
Koichi Tohei teaching at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in 1962 “I began studying aikido because I saw that Ueshiba Sensei had truly mastered the art of relaxing. It was because he was relaxed, in fact, that...
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The Dawn of Tomiki Aikido by Seiji Tanaka
“The mere technicians only teach techniques, but true educators, like Professor Kano and Professor Tomiki, teach us the methods and principles upon which their students can grow with no limitations.”...
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Interview with Swordmaster Kiyoshi Nakakura (1) by Hideo Yamanaka and Stanley...
Morihei Ueshiba’s adopted son, Kiyoshi Nakakura, attacking the Founder in demonstration, probably in Osaka c. 1934 “I had the feeling that no one could beat me. I had rarely lost a match before, and I...
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Historical photo with Morihei Ueshiba and Gozo Shioda: “Atemi and pressure...
“Modern aikido has tended to neglect such techniques which have true martial application” The other day on Facebook, some kind soul posted a very rare photo of Morihei Ueshiba taken c. 1940. If you...
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Historical photo: “Morihei Ueshiba captivates budo aficionados among Tokyo’s...
“Here in a single image that tells a story with many threads, we see a 43-year-old martial arts phenomenon at the outset of his illustrious career.” In 1927, Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba moved his...
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Is O-Sensei Really the Father of Modern Aikido?, by Stanley Pranin
“O-Sensei did not teach in Tokyo on a regular basis after the war. Even when he appeared, often he would spend most of the hour lecturing on esoteric subjects completely beyond the comprehension of...
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Iwama: Birthplace of Aikido by Stanley Pranin
Aiki Shrine in Iwama “The inconspicuous village of Iwama situated in a farming area of Ibaragi Prefecture seems an unlikely candidate for the birthplace of aikido.” Ask even a beginning aikidoka who...
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“Interview with André Cognard (1),” by Stanley Pranin
André Cognard was born in France in 1954. He was 17 years old when he started teaching aikido to adults, by opening five dojos in several cities in France. Four years later, he received the French...
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Video: Morihei Ueshiba —“Channeling the Power of the Gods,” by Stanley Pranin
“Many of the old-timers spoke of some kind of extraordinary power that O-Sensei possessed beyond the dimension of physical strength.” I began collecting films of the Founder Morihei Ueshiba at a young...
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Historical photos: Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei performing the misogi jo, c. 1965...
“A nuboko adorned with jewels was used by Izanami and Izanagi while standing on the Ame no Ukihashi to ‘stir’ the sea!” This series of photos shows Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei performing misogi jo...
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Using Koichi Tohei’s Model as a Baseline, by Mike Sigman
A young Steven Seagal attempts to lift Koichi Tohei, c. 1972 “Steven Seagal can’t lift Koichi Tohei!” One of the big problems with many of the Aikido articles printed by westerners is that they are...
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Video: Hiroshi Isoyama, 8th dan, at 2004 All-Japan Aikido Demonstration...
This is a video clip of Hiroshi Isoyama, 8th dan, from the 2004 All-Japan Aikido Demonstration held at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. Isoyama Sensei started aikido as a boy in Iwama and learned directly...
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Magazine: Aikido Journal Number 102, 1995
“Even if you cut off my head, it has no more effect than stroking the spring breeze that whispers now across these fields.” Aikido Journal Number 102, 1995 Contents ● Editorial – Can competition...
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Interview with Koichi Tohei (1), by Stanley Pranin
Koichi Tohei teaching at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in 1962 “I began studying aikido because I saw that Ueshiba Sensei had truly mastered the art of relaxing. It was because he was relaxed, in fact, that...
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