Stories about Aikido, Zen and the practice at the old Iwama Dojo.
Bill Witt shihan 7th dan, was one of the first foreign students to train with Saito Sensei at the Iwama Dojo. He tells a story about Saito Sensei’s systematic approach to Aikido instruction: One day, I walked out of the [Hombu] dojo and Saito Sensei was standing in front and he said to me: “How […]
Systematising your Aikido training Read More »
A comforting and illuminating comment from the poet Leonard Cohen: “Forget your perfect offering, there is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in”
On the struggle to learn Read More »
Three techniques were always taught at the Iwama dojo. Tai no henko to start. Followed by morote dori kokyu nage. And keiko always ended with suwari waza kokyu dosa. Anyone who attended the Iwama dojo knows this was the way Saito Sensei taught. And those people have gone on to teach their own students the same
Three techniques always taught in Iwama Read More »
O’Sensei was not only a Master of the martial arts but also a highly spititual man. In 1918 O’Sensei joined the Omotokyo Religion that had been established by the Rev. Onisaburo Deguchi. The following year he moved his entire family to Ayabe where the Omotokyo Headquarters were located. In Ayabe, O’Sensei lived, studied with Deguchi
Aikido the Spiritual Dimension Read More »
An excerpt from the 1938 Training Manual, “Budo”, by the Founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba. Translated by Mark L. Larson 5th dan. 1. Aikido can determine life or death with a single blow; therefore, when training, observe the directions of the instructor and do not engage in contests of strength. 2. Aikido is a Way
On Aikido Training Read More »
Learning to turn the body, or tai-no-henko is an important practice from the Iwama Dojo. In Morihei Ueshiba’s 1938 training manual “Budo” it is stated that “daily practice begins with tai no henko“ (see point 5 of the section entitled “How to Practice”). According to Saito Sensei, performing tai-no-henko from katate-dori (one hand gripped) was the way
We start with tai-no-henko Read More »
I had trained in karate for over 9 years and thought as a black belt I had reached a senior level of understanding. But after just 6 months of practising Shindo Musu-ryu Jodo, my teacher said to me: “You do not know how to walk properly – you are walking on your heels!”. “So” I
