Aikido
De Geiko (Practicing at Different Dojo’s)
Excerpts from the Beginners Handbook
When traveling on an airplane, a bag full of uniforms is not much of a problem, but a weapon case can be. To avoid unnecessary trouble, it might be a good idea to carry a set of fishing poles along with your bokken and jo, and avoid using the word "weapons!"-Security officers unfamiliar with Aikido practice might get the wrong idea. I'm just joking of course, but it can be a little confusing at times.
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Bei Nichi Sogotaiken (U.S./Japan Cross-cultural Experience)
People from all over the world come to visit Nippon Kan, but the majority of visitors are from Japan. In return Nippon Kan offers a program where students may stay in Japan for an extended period of time to study. In the mountains of Northern Japan lies the village of Naruse, where simple traditional lifestyles remain much as they have been for centuries. Naruse is the site of Nippon Kan's exchange program, which offers a unique opportunity to study authentic traditional culture on a firsthand basis.
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Shuccho Enbu (Public Demonstrations)
"Next Time I am not taking an assistant who's so handsome!” I joked about all the attention my assistant received at a public Aikido demonstrations ration.
During the late 70S, the martial arts gained wide popularity in the United States due to images created by Bruce Lee and other "macho martial arts movie heroes
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Keiko (Practice)
One of the prerogatives of being an uchideshi is to be able to participate in black belt classes, or any other special classes, even if he or she is a white belt ranked student. Practicing among much more advanced students and trying to keep up with them is not an easy task. The first trick an uchideshi learns is how to tie his belt loosely so that It comes undone every so often. In this way he can take a short break to catch his breath while he is tying his belt again.
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Gakushu (Studying)
In a corner of his chilly living quarters, an uchideshi sits hunched over his desk until the wee hours of the morning. As well as being an uchideshi, he is a full-time college student. Trying to achieve both of these goals at the same time is a worthy challenge. We are all given a life to live.
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Yoshinkan Aikido : History
Present day aikido has its origins in daito aikijutsu which is said to have been founded by Prince Teijun, the sixth son of the Emperor Seiwa (850-880 AD). Through the prince's son, Tsunemoto, it was passed on to succeeding generations of the Minamoto family. By the time the art reached Shinra Saburo Yoshimitsu, the younger brother of Yoshiie Minamoto, it would appear that the foundations of the present aikido had already been laid.
Yoshimitsu was apparently a man of exceptional skill and learning. Yoshimitsu's second son Yoshikiyo lived in Takeda in the province of Kai where he eventually became known by this name. Subsequently, the techniques were passed on to successive generations as a secret art of the Takeda House and made known only to members and retainers of the family. In 1574, Takeda Kunitsugu moved to Aizu; the techniques continued to be passed on to his descendants only, and came to be known as the aizu han otome waza.
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Yoshinkan Aikido
Yoshinkan Aikido is a Japanese martial art, which originates from the pre-war era of Aikido Master Morihei Uyeshiba. Uyeshiba did not believe his aikido was for a particular individual, elite group or nation, but for the whole human family. Gozo Shioda, Uyeshiba's top student at the time, formed the Yoshinkan Aikido organization in honor of Master Morihei Uyeshiba and to promote the universal practice of Aikido.
Aikido techniques and training methods are based on control, not pain; blending, not stopping; using, not resisting power of the aggressor. Aikido can be very effective in a street situation. In fact, it is a requirement for all Japanese Law Enforcement Officers from the lowest ranks to the Tokyo Riot Squad.
Like all martial arts, Aikido develops a high level of awareness in an individual. This benefit, among many others, helps to provide greater personal discipline and overall balance in everyday life, both inside and outside the training hall (dojo). In our dojo, Aikido is taught as an art, a life-long search that begins with Ikkajo, the first technique.
Related Links:
Adelaide Yoshinkan Aikido
International Yoshinkan Aikido Federation (IYAF)
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