Recent Posts:
- Takeshita Isamu, Okawa Shumei, Kuzuu Yoshihisa and the Southeast Asian National Liberation League
Explore the deep historical ties between Aikido founder Ueshiba Morihei and influential wartime figures like Admiral Takeshita Isamu, Okawa Shumei, and Kuzuu Yoshihisa. - Interview with Ralph Glanstein SenseiExplore the history of American Aikido through this archival interview with Ralph Glanstein Sensei. As a founding member of the New York Aikikai who later established the Windward Aikido Club in Hawaii, Glanstein Sensei shares captivating insights on early training, influential martial artists, and his lifelong dedication to the art, accompanied by a heartfelt eulogy.
- Eternal Principles – Morihei Ueshiba, Lost in TranslationTranslating the spiritual writings of Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba often masks the ultra-nationalist ideology embedded in his original Japanese texts. By examining key phrases like Bansei Ikkei in Takemusu Aiki, this article explores how modern translations dilute Ueshiba’s complex imperial ideology, revealing historical and political connections that reach into contemporary Aikido.
- Aikido, Me, and Kenkoku University – Training in Manchuria, Part 2In this conclusion to his personal reflections, Dodo Kazu explores the spiritual mastery of Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba alongside the rational, educational legacy of Professor Kenji Tomiki. Contrasting Ueshiba’s transcendent enlightenment with Tomiki’s vital role as an intellectual propagator, Dodo honors their distinct contributions to the philosophy, development, and international spread of modern Budo.
- Aikido, Me, and Kenkoku University – Training in Manchuria, Part 1Explore the history of pre-war Aikido in Japanese-occupied Manchuria through the personal recollections of Dodo Kazu, a student at Kenkoku University. This account examines his training under Morihei Ueshiba and Kenji Tomiki, highlighting the striking contrast between Ueshiba’s intuitive, non-rationalist martial philosophy and Tomiki’s rational, systematized approach to body dynamics and training.
- The 1929 Emperor’s Cup – Kenji Tomiki and the Other GuyExplore the history of the Showa Emperor’s Cup tournaments and the martial arts legacy of Kenji Tomiki. This article details Tomiki’s competitive Judo matches during the 1929 event, his deep connections to Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba and Jigoro Kano, and the historical reality behind pre-war martial techniques versus modern Aikido philosophy.
- War and Peace – Morihei Ueshiba, Lost in TranslationTranslating martial arts texts requires deep nuance, an area where both AI and human translators often struggle. Examining John Stevens’ popular book The Art of Peace, this essay explores how heavily edited source materials, mistranslations, and publisher marketing choices altered Morihei Ueshiba’s original teachings, replacing terms like Aiki and losing crucial historical context.
- Arms and Elbows: Morihei Ueshiba, Lost in TranslationAn examination of Morihei Ueshiba’s 1938 manual Budo reveals critical translation nuances in Aikido terminology. Exploring this shift highlights essential martial principles, connecting breath power, Gozo Shioda’s conditioning exercises, and core internal body mechanics across martial arts traditions.
