Kisshomaru Ueshiba (1921–1999)

In the years since I first read this book I've gotten 11 years of practice in Aikido.

Recently in our dojo I've seen a lot of conversation about "effectiveness" of Aikido. This is a common topic among martial arts jock-sniffers. The most common current opinion being "if it doesn't work in MMA, it is no good."

So this morning I went back and read the first couple of chapters of this book, and I'm more convinced than ever that it is CRUCIAL reading. First, in understanding the notion of a "Martial Way", and second exactly how Aikido fits into the concepts of Budo and the Martial Way.

… (mais)

from cover

At last, the complete and authoritative introduction to all the fundamentals of Aikido, coauthored by the two direct successors to the Founder of the martial art, Morihei Ueshiba. Coauthors Kisshomaru Ueshiba and Moriteru Ueshiba, son and grandson of the Founder, seek to carry on his legacy and to share with the millions of men and women around the world practicing Aikido today the most important techniques and principles of the art.

This book is the quintessential training aid for all Aikido practitioners-whether beginning or advanced-who wish to further their understanding of the forms and spirit of Aikido.

Underlying the forms, or physical techniques, are the spritual principles of Aikido, which are based on the notion of ki, or 'life force.' Ki is the fundamental element to understanding Aikido. But as tha authors explain, it cannot be learned merely by watching a demonstration or reading a book. Rather, one must come to experience it through practice, in unifying body and mind.'

Best Aikido helps guide the practitioner to this goal. It offers step-by-step instruction that will complement knowledge learned in the dojo. The text is illustrated with a wealth of never-before-seen photographs that feature Aikido masted Moriteru Ueshiba demonstrating the fundamental techniques of the art.

Best Aikido is authorized by the Aikikai Foundation, the central organization set up by Morihei Ueshiba.

Contents

Foreword
What Is Aikido?
Aikido Questions and Answers
Chapter One Preparation for Training
1 Stance (Kamae)
2 Combative Distance and eye Focus (Ma-ai and Me-tsuke)
3 Etiquette, Formal Sitting, Knee Walking (Rei, Zaho, Shikko)
4 Foot Movement (Unsoku)
Basic Step (Ayumi Ashi)
Continuous Step (Tsugi Ashi)
Sending Step (Okuri Ashi)
5 Body Movement (Sabaki)
Irimi (Entering) (against a punch)
Tenkan (Pivot Turn)
Katate-dori Tenkan (Body Turn when held by one wrist)
Tenshin (Sweeping Body Tkurn)
Tenkai (Revolving Turn)
6 Breakfalls (Ukemi)
Back Breakfall (Ushiro hanten ukemi)
Front Breakfall ( Zenpo kaiten ukemi)
Full Breakfall (Koho kaiten ukemi)
Pinning Technique Breakfall (Katame waza ukemi)
Side Breakfall (Yoko ukemi)
7 Hand Sword (Te-gatana)
8 Warm-up Exercises for the Wrist (Tekubi Kansetsu Junan Ho)
Kote-mawashi ho
Kote-gaeshi ho
9 Back stretch (Haishin Undo)
10 Body Turn (Tai no Tenkan)
Shiho-giri (Omote)
Shihio-giri (Una)
Chapter Two-Fundamental Techniques
Throwing Techniques (Nage-waza)
1 Irimi-nage (Entering Throw)
Katate-dori Irimi-nage (ai hanmi)
Shomen-uchi Irimi-nage
2 Shiho-nage (Four-Direction Throw)
Katate-dori Shiho-nage (ai-hanmi) (omote)
Katate-dori Shiho-nage (ai-hanmi)(ura)
Katate-dori Shiho-nage (gyaku-hanmi)(omote)
Katate-dori Shiho-nage (gyaku-hanmi)(ura)
Pinning Techniques (Katame-waza)
1 Dai-Ikkyo (Pin Number One)
Katate-dori Dai-Ikkyo (ai-hanmi)(omote)
Katate-dori Dai-Ikkyo (ai-hanmi)(ura)
Shomen-uchi Dai-Ikkyo (omote)
Shomen-uchi Dai-Ikkyo (ura)
Shomen-uchi Dai-Ikkyo (suwari-waza)(Omote)
Shomen-uchi Dai-Ikkyo (suwari-waza)(Ura)
Kokyu-ho (Breathing Power Training)
Standing (rippo)(omote)
Standing (rippo)(ura)
Sitting (za-ho)
Tanchi-nage and Breath Power
Chapter Three-Basic Techniques
Throwing Techniques (Nage-waza)
1 Irimi-nage
Yokomen-uchi Irimi-nage
Katate-dori Irimi-nage (gyaku-hanmi)(irimi)
Katate-dori Irimi-nage (gyaku-hanmi)(tenkan)
Tsuii Irimi-nage (irimi)
Tsuki Irimi-nage (tenshin)
Ushiro Ryotekubi-dori Irimi-nage
2 Shiho-nage
Yokomen-uchi Shiho-nage (omote)
Yokomen-uchi Shiho-nage (ura)
Ryote-dori Shiho-nage (omote)
Ryote-dori Shiho-nage (ura)
Hanmi-hantachi Katate-dori Shiho-nage (omote)
Hanmi-hantachi Katate-dori Shiho-nage (ura)
Ushiro Ryotekubi-dori Shiho-nage (omote)
Ushiro Ryotekubi-dori Shiho-nage (ura)
3 Tenchi-nage
Tenchi-nage (omote)
Tenchi-nage (ura)
4 Kaiten-nage
Katate-dori Kaiten-nage (uchi-kaiten)
Katate-dori Kaiten-nage (soto-kaiten)
Tsuki Kaiten-nage
Ushiro Ryotekubi-dori Kaiten-nage
Throwing and Pinning Combinatin Techniques (Nage-Katame Waza)
1 Kote-gaeshi
Shomen-uchi Kote-gaeshi
Yokomen-uchi Kote-gaeshi
Tsuki Kote-gaeshi (irimi)
Tsuki Kote-gaeshi (tenshin)
Katate-dori Kote-gaeshi (gyaku-hanmi)
Ushiro Ryotekubi-dori Kote-gaeshi
Pinning Techniques (Katame-Waza)
1 Dai-Ikkyo (Ude-owae)(Arm Pin)
Katate-dori Dai-Ikkyo (gyaku-hanmi)(omote)
Katate-dori Dai-Ikkyo (tyaku-hanmi)(ura)
Kata-dori Dai-Ikkyo (omote)
Kata-dori Dai-Ikkyo (ura)
Ushiro Ryotekubi-dori Dai-Ikkyo (omote)
Ushiro Ryotekubi-dori Dai-Ikkyo (ura)
2 Dai-Nikyo (Kote-mawashi)(Wrist Turn)
Shomen-uchi Dai-Nikyo (omote)
Shomen-uchi Dai-Nikyo (ura)
Kata-dori Dai-Nikyo (suwari-waza)(seated)(omote)
Kata-dori Dai-Nikyo (suwari-waza)(seated)(ura)
Katate-dori Dai-Nikyo (suwari-waza)(omote)
Katate-dori Dai-NIkyo (suwari-waza)(ura)
Ushiro Ryotekubi-dori Dai-Nikyo (omote)
Ushiro Ryotekubi-dori Dai-Nikyo (ura)
3 Dai-Sankyo (Kote-hineri)(Wrist twist)
Shomen-uchi Dai-Sankyo (suwari-waza)(seated)(omote)
Shomen-uchi Dai-Sankyo (suwari-waza)(seated)(ura)
Katate-dori Dai-Sankyo (gyaku-hanmi)(omote:uchi-kaiten)
Katate-dori Dai-Sankyo (gyaku-hanmi)(ura:uchi-kaiten)
Ushiro Ryotekubi-dori Dai-Sankyo (omote)
Ushiro Ryotekubi-dori Dai-Sankyo (ura)
4 Dai-Yonkyo (Tekubi-osae)(Wrist Pin)
Shomen-uchi Dai-Yonkyo (omote)
Shomen-uchi Dai-Yonkyo (ura)
Katate-dori Dai-Yonkyo (gyaku-hanmi)(omote)
Katate-dori Dai-Yonkyo (gyaku-hanmi)(ura)
Ushiro Ryotekubi-dori Dai-Yonkyo (omote)
Ushiro Ryotekubi-dori Dai-Yonkyo (ura)
5 Dai-Gokyo (Ude-nobashi)(Arm Extension)
Shomen-uchi Dai-Gokyo (omote)
Shomen-uchi Dai-Gokyo (ura)
Yokomen-uchi Dai-Gokyo (omote)
Yokomen-uchi Dai-Gokyo (ura)… (mais)

Deep insight into both the spiritual and technical dimensions of aikido

Aikido is a modern Budo founded by Morihei Ueshiba after he had mastered many traditional Japanese martial arts and engaged in profound spiritual training. Morihei maintained, 'In true Budo, there is no enemy. True Budo is the function of love. A martial art solely concerned with winning and losing is not true Budo. Victory is to thoroughly rid the mind of contention and conflict withn ourselves.'

This book was composed by Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Morihei's son and successor as the Second Aikido Doshu (the person who embodies the spirit of Aikido as inherited from the founder and is its living symbol). Morihei himself taught Aikido in archaic, esoteric language and limited his instruction to a select few. In order to introduce Aikido to the rest of the world, his son simplified its philosophy and arranged the techniques so that it would be possible for any serious trainee to pracitce this martial art. Aikido is now practiced in eighty-five foreign counries-a testament to Kisshomaru's achievement. The Aikido ideal of 'refining one's mind and body to foster a spirit of harmony' has obviously struck a common chord among the peoples of the world.

This book is a compilation of Kisshomaru's writings on Aikkido. It will provide the reader with deep insight into both the spiritual and technical dimensions of Aikido, and explains its central features-ki energy, breathing methods, posture, among others. The book is detailed with many dynamic photos, depicting the author, and his son Moriteru (present Doshiu, and the author of The Aikido Master Course), carrying out the techniques. It is a work that all Aikido practitioners, from beginner to master, will want to acquire.

Kisshomaru Ueshiba was the second Aikido Doshu. He was born in 1921, the third son of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido. He graduated from Waseda University in 1946, became master of the Aikido Workd Headquarters in 1948, and in 1967 was named chairman of the Aikikai Foundatin, the principal Aikido organization in Japan and overseas.

His forma appointment as successor to his father occurred in 1969. He held several important posts related to the martial arts and was a trustee of the Nippon Budokan, the 'hall of martial arts' located in Tokyo. He was the author of the popular book The Spirit of Aikido, and the co-author of Best Aikido: The Fundamentals. He died in 1999.

Contents

Preface by Moriteru Ueshiba
Part I Aikido Philosophy
Sumikiri (Perfect clarity)
Enten (Circular integration)
Ki shin tai ichinyo (Ki, mind, and body as one)
Ki soku (energy-breath)
Wago (Harmony)
Seiza naikan (settled introspection)
Enryu (Circular flow)
Ki
Seida tanden (The body's psycho-physiological center)
Shikko (knee-walking)
Katame (control)
Inyo (yin-yang)
Hoki (Projection of ki)
Suwari-waza (seated techniques)
Issen no mai (Moments of movement)
Part II The essence of aikido
I What is ki?
Aikido: a continuation and perfection of Japan's traditional martial arts and wyas
The concept of ki
The concept of ki in the kito ryu
Ki as a vehicle to overcome mental obstacles
II The essence of budo cultre
Common points between jujutsu and aikido
Differences between jujutsu and aikido
The principles of swordsmanship and aikido
The way of the sword and the sword of no-form
III Ki and takemusu
Breath-power and the nature of human ki
Kototama
Kototama and the unification of man and the divine
The miraculous functioning of ki
Musubi and takemusu
IV The process of unification with the universe
Nen
The process of uniting human ki with universal ki
Mind, body, and ki as one
V Well-rounded and free mind
Aikido and the transformation of society
The essense of budo is not fighting
Freedom in aikido
Brightness and flexibility
Preserving venerable traditions in the midst of everyday life
Part III Aikido Technique
I Acquiring the correct posture and attitude for aikido
A stance that allows freedom of movement
Assuming ma-ai
Move in the center
The flow of ki
Sen
The use of power
Training in seated techniques
Basic preparatory techniques-Ki no henka; Kyoku no tenkan ho; Ukemi (breakfall)
The fundamentals of unifying mind, technique, and body
The principle of irimi
The relationship between beauty and movement
The development of breath-power
The relationship between breath-power and the hand-swords
The principle of ukemi (breakfall)
II Entering the realm of true techniques
The invigorating throwing techniques of aikido
Irim-nage Tenkan Individual training
Irimi-nage Fundamental technique
Irimi-nage Basic techniques
Irimi-nage Applied techniques
Shiho-nage Shiho-giri Tenkan exercise-Shiho-nage
Shiho-nage Fundamental technique
Shiho-nage Basic techniques
Shiho-nage Applied techniques
Circular turn and high throws
High throws
Basic pinnng techniques
Pinning technique turning exercise
Fundamental pinning techniques
Basic pinning techniques
Pinning techniquee applications
Throw-and-pin technigues: Kote-gaeshi
Kote-gaeshi Basic techniques
Kote-gaeshi Applied techniques
Advanced throwing techniques
Advanced applied techniques against armed attacks… (mais)