Author: Christopher Li

About Christopher Li

Chris is an instructor at the Aikido Sangenkai, a non-profit Aikido group in Honolulu, Hawaii, on the island of Oahu. He has been training in the traditional and modern Japanese martial arts since 1981, with more than twelve years of training while living in Japan.

Translation

Solo Training for Kokyu-ryoku and Ki in Daito-ryu Aiki Budo

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Daito-ryu Aiki Budo 118 Techniques

Daito-ryu Aiki Budo 118 Techniques (大東流合気武道百十八ヶ条) by Yoshihisa Ishibashi (石橋義久) Yoshihisa Ishibashi (石橋義久) was born in Tokyo in 1938 and started training in Daito Ryu at the Daitokan dojo in 1964, learning Aiki Budo and Ono Ha Itto Ryu Kenjutsu directly from Sokaku Takeda’s son Tokimune Takeda. In 1969, together with Yoshimi Tomabechi (苫米地芳見) and Katsuyuki Kondo (近藤勝之), he opened the Katsushika Branch Dojo in Tokyo and was its … Continue reading Solo Training for Kokyu-ryoku and Ki in Daito-ryu Aiki Budo »

Interview, Translation

Interview with Yoshio Sugino of Katori Shinto-ryu, 1961

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Yoshio Sugino and Toshiro Mifune

  Director Akira Kurosawa observes Yoshio Sugino and Toshiro Mifune on the set of “Yojimbo”, around 1961 Sometimes called “the Last Swordsman”, Yoshio Sugino (杉野嘉男 / 1904–1998) began his martial arts training in Kodokan Judo around 1918. Becoming dissatisfied with Judo he began to train in traditional Yoshin Koryu jujutsu. Around the same time, in 1927, he also began to train in Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu with the … Continue reading Interview with Yoshio Sugino of Katori Shinto-ryu, 1961 »

Translation

Mr. Kimura’s Aikido Memories, Part 2

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Morihei Ueshiba at the Noma Dojo

Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba at the Noma Dojo, around 1936  In 1938 the Prime Minister of Japan was Prince Fumimaro Konoe (近衛 文麿) – he was a patron of Morihei Ueshiba and served on the board of directors for Morihei Ueshiba’s pre-war Kobukai Foundation. In 1938, when he began training with Morihei Ueshiba at the Kobukan Dojo in Tokyo, Mr. Kimura was a 19 year old … Continue reading Mr. Kimura’s Aikido Memories, Part 2 »

Translation

Mr. Kimura’s Aikido Memories, Part 1

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Technical Manual Budo, Page 38

Morihei Ueshiba’s Technical Manual “Budo” – published in 1938  1938 saw the continuation of the Japanese war in China, increased economic sanctions against Japan by the United States, and and the formation of the precursor to the “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere” (大東亞共榮圏), the “New Order in East Asia” (東亜新秩序). It saw the passing of the National Mobilization Law (国家総動員法) in the Japanese Diet, putting the national economy … Continue reading Mr. Kimura’s Aikido Memories, Part 1 »

Interview, Translation

A Leap of the Spirit – Moritaka (Morihei) Ueshiba in 1932

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Kami no Keshin

“Kami no Keshin” (“Embodiment of God” / 神の化身) Kanzou Miura (三浦関造) – Ryuo Library (竜王文庫), 1960 Kanzou Miura was born in Fukuoka, Japan on July 15th 1883, just five months before Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei was born in Wakayama Prefecture. After graduation from Aoyama Gakuin’s Theological School he spent one year working as a Methodist minister in the southwest of Aomori Prefecture, in Hirosaki City. He became … Continue reading A Leap of the Spirit – Moritaka (Morihei) Ueshiba in 1932 »