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.

Essay

Flow Like a River: Takashi Nonaka and the Hilo Ki-Aikido Club

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Tohei and Nonaka

 Takashi Nonaka, Yasu Iwasa, Koichi Tohei, Kazuo Takaki, Kiyoshi Nagata 1955 – Hilo, Hawaii at the teahouse in Liliokulani Park (Photo courtesy of Dr. Mitsuo Adachi Sensei – orginal photo by Bernie Lau) The oldest of eight children (three boys and four girls), Takashi Nonaka was born on the Big Island of Hawaii on May 8, 1925, he was the oldest of eight children. His … Continue reading Flow Like a River: Takashi Nonaka and the Hilo Ki-Aikido Club »

Essay

Aikido’s Harry Eto: The Wisdom of ‘Slow and Steady’

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Harry Eto

Harry Eto Sensei Harry Eto, promoted to eighth degree black belt in 1998 at the age of 92, was one of Koichi Tohei’s first students in Hawaii. Here is a section of the article that appeared in the local Honolulu Advertiser newspaper when he passed away in 2001: Harry Setsuo Eto, a barefoot Kaua’i plantation boy who literally helped build Honolulu and at middle age became … Continue reading Aikido’s Harry Eto: The Wisdom of ‘Slow and Steady’ »

Interview, Translation

Interview with Aikido Shihan Shoji Nishio

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Nishio and Ueshiba

Shoji Nishio sensei (西尾 昭二) and Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei Shoji Nishio was one of the major post-war students of Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei. Born in 1927, he entered Aikikai Hombu Dojo in 1952, becoming one of the early students of the post-war era. A multi-talented man,  he was also a student of Karate (5th Dan Shindō jinen-ryū), Judo (6th Dan Kodokan Judo) … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Shihan Shoji Nishio »

Translation

Post-war Aikido, a Tale of Rival Warlords: Research in Hawaii

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Kozo Kaku

Kozo Kaku on the cover of Plaza Magazine Kozo Kaku (加来 耕三) is an Aikido fourth dan, a menko kaiden in Taisha-ryu Kenjutsu (タイ捨流), and a well known author of books on Japanese history, especially with themes related to Japanese Budo. This article is a translation of a section of his book “Post-war Aikido, a Tale of Rival Warlords – the Men who Built World … Continue reading Post-war Aikido, a Tale of Rival Warlords: Research in Hawaii »

Interview, Translation

Interview with Aikido Shihan Nobuyuki Watanabe, Part 2

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Nobuyuki Watanabe Sensei

 Nobuyuki Watanabe sensei (渡辺信之) at Aikikai Hombu Dojo Nobuyuki Watanabe is a senior instructor at Aikikai Hombu Dojo and a Japanese bonesetter (接骨 / Sekkotsu – a form of joint manipulation similar to chiropractics). He was instrumental in making Isogai Dynamic Therapy (a chiropractic method of treatment to compensate for functional leg length differences) known in Germany, where he frequently travels to instruct in Aikido. … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Shihan Nobuyuki Watanabe, Part 2 »