Here at the frontier, the leaves fall like rain. Although my neighbors are all barbarians, and you, you are a thousand miles away, there are still two cups at my table.


Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn, a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter. If your mind isn't clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life.

~ Wu-men ~


Friday, October 25, 2013

Old Aikido

Below is a video taken from a 1950's documentary on aikido, featuring Shigeho Tanaka. Shihan Tanaka was one of Ueshiba's pre war students and was associate with both the Yoshinkan and Aikikai.

He's a pleasure to watch. He is as smooth as glass as he moves.

Note too, his stance. It is very similar to the stance Shioda took whenever he did free style, which is unlike the basic kamae taught in what we know as Yoshinkan. Kushida Sensei called it an "old style" stance, meaning that it came from the old AikiBudo/Daito Ryu days.

Enjoy.



2 comments:

Kyokushin Karate said...

That was a real pleasure to watch. I like seeing Aikido vids that don't involve almost-no-touch throws.

Who can I google, in addition to this master, to find some good examples of Aikido?

Rick Matz said...

Gozo Shioda, Kenji Tomiki; the old timers, generally.

If you click on the label, "aikido videos," you'll find a few.

Any other suggestions, anyone?