Aikido Pioneers Prewar Era Stanley Pranin 9784904464175 Books
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Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969) drew on his extensive martial arts experience as a young man, fusing this knowledge with his deeply-held religious beliefs, to create the modern self-defense art of Aikido.
During his long career, Ueshiba associated with some of prewar Japan's most colorful characters, including famous jujutsu master Sokaku Takeda, the charismatic religious leader Onisaburo Deguchi, and numerous members of Japan's military, political, and business elite. Here is the captivating story of the birth of aikido, based on the first-hand accounts of Ueshiba's top students prior to World War II.
The interviews contained in "Aikido Pioneers - Prewar Era" have been meticulously edited from hundreds of hours of conversations conducted over a 30-year period with those closest to the Founder. These early devotees of the art offer an insightful portrayal of the character of the Aikido Founder, and a detailed description of his teaching and activities, spanning nearly half a century. More than 100 photos, many published for the first time, add an important visual dimension to the testimonies of the interviewees. This is an essential volume for those desiring to discover the roots of Aikido, a true cultural treasure of Japan.
About the Author Stanley Pranin is a 5th degree aikido black belt, and Editor-in-Chief of "Aikido Journal," formerly known as "Aiki News." An avid historian of Aikido, Pranin has lived in Japan for more than 20 years conducting research into the art, especially the life and work of Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba. He is the author of "The Encyclopedia of Aikido," and hundreds of articles written about every aspect of this Japanese martial art.
Aikido Pioneers Prewar Era Stanley Pranin 9784904464175 Books
Mr. Pranin is genuinely known as an Aiki historian. I must say that to have the insight in the early 70's to start collecting this information is genuinely a gift for the rest of us. He has a tough job as an interviewer and it comes out in some of his articles. He not only has to overcome obstacles in gaining access and trust of some of these aiki pioneers but he has to create questions palatable within the context of Japanese culture.To this end, the author displays an incredible talent and some major self-discipline in letting the answers slide or migrate from the initial purpose of the question to the answer that the teacher wants to respond with....
Anyone interested in any budo should be interested in this work.
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Aikido Pioneers Prewar Era Stanley Pranin 9784904464175 Books Reviews
Stan Pranin has divided his aikido career between practice and researching its historical background. He is probably the only person to have met and talked with so many of the "old timers", and here is one of the fruits of his efforts. If you have moved beyond a superficial curiosity about aikido, or if you wish to expand your perspectives beyond one teacher and one style, Pranin sensei is your source. This is an important addition to his work. I won't try to go into detail here, but while Morihei Ueshiba, O Sensei, was widely recognized for his martial prowess in the pre-war era, Japan was full of excellent martial artists. What quirk(s) of fate brought O Sensei to such international prominence that Americans (British, French...) now study his art? What have we (almost) lost in the process? This is one of the few places to look.
REACH OUT AND TOUCH O-SENSEI
A Review of Aikido Pioneers Pre-War Era
Interviews by Stanley Pranin
Published by Aiki News-2010
356 pages
Review by Robert Noha
Introduction
Like the 1950 Akira Kurosawa film Rashoman, which shows multiple perspectives of the same event, this book of interviews provides 20 unique perspectives on the life and teaching of Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido. The interviews were conducted by Stanley Pranin, editor in chief of the Aikido Journal.
The interview subjects range from his son and successor Kisshomaru Ueshiba and nephew Yoichiro Inoue to Tenryu, a famous sumo wrestler, and four students who founded their own systems of Aikido Gozo Shioda; Kenji Tomiki; Koichi Tohei and Minoru Mochizuki.
This book is a priceless opportunity to learn about the life, times and teaching of the Aikido founder. It is especially valuable in that it provides details of the critical era before the Second World War when Aikido was becoming the art it is today.
Aikido Pioneers is a valuable addition to three recent books that also focus on O-Sensei and his teachings. The first is a biography of O-Sensei, A Life in Aikido by his son Kisshomaru. The other two are translations of lectures by O-Sensei done by John Stevens The Secret Teachings of Aikido and The Heart of Aikido.
Interview Excerpts
The interview with O-Sensei's nephew Yoichiro spans a period of O- Sensei's life from the early 1900s when they practiced Judo together, until the mid-1930s. Like the rest of the book, it provides multiple perspectives as a family member, fellow practitioner and student/assistant in the very early days of Aikido.
Of great interest are interviews with two well known students sent from the Kodokan Judo Headquarters by Judo founder Jigoro Kano Kenji Tomiki and Minoru Mochizuki.
Tomiki's perspective is one of a university professor interested in adapting the teachings of O-Sensei to that of a modern competitive art.
Mochizuki shares fascinating stories about Judo Founder Jigoro Kano and 10th Dan Judo master Kyuzo Mifune as well as his experiences with O-Sensei.
Interviews with several pre-war students, who did not continue their training after the war, provide a perspective much like the majority of students today who practice for a limited period rather than a lifetime or to become an instructor.
There is one emotionally powerful interview with Shigemi Yonekawa who is one of the ukes in the 1935 Asahi News Film. He explains his reason for discontinuing his training
Aikido Journal In other words, it was not a matter of your doubting Ueshiba Sensei's techniques, but rather a question of whether or not you could reach that level yourself.
Yonekawa That's right. There was a mysterious, infinite power in what Ueshiba Sensei had, although "power" is a misleading term. There are various levels among human beings. Ueshiba Sensei's level was different. He had a power which naturally caused one to bow one's head when standing before him. How do you develop this kind of thing? I didn't understand that level of training.
Another interesting area are stories about O-Sensei's incredible level of skill as a martial artist.
One example is provided by Tenryu, a famous sumo wrestler, who encountered O-Sensei at a martial arts demonstration in Manchuria.
Aikido Journal Would you describe how you first happened to see Ueshiba Sensei?
Tenryu Ueshiba Sensei said, "since you are all martial arts practitioners, if there is a man among you, come and test this old man"...I thought this old man was talking nonsense, and slapped his hand down as I grabbed it. But the moment I touched him I was startled. I felt as if I had taken hold of an iron bar. Of course...I immediately knew I had been defeated...and I fell down.
Tenryu went back to Japan with O-Sensei and trained with him for several months.
A second example is told by Kiyoshi Nakaura, who was for a time, O- Sensei's son in law and designated successor.
Aikido Journal We understand that Haga Sensei (a kendo colleague of Nakakura's) tested Ueshiba Sensei on one occasion.
Nakaura Yes...we both went to attack him, but we were thrown before we even grabbed him. Then we realized that what Mr. Ueshiba was doing was genuine.
Another area of great interest are stories relating meetings with Sokaku Takeda and Onisaburo Deguchi, the two biggest outside influences on O-Sensei and the development of Aikido.
This humorous encounter is also told by Kiyoshi Nakaura.
Aikido Journal Can you tell us something about Sokaku Takeda Sensei?
Nakaura Sokaku Sensei came to visit him (O-Sensei) at the Kobukan...I heard something that sounded like an argument...and went out of the dojo to find Takeda Sensei pushing a taxi driver into the gutter! It seems the driver had said something about money to Sokaku Sensei and so Sokaku got mad at him and pushed him into the gutter. So I apologized and paid the driver...
Gozo Shioda describes his view of the relationship between O-Sensei and Onisaburo Deguchi
Aikido Journal Did Ueshiba Sensei revere Onisaburo Deguchi as a divine being?
Shioda Yes, he did...Ueshiba Sensei thought that he owed his power to Onisaburo Deguchi.
There is also a fascinating interview with a woman student, Takako Kunigoshi, who drew the illustrations for one of O-Sensei's books-Budo Renshu.
In this exchange she describes working on the book Budo Renshu
Aikido Journal Did Ueshiba Sensei cooperate in preparing the book?
Kunigoshi Yes...while we were working on the drawings, Sensei looked at them and gave them his personal approval...Ueshiba Sensei said "if you're going to make a book of it, you have to do it properly."
Summary
This book offers its readers a fascinating look at the founder of Aikido and its history by people who were there. It provides a multi-dimensional picture of O-Sensei by students from all walks of life.
It also gives people training in Aikido today a link to students who came before us.
The front and back covers are beautifully done with a large picture of O-Sensei and smaller ones of all the people interviewed. The design is by graphic artist Joao Tinoco.
Stanley Pranin deserves our gratitude for offering this window on Aikido history, as almost all of the people interviewed have passed away. Without his efforts their stories would be lost to us and future generations of Aikido students.
This review is about Aikido, but more exactly about Ueshiba Sensei's time as a Daito Ryu student and later teacher. Imbued with great talent and enthusiasm he learned from Takeda Sokaku in the duration of about 10 years and then became a serious teacher of his own. However, unlike Sokaku, Ueshiba was perhaps a little more prone to success and spotlight, or he just couldn't avoid it during the crucial for Japan time - 1st World War and the events leading up to the 2nd. In contrast, his teacher was seen very little, neither could he be easily found which did not prevent him from having a truly notorios reputation.
Ueshiba, considered "O-Sensei" or the "Great Teacher", by all who follow in his footsteps had many students, in those unrestful pre-War days. Many of those students were already pretty good with their fists and ankles they were karate guys, but they all in unison agreed that in the face of Ueshiba they met someone extraordinary both in the martial ability and personality. Of those, only 2 people ever achieved 10th dan (the last degree) in the art of Aikido. Both of their interviews are presented in the book..
But there is much much more! Since Ueshiba-sensei had such a great and multiple following, sometimes one is surpised at how much the basic philosophy of this very intersting and profound art varies from the individual to individual. The constellation of Ueshiba-sensei's "children" shall we call them, shows that variety but they do agree on some concepts, one of which is understanding of the spirit of the man, and the use of force in aikido. That said they do vary in the understanding of how much force is needed. Furthermore, while some think that there is no aikido without its neo-Shintoist background that includes constant prayer and purification, others may think that they can dispense with it and concentrate more on the techniques. Needless to say it all depends on the individual and their own perception of such a multifaceted individual as Ueshiba-sensei. He, of course grew to almost legendary propotions even during his own lifetime, even in this Pre-War period that the book discusses - yet, here we often get glimpse of him as just a man, not devoid of mistakes. Check it out,
Libro interesante.
Mr. Pranin is genuinely known as an Aiki historian. I must say that to have the insight in the early 70's to start collecting this information is genuinely a gift for the rest of us. He has a tough job as an interviewer and it comes out in some of his articles. He not only has to overcome obstacles in gaining access and trust of some of these aiki pioneers but he has to create questions palatable within the context of Japanese culture.
To this end, the author displays an incredible talent and some major self-discipline in letting the answers slide or migrate from the initial purpose of the question to the answer that the teacher wants to respond with....
Anyone interested in any budo should be interested in this work.
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