Tag: Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu

Omoto-Ryu Kami-Jutsu: Spirit/Divine Art by Michael Martin

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In the early 20th century, martial arts were viewed primarily as practical tools for self-defense or military applications. However, Onisaburo Deguchi, the charismatic leader of the Omoto-kyo spiritual movement, recognized that martial arts could serve as much more than that – a tool to cultivate spiritual awareness. He understood that martial arts, such as Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu, held within … Continue reading Omoto-Ryu Kami-Jutsu: Spirit/Divine Art by Michael Martin

Interview with Shinken-ryu Founder Prince Gharios: Attempting to Save Modern Aikido, Part I

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Prince Gharios began aikido in Brazil in 1986 and during the rise of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, he was forced to look to other sources for a more direct aikido. By the mid-1990s, Prince Gharios found Steven Seagal and Tenshin Aikido, which gave him the tools and foundations to establish his own Shinken-ryu Aiki-Budo. Today, … Continue reading Interview with Shinken-ryu Founder Prince Gharios: Attempting to Save Modern Aikido, Part I

Interview with Budoshin Instructor John Valceanu: Traditional Jujitsu in the Modern Landscape, Part I

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John Valceanu teaches Budoshin Jujitsu while also training in judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He also has a background in hapkido, which he practiced for about a decade. Many aspects of the different arts he practices are mirror images to him, and finding common principles continues to motivate him to train. Today, Valceanu took some time … Continue reading Interview with Budoshin Instructor John Valceanu: Traditional Jujitsu in the Modern Landscape, Part I

By Example: Aiki in Real-Time Application from Judo Master Takahiko Ishikawa

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When the concept of aiki arises within the aikido paradigm, many practitioners default to a variety of sources; pointing directly to the founder, Morihei Ueshiba, to different Daito-ryu forms and practitioners, or to the more internal energy-leaning teachings, like zazen, across the martial arts’ resource community. Aiki, by definition, “usually refers to the principle of … Continue reading By Example: Aiki in Real-Time Application from Judo Master Takahiko Ishikawa

Interview with Kakuto-Ryu Pioneer Ron Breines: Ryukyute, Jujutsu, and Combatives, Part I

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Ron Breines began learning Kakuto-ryu, a strip down and straightforward martial art, from his uncle and his friend Bob in 1970. Stressing combat readiness, Breines found that his training assisted him in acquiring and internalizing many different martial arts and military combatives. Framing Kakuto-ryu in the similar fashion of Ryukyute, Breines emphasizes the combative elements … Continue reading Interview with Kakuto-Ryu Pioneer Ron Breines: Ryukyute, Jujutsu, and Combatives, Part I

Reflecting on To Become a Living Art

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Siegel, Charlie. To Become a Living Art: The Life Story of Roy Shingen Goldberg Sensei. 2023. There is not much material on Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu, here in the united states. Outside of the instructional books and videos, there are not many history-based or instructor-focused works. Besides Stanley Pranin’s book with conversations with prominent Daito-ryu teachers from … Continue reading Reflecting on To Become a Living Art

A Layman’s Observation: Who Really has Authority in the Martial Arts?

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Part of this editorial was inspired by a chapter from my 2020 book, Aikido Comes to America, and my 2024 book, Takahiko Ishikawa, bringing two related ideas together and pairing them with a third. Authority is something people look for, whether it is to wield it or to seek those who are in similar positions. … Continue reading A Layman’s Observation: Who Really has Authority in the Martial Arts?

Interview with Bothell Aikido Founder Amanda Ambrosio: Jiyushinkai’s Uniqueness

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Amanda Ambrosio first studied Taekwondo. When she relocated for an internship in Oklahoma, she could not find any Taekwondo schools that she liked and found an aikido dojo that welcomed her. Over the years she learned from Jiyushinkai founder Chuck Clark and his son and current head, Aaron. Ambrosio has since moved to Washington State … Continue reading Interview with Bothell Aikido Founder Amanda Ambrosio: Jiyushinkai’s Uniqueness

Interview with Shobu Aikido Founder William Gleason: The Spirituality Elements of Aikido

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After training with Mitsunari Kanai for six months in Boston and meeting a relative of Seigo Yamaguchi, William Gleason relocated to Tokyo to train with Yamaguchi and explore the philosophical aspects of aikido. In 1980, he returned to Boston to establish Shobu Aikido and five years later, he joined Aikido Schools of Ueshiba headed by … Continue reading Interview with Shobu Aikido Founder William Gleason: The Spirituality Elements of Aikido

Interview with Athen Ohio Ki-Aikido Founder Stan Haehl: Changing for the Future

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Stan Haehl heard of aikido before, but it was not until 1978 that he found a class in his small town in Kansas. He first learned the art under Barbra Bloom, then traveled to Boulder, Colorado to train under the Midland Ki Federation head Koichi Kashiwaya, and lastly, under Andrew T. Tsubaki. In 2008, his … Continue reading Interview with Athen Ohio Ki-Aikido Founder Stan Haehl: Changing for the Future