In researching American Aikido, I came across a teacher so silent that not many within the art knew his name - nor of his existence. But hidden away in the far corners of Manhattan resided a gem of an instructor that few learned from and even less would propagate his knowledge beyond. I was intrigued. … Continue reading Crowdfunding Campaign Announcement
In 2023, I was in conversations with an intermediary to scheduling an interview with John Eley, one of the longest American students of Koichi Tohei and active member within the Ki Society. Unfortunately, the interview never materialized, however I was offered a previous interview Eley did in 2008. The quality is not the greatest, however, … Continue reading John Eley: Aikido in Chicago, Through His Eyes, Part III
In 2023, I was in conversations with an intermediary to scheduling an interview with John Eley, one of the longest American students of Koichi Tohei and active member within the Ki Society. Unfortunately, the interview never materialized, however I was offered a previous interview Eley did in 2008. The quality is not the greatest, however, … Continue reading John Eley: Aikido in Chicago, Through His Eyes, Part II
In 2023, I was in conversations with an intermediary to scheduling an interview with John Eley, one of the longest American students of Koichi Tohei and active member within the Ki Society. Unfortunately, the interview never materialized, however I was offered a previous interview Eley did in 2008. The quality is not the greatest, however, … Continue reading John Eley: Aikido in Chicago, Through His Eyes, Part I
By accident, I came across this book while exploring social media. With a title that includes “You’re Doing It Wrong!” was bound to promote a reaction. It did, and I wanted to find out what Prince Gharios had to say about the current state of aikido and how to pull the art from the brink … Continue reading A Response to Prince Gharios’ Aikido: You’re Doing It Wrong!
Meido Moore began aikido as a way to complement his Buddhist studies in college. After training at an Indian monastery and returning to New Jersey, he met Fumio Toyoda at a seminar. There, Moore was enamored with Toyoda’s approach to both aikido and Zen and found himself quickly moving to Chicago, Illinois to be Toyoda’s … Continue reading Interview with Korinji Founder Meido Moore: Being the Uchi Deshi of Fumio Toyoda, Part II
Laurin Herr found himself training under Robert Nadeau after a company merger and spending time in Japan training under Michio Hikitsuchi in Shingu. Bob Noha, on the other hand, trained with Nadeau since he was a teenager. Herr, Noha, and four other students of Nadeau came together during the Covid Pandemic to co-author what is … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Authors Bob Noha and Laurin Herr: Robert Nadeau and the Art of Transformation, Part I
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?
After reading a book on internationalization and Gozo Shioda’s biography, Michiharu Mori was convinced of spreading Japanese culture and aikido outside of Japan. Once graduating high school, Mori enrolled himself into the Honbu Dojo of Yoshinkan Aikido in Tokyo. After training for nine years – three years with Takafumi Takeno, three years with Chida, and … Continue reading Interview with Goshu-ryu Aiki Jujutsu Founder Michiharu Mori: Aikido’s Future in Australia, Part I
Inspired by his uncle, Warren Wynshaw set out to find a martial art; he did not know what martial art to do, but he was determined to find one that was for him. He found Shizuo Imaizumi in New York City while waiting for his results for the bar exam in 1977. From watching his … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Shin Budo Kai Practitioner Warren Wynshaw: A Future of Aikido
Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 