Progressive Aikido-The Essential Elements

After many years of dedicated training int the classical fighting arts, Morihei Ueshibe developed Aikido, drawing on the rich history of the martial traditions of Japan, and refining them into a wholly new system. In its relatively short history, Aikido has become one of the most renowned martial

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arts in the world, teaching its devotees the way of harmony as a spiritual path.

Moriteru Ueshiba, the grandson of Morihei, presents in this book a systematic approach to masterng the basics of Aikido. He begins by outlining its most basic element-proper movement-and explains that with this as your base will you be able to approach the techniques in the correct order. He then goes on to emphasize a logical, step-by-step approach to mastering the techniques, so the student can progress toward Aikido's ultimate goal-forging of the individual spirit, and fostering harmony between oneself and nature, and the body and mind.

With Progressive Aikido, Ueshiba offers a highly accessible, informative guide to the principles of Aikido, through meticulously detailed explanations and illustrative photos. It will be a valuable resource for the novice and advanced student alike. Though this book is aimed primarily at beginners, it is the author's wish that while it should help motivate beginners to absorb as much as possible from their masters, it wil also inspire more advanced pracitioners to maintain the desire to improve, as espoused in the words of founder Morihei himself: 'Never cease forging your mind and body to refine your character through training-this is the first principle.

Moriteru Ueshiba was born in 1951 in Tokyo, the grandson of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, and son of the late Kisshomaru Ueshiba, the second Doshu. He graduated from Meiji Gakuin University in 1976, became master of the Aikido World Headquarters in 1986, and in 1996 he became Aikido Doshu after his father's death, and the permanent chairman of the International Aikido Federation in the same year. He holds several important posts related to the martial arts and is a trustee of the Nippon Budokan, the 'hall of martial arts' located in central Tokyo. He is the co-author of Best Aikido: The Fundamentals, and the author of The Aikido Master Course: Best Aikido 2.

Contents

Preface
Chapter 1 Introducton to aikido principles
What is aikido?
The special characteristics of aikido
Chapter 2 Acquiring skill in the fundamentals
Kama1 During training you and your partner must assume a correct hanmi stance
2 When facing a partner, either an ai-hanmi or gyaku-hanmi stance can be assumed
Ukemi
1 Breakfalls to the back
2 Full back breakfall
3 Breakfalls to the front
4 Breakfalls in actual training
5 Breakfalls for pinning techniques
Shikko
Maintain hanmi and keep your upper and lower body as one when you move
Te-gatana
Use your hand-swords to project breath power
Body movement
1 Irimi
2 Tenkan (turning)
3 Tenshin (sweeping turn)
Kokyu-ho
1 Tachi-waza kokyu-ho (morote-dori kokyu-ho omote)
2 Tachi-waza kokyu-ho (morote-dori kokyu-ho ura)
3 Suwari-waza kyoku-ho
Chapter 3 Training in technqiues-Acquisition of basics
What things are involved in aikido techniques?
Nage-waza
1 Ai-hanmi-katate-dori irimi-nage
2 Shomen-uchi irimi-nage
3 Katate-dori shiho-nage (omote)
4 Katate-dori shiho-nage (ura)
5 Yokomen-uchi shiho-nage (omote)
6 Yokomen-uchi shiho-nage (ura)
7 Ryote-dori tenchi-nage
8 Katate-dori uchi-kaiten-nage
9 Katate-dori soto-kaiten-nage
Katame-waza
1 Ai-hanmi katate-dori dai-ikkyo (omote)
2 Ai-hanmi katate-dori dai-ikkyo (ura)
3 Shomen-uchi dai-ikkyo (omote)
4 Shomen-uchi dai-ikkyo (ura)
5 Shomen-uchi dai-ikkyo suwari-waza (omote)
6 Shomen-uchi dai-ikkyo suwari-waza (ura)
7 Gyaku-hanmi katate-dori dai-ikkyo (omote)
8 Gyaku-hanmi katate-dori dai-ikkyo (ura)
9 Shomen-uchi dai-nikyo (omote)
10 Shomen-uchi dai-nikyo (ura)
11 Kata-dori dai-nikyo (omote)
12 Kata-dori dai-nikyo (ura)
13 Shomen-uchi dai-sankyo
14 Shomen-uchi dai-sankyo (ura)
15 Shomen-uchi dai-yonkyo (omote)
16 Shomen-uchi dai-yonkyo (ura)
Nage-katame waza
1 Shomen-uchi kote-gaeshi
2 Katate-dori kote-gaeshi
3 Tsuki kote-gaeshi
Chapter 4 Acquiring skill in basic variations
Nage-waza
1 Yokomen-uchi irimi-nage
2 Hanmi-hantachi katate-dori shiho-nage
3 Hanmi-hantachi ryote-dori shiho-nage (omote)
4 Hanmi-hantachi ryote-dori shiho-nage (ura)
5 Shomen-uchi kaiten-nage
Katame-waza
1 Yokomen-uchi dai-ikkyo (omote)
2 Yokomen-uchi dai-ikkyo (ura)
3 Morote-dori dai-nikyo (omote)
4 Morote-dori dai-nikyo (ura)
5 Ushiro ryotekubi-dori dai-sankyo (omote)
6 Ushiro ryotekubi-dori dai-sankyo (ura)
7 Yokomen-uchi dai-yonkyo (omote)
8 Yokomen-uchi dai-yonkyo (ura)
Chapter 5 Acquiring skill in applied technique-Advanced training methods
Nage-waza
1 Morote-dori kokyu-nage 1
2 Morote-dori kokyu-nage 2
3 Morote-dori juji-garami
4 Ushiro ryotekubi-dori kokyu-nage
5 Kata-dori shomen-uchi shiho-nage
Katame-waza
1 Kata-dori shomen-uchi dai-nikyo (omote)
2 Kata-dori shomen-uchi dai-nikyo (ura)
3 Ushiro ryokata-dori dai-sankyo (omote)
4 Ushiro ryokata-dori dai-sankyo (ura)
Nage-katame-waza
1 Morote-dori kote-gaeshi
2 Ushiro ryotekubi-dori kote-gaeshi
Tanto-dori
1 Tanto-dori yokomen-uchi dai-gokyo (omote)
2 Tanto-dori yokomen-uchi dai-gokyo (ura)
3 Tanto-dori tsuki-hiji-gime
4 Tanto-dori tsuki-kote-gaeshi
Futari-dori
1 Futari-dori 1
2 Futari-dori 2
Chapter 6-Aikido training procedures
Rei-ho
1 Rei (Bowing with respect)
2 Formally standing and sitting
Wrist warm-up exercises
Kote-mawashi warm-up
Kote-gaeshi warm-up
Shiho-nage back stretch exercise
After training stretch
Training attire

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