Voor alle aikido vriendjes en vriendinnetjes...
13-06-2016
Omdat het een vrij lange mail is, heb ik er een nieuwsitem van gemaakt zodat er alleen een link te zien is. Het gaat over de belangrijke en 'vergeten' rol van Tohei sensei binnen de ontwikkeling van aikido in de wereld, sinds de dag van zijn vertrek uit de Hombu Dojo.
Persoonlijk vind ik aikikai een geweldige manier om aikido om naar te kijken en te beoefenen. Samen met de diverse invalshoeken die verschillende grootmeesters laten zien, is het een lust voor het oog (en het lichaam). Toch voel ik me een soort van bevoorrecht om de lijn van Tohei sensei te volgen, geleid door onze Doshu, Yoshigasaki sensei en eigen leraar Eugène du Long.
Hieronder vind je de mail met bijbehorende links...
Hello!
I would like to take this opportunity to reach out to you and offer thanks for your continuing support of our efforts here at Aikido Journal.
The purpose of this personal email is to make you aware of an unfortunate historical event and what we have done to counteract its adverse effects. We have taken the first step in reviving some very important historical material, in this case an entire technical curriculum!
You may have guessed that what I am referring to is the fate of Koichi Tohei, 10th dan, who was chief instructor of the Aikikai Hombu Dojo from
1956 through 1974.
For we veteran practitioners of the art, "Koichi Tohei" is virtually a household name. Together with O-Sensei's son, Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Tohei Sensei was in great part responsible for developing the curriculum taught and spread via the Aikikai during the 1950s, 60s, and early 70s.
You may be aware that Tohei Sensei resigned from the Aikikai in May,
1974 citing differences over pedagogical methods in use at the headquarters. Tohei Sensei always emphasized Ki principles and his entire curriculum was built on his theories and application of ki to aikido techniques.
Since Tohei Sensei was chief instructor at the Aikikai for 18 years and very popular among students of the Hombu Dojo, his departure was a severe blow to the aikido world and left a huge void that was difficult to fill.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Tohei Sensei was written out of official accounts of aikido history thereafter. Ironically, Tohei Sensei too turned the page on this phase of his career following his departure from the Aikikai. From that point on, he focused his attention on developing his Shinshin Toitsu Aikido with emphasis on Ki principles. Tohei Sensei would seldom mention his Aikikai years and his organization has followed a similar course by omitting this period of Tohei Sensei's life from their historical timeline.
What this means in practical terms is that information on Koichi Tohei's historical role within the Aikikai and his Ki Aikido curriculum has become largely forgotten. After more than 40 years, Koichi Tohei has fallen off the radar of today's practitioners.
For many years I've wanted to remedy this unfortunate situation and revive Tohei Sensei's genial Ki Aikido curriculum. This is the aikido that I personally learned during my first years of practice. Here is the solution I've come up with...
Using film long stored in the Aikido Journal archives, we have recreated Tohei Sensei's entire curriculum as an online resource that we call the "Complete Guide to Ki Aikido". The "Ki Guide" contains 81 techniques covering all of his Ki exercises and the entire taijutsu repertoire.
These were the techniques taught at the Aikikai and affiliated dojos around the world during the 1960s and early 70s when Tohei Sensei was chief instructor.
Each video comprising the Guide was selected from historical film and contains a narration and subtitles in English. The techniques are arranged in a well-organized interface to allow rapid access to any of the component videos for detailed study. As the entire "Guide" is mobile responsive, you have access to everything on the go wherever an Internet connection is available.
Below you will find a link to detailed information and sample videos extracted from the "Ki Guide":
http://aikidojournal.com/koichi-toheis-complete-guide-to-ki-aikido-sales-page/
We are also offering as a gift a bonus video of the complete content of Koichi Tohei's 1974 California seminar with our compliments to those who place orders for the "Ki Guide" by Tuesday, June 14th. The price for the "Guide" and 1974 seminar video set is $49. Again here is the link with full details:
http://aikidojournal.com/koichi-toheis-complete-guide-to-ki-aikido-sales-page/
Thanks for taking a moment out of your day to read this!
Best regards,
Stan Pranin
http://www.aikidojournal.com