patience, persistence, and an eye for detail, grammar, and readability. Her support and patience have made this book possible and readable.
PREFACE
In our previous work, Aikido Basics, we presented information pertinent to the beginning student. We went from finding a school, to the first day of class, through the basic aikido techniques. This book assumes that the reader already has that basic knowledge, training, and experience in the technical aspects of aikido. This work is about applying advanced concepts to the sophisticated and subtle aspects of aikido training and techniques. Though beginning and intermediate students may find this work a source of inspiration and encouragement, this book primarily focuses on the advanced students who want to broaden their knowledge base to include advanced throws and locks, combinations, counter techniques, and self-defense. Most importantly, the advanced students will gain an understanding of the application of advanced aikido concepts and principles that they can apply to training and the refinement of their basic practice.
Each waza (technique) presented in this book will receive a complete and thorough exploration and explanation. This book discusses and describes the waza in reference to its physical technical execution. Each waza will be discussed and described in reference to the sequential process of enter and blend, redirect and unbalance, throw or control, and let go and move on. This book discusses and describes waza in reference to advanced aikido concepts such as mushin (calm and empty mind) and musubi (connection). This complete and thorough exploration and explanation in description and discussion will lead to an understanding that should provide any student of aikido with the advanced knowledge and insight necessary to improve his or her technique and training in aikido.
However, readers should keep in mind that no one can learn aikido from a book, and no one can teach aikido from a book. One can only learn aikido through direct experience and training with a competent instructor. This, and all aikido books, is only a means of reference and guidance. After reading any portion of any aikido book, the best advice is to get on the dojo mats and train. Listen to your sensei and sempai (senior students) and stay open to suggestions and comments from your tohai (one of equal rank) and kohai (one of lesser rank)—it is only with an open mind that one can get a glimpse of the beauty of the art of aikido.
This book is divided into four parts. The first part offers insight into the inner development of the advanced practitioner; the second part offers insight into theories and concepts for the advanced practitioner; the third part offers insights into advanced techniques; the fourth part offers advanced applications. Finally, this book offers charts on techniques and concepts and two interviews with Sensei Phong Thong Dang.
The techniques and concepts presented in this work reflect the lifelong training and instruction of 6th Dan Sensei Phong Thong Dang, founder of the International Tenshinkai Aikido Federation, and the interpretation, understanding, and expression of those techniques and concepts by his student, 3rd Dan Lynn Seiser, Ph.D.
Tenshinkai means the association, or coming together, of heaven and Earth or heavenly heart and mind. It was the name given by O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba to the uniquely fluid and powerful style of aikido coming from Vietnam. O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba personally gave the responsibility of spreading this style of aikido throughout Vietnam and the world to Sensei Phong Thong Dang. Tenshinkai aikido is an Aikikai style of aikido that honors and respects its lineage and long association with the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, Aikido World Headquarters, the Aikikai Foundation, the current Doshu Ueshiba Moriteru, and the Ueshiba family.
INTRODUCTION
Aikido is a uniquely beautiful martial art. It is also deceptively powerful, effective, and efficient. In the hands of a master, a smaller person can use the power and momentum of a larger attacker to throw or control that person with little, or no, effort. While aikido may look easy, it is very hard to master; training takes time and discipline. However, as the advanced practitioner finds, aikido benefits all aspects of life—physical and emotional, mental and social, and spiritual.
THE FOUNDER: O'SENSEI MORIHEI UESHIBA (1883-1969)
The art of aikido was developed by O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba and can be looked at as an expression of his personal life and his struggle with the opposing beliefs and disciplines of the martial way of the warrior and the spiritual pursuit of peace and harmony.
Born a sick and weak child on December 14, 1883 in Tanabe, Kishu (Wakayama Prefecture) Japan, young Morihei Ueshiba faced many hardships. He attempted to overcome his physical hardships by studying very hard to develop his intellect and mental capabilities. Besides reading religious classics, he liked physics and mathematics. His mother considered having him enter the priesthood, but his father opposed that idea. His father preferred an education in strength and sumo competition.
Early in O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba's life, he watched his father receive a severe beating by local thugs who disagreed with his fathers political beliefs. At this time, the young Morihei Ueshiba vowed to search for physical strength and martial skills. This vow led to years of severe discipline and training in both martial and spiritual disciplines. His training in these areas led to the development of aikido. This development can be seen through three major areas of O'Sensei Ueshiba's life: his military experience, his martial arts training, and the influence of the Omoto religion.
O'SENSEI IN THE MILITARY
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Japan competed for influence, trade, and territory with Western countries in China and Korea. After failing in negotiations in 1903 with Russia to get that country to withdraw from Manchuria, Japan severed relationships and sought a solution with its modernized military. The Russo-Japanese War lasted from 1904 to 1905. This conflict grew out of the rivalry of the imperialist ambition of Russia and Japan in Manchuria and Korea. The campaigns of 1904 focused on a series of indecisive naval engagements at Port Charles on the Liaotung peninsula in south Manchuria. Port Charles finally fell in early 1905, allowing the Japanese army to attack northward. Facing its own internal unrest of the Russian Revolution of 1905, Russia elected to negotiate peace. The war ended in mediation by President Theodore Roosevelt of the United States. The defeat of Russia by the Japanese shocked the world. It was the first non-Western victory in a large military conflict. It was inspiring to many noncolonial independence movements. Without this rivalry and with the Western world distracted by World War I, Japan began the efforts to dominate the East. These efforts led to World War II in the Pacific. After World War II, many Japanese historians would look nostalgically on the time of leadership in a sustained effort to liberate the oppressed.
Initially, Morihei Ueshiba did not meet the minimum height requirement for military service. Committed to his decision to serve his country, he embarked on a regime of stretching in an effort to gain the additional height required. After strenuous efforts, Morihei Ueshiba finally met the 5'2" requirements to join the military in late December 1903. He joined the 61st Army Infantry Regiment in Wakayama.
His willingness to take on hard tasks and his skill with the bayonet facilitated rapid promotions. He spent much of his active duty time training others. He spent much of his leave time in ascetic spiritual discipline or strenuous martial training. He originally did not receive orders to fight on the front during the Russo-Japanese war because his superiors considered his ability to train others a higher priority. Finally, he protested enough to receive orders to the Manchurian front in 1905. His intuition and trained reflexes allowed him to see enemy bullets and avoid them.
In 1906, he was discharged from the army and returned to Tanabe. Some say he did not reenlist due to the undisciplined practices of the officers. Others say young Morihei Ueshiba did not
