When Aikido Came to America…

Sensei Antonio Aloia grew up in a martial arts family and has spent the better part of his life practicing Aikido. He has spent a significant portion of his academic studies on researching the history of Aikido since it reached America from Japan, he is the author of the book, Aikido Comes to America. This interview was recently conducted by Tambuli Media president, Mark V. Wiley, as a deeper dive into some of the material contained with the Aloia’s ground-breaking book. 

Timing in Traditional Martial Arts

If we liken a fight to a dance, the attacker is leading the dance, and the defender is
following…acting in the after, responding to the leader, merely reacting. The leader
acts according to their whim, unimpeded, the follower has the difficult task of keeping
up. The leader of the dance is acting in the before. The leader is deciding where on
the floor the dance moves will take both dancers. The follower is merely along for the
ride, with no control, and no say, as they are acting in the after.

Rodney Grantham and Aikido in America’s Southwest

Rodney Grantham (~1928-2008) played a pivotal role in the push of aikido in the American Southeast. Grantham began judo in 1950 while stationed in Yokosuka, Japan as a surgical scrub nurse during the Korean War. There, he would train judo on his off-duty hours, mostly at police stations.

Four Principles of Aikido

Aikido’s four principles form the content and the methods for which the budoka can control not only themselves, but situations outside of themselves.

Kenpo’s Key Principles and Rules

T here is a lot of material available to those who seek to better understand American Kenpo Karate. There are new self-defense techniques, different applications of the present material or definitions, books, videos and online sites devoted to Kenpo terminology, concepts and theories. However, no one has written on what defines American Kenpo Karate.

Introduction to Principle-Driven Skills Training

In my experience training, studying, and teaching Okinawan Goju-ryu karate, I’ve encountered a significant number of students and teachers who have shared many of my same…

Meeting O-Sensei

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] Editor’s Note: It’s no secret that I am a…

Makiwara Sensei

by Garry Parker Editor’s Note – Training in the martial arts is a very personal thing. Sure, most people begin in a group class, following along.…

The Spiritual Path of Budo and Zen [Video]

by Ken Jeremiah Studying the martial arts is a spiritual pursuit, but at the beginning, students rarely understand this. They see everything in black and white.…

When I Met O-Sensei, the Founder of Aikido

by Walther von Krenner When I first met the founder of Aikido, Ueshiba Morihei (O-Sensei), he was 84 years old and he did not teach in…