Friday, April 1, 2011

Aikido and the Internet


In 1975 I read John Brunner's "Shockwave Rider", a science fiction yarn about the power of the internet. Still a good story. I became enlightened to what the internet of today would be before there were PC's or even an Internet.

In 1981 I began training with Tristan Sutrisno and began studying his Aikido techniques derived from his father's studies in Japan in the 1930's.

In 1991 I purchased a copy of Morihei Ueshiba's "Budo" originally published in 1938.

In the YouTube years I found Ueshiba's movie "Budo" from 1935 available to watch.

But it takes experience and knowledge to pull what is there together, and the power of the internet.

What happened the movie Budo was filmed first.

Morei Usheiba – Budo 1935 complete http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vnn8l-DYu0

Then the book Budo created to serve as a study guide for his students. The book was roughly based on the movie.

Along the way a very good magazine, the Aikido Journal, started being published in Japan. I happened on their online site and browsing through their old articles discovered, a true gem, by Phil Davison An analysis of the 1935 film “Budo” featuring Morihei Ueshiba http://www.aikidojournal.com/article?articleID=70

If you print it out and view the movie following it's descriptions, the entire experience is greater. You have a clearer understanding of a historical masterpiece.

Enjoy

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