Advanced Aikido. Phong Thong Dang

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 reenlist because he was not going to receive orders to go back into combat. Others suggest that it was his deep beliefs in spiritual matters that, after being at war, prevented his further involvement. However, although O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba did not stay in active duty, his deep connection and commitment to the military, and his patriotism, continued throughout his life. He was active in training and supporting community interests and causes. Aikido is often accepted as both a family and a cultural entity and the property of the Ueshiba family and the people of Japan.

      O'SENSEI'S MARTIAL ROOTS: DAITO-RYU AIKI-JUJITSU

      O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba trained in many different martial arts. He began his studies in his mid-teens and studied Tenjin-shin'yo-ryu, Kito-ryu, Yagyu-ryu, and Shimkage-ryu jujitsu styles. He also studied Hozoin-ryu and kendo. Most of these were one-on-one combat styles and did not satisfy the young Morihei Ueshiba. His dedication to martial excellence earned him deep respect and a reputation that he had to defend. Very few people today have the time and energy to devote their entire life to the pursuit of martial excellence. Aikido is more than just a composite of O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba's past training. In 1908, he received a certificate in Yagyu-ryu jujutsu.

      Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu was perhaps the most influential martial art studied by Morihei Ueshiba. He studied under SokakuTakeda (1860—1943) in Hokkaido. O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba received his Kyoju-Dairi teaching assistance certificate from Sokaku Takeda in 1922. Daito-ryu jujutsu is a family martial tradition style that emphasizes jujutsu techniques but also includes swords and other weapons. Sokaku Takeda taught Daito-ryu primarily to military, police personnel, or high-level officials who could afford the lessons. The performance and execution of traditional aiki-jujutsu techniques are with more intent to damage than current aikido techniques.

      While O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba humbly and politely took care of his teacher, he separated from Sokaku Takeda and Daito-ryu and began to call his art aiki-budo.

      SPIRITUAL ROOTS: OMOTO RELIGION

      O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba met and became a lifelong follower of Master Onisaburo, of the Omoto religion, in 1920. The Omoto movement with a strong spiritual philosophy on harmony influenced the higher principles of aikido. Some believe that O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba's spiritual beliefs, influenced by the Omoto religion, caused him to create a softer style of martial art. He wanted