Complete Aikido. Christopher Watson G.

Founder Morihei Ueshiba, the creator of aikido. Undeniably the greatest martial artist the world has ever known, he taught us that we are the Universe and that through the virtue acquired from devoted practice, we can perceive the principles of heaven and earth. I thank him for sharing with us this impeccable martial art.

      To Master Koichi Tohei, my mentor, the teacher who first showed me the way of Aiki, and who taught me the very important fundamentals of proper aikido waza. I will always be grateful to him.

      To Christopher Watson, Shibu-cho, my co-author. I am deeply indebted to him, especially for his insight in preparing this book. His tremendously focused thinking and writing skills have brought aikido into a new dimension. His patience, encouragement and love of the wonderful philosophy of aikido, and our dose friendship, will always be appreciated.

      To Mark S. “Sonny” Roobin—Shibu-cho, Orlando, Florida—who has on many occasions listened to my stories with a very attentive ear. He has accompanied me on many adventures abroad and has proved to be a valuable asset in our growing organization. I will always be grateful for his loyalty and interest in maintaining continuity in our cause.

      To Jackie Watson, of whom I affectionately think of as my little sister. I thank you for your unselfish time and love, your total involvement in the growth of our aikido, the preparation of this book, and especially your loyalty and devotion to me and my quest.

      To Randy Sherman—senior instructor, Aikido of Richmond, Virginia—for his unselfish support and enthusiasm in providing the design and layout of this book.

      To Fenwick Ackerman—Shibu-cho, Atlanta, Georgia—for his time and valuable suggestions, and especially for his inspiring thoughts and confidence in me. Special thanks to him for his hospitality in opening his dojo to us for the photography sessions that yielded the photos in this book.

      To Chad Taylor—Dojo-cho, Clemson University—who in the past six years has been such a devotee to the development and growth of our aikido style and organization, and for serving as my primary uke for the techniques demonstrated in this book.

      To Yoko Heffner—senior instructor, Hombu dojo—who provided the wonderful and artistic Japanese calligraphy for this book. Domo arigato gozaimasu.

      Finally, to Sean and Laura Chartier go my deep appreciation for their time and professionalism in the production of the photos that appear in this book.

      Special thanks go to the following students for their support and assistance: Steven Steele, Shibu-cho and chief instructor, Aikido of Richmond; Ed Parent, David Isgett and Ray McClain, senior instructors, Hombu dojo; Scott Hager, Aikido of Greenville, North Carolina at East Carolina University; Tom Manson and Leigh Manson, Aikido of Key West, Florida; Michael Hawley, Aikido of Buffalo, New York; Tim Ackerman and Eric and Derric Glenn, Atlanta dojo; and Frances Melfi, Tony Eustis, Christina Giles, and Perry Lambert, Hombu dojo.

      To my Dad, Warren Kenji Suenaka, who was the first teacher in my life. He was always there for me with care and support. He taught me the meaning of life, and how to be a survivor.

      To the most wonderful girl in my life, my wife, Kanako. My guardian angel, she was always at my side through thick and thin. She taught me the meaning of true love. Also to our children, Valerie and John, and my energetic grandson, Atao, for their loyalty, total commitment, strength and love. You are my closest friends.

      To Michael A. DeMarco, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Asian Martial Arts, for publishing our first major magazine article, and for his support in providing the resources and opportunity leading to the publication of this book.

      Lastly, but not least, my deepest appreciation to Mark Wiley and his staff at Charles E. Tuttle, Co. (in my opinion, the authoritative martial arts publisher) for his enthusiastic work in making this book a reality.

      Roy Suenaka

      For their early support and belief, well-deserved thanks go to editor Mark Wiley at Charles E. Tuttle, Co., and Michael DeMarco, publisher of the excellent Journal of Asian Martial Arts.

      While all members of the Wadokai were unfailingly supportive during the genesis and creation of Complete Aikido: Aikido Kyohan, certain people deserve particular mention: Richard Shainwald, for his hospitality during the initial interview sessions; Christopher Caile, for his assistance in the interview process, particularly in matters of karate; Sonny Roobin, for his rock-solid faith and blunt, on-target assessments; Fenwick Ackerman, for his insight and common-sense counsel; and Michael Hawley, a exemplary aikidoka and human being. Thanks as well to the Wadokai aikidoka who patiently posed for the photographs at their own expense, some of whom drove literally halfway across the country to be a part of this enterprise.

      Randall Sherman of Cook Sherman Inc. selflessly gave of his time and considerable talents in the design and layout for Complete Aikido: Aikido Kyohan. His crisp professionalism and unflagging support were invaluable in making this work a reality, and is reflected in every page. Thanks as well to Mr. Sherman’s partner, Ken Cook, for his design contribution and support of the project. Likewise, photographers Sean and Laura Chartier put their lives on hold for one intense Atlanta weekend during which over 800 waza, taiso and ukemi photographs were taken, from which those that appear in this book were selected. Their superb work was the final element that pulled together over three years of labor.

      Yoko Heffner kindly provided the kanji that begin every chapter—gokuro sama deshita, Yoko-san.

      Special thanks to my wife, Jackie, for her proofreading, suggestions, support, encouragement, and belief, and to my parents, Charles and Betty Watson, for raising me to walk the Path.

      Finally, my heartfelt thanks to Roy Yukio Suenaka Sensei for inestimably enriching my life, and for affording me the honor of assisting in this enterprise. Your friendship and tutelage are true blessings for which I shall be forever grateful. May this work serve as a humble gift of thanks for everything you have unselfishly given to me, and to us all.

      Christopher Watson

      INTRODUCTION

      Not that long ago, aikido books were scarce. You might have found a few classics at a decent martial arts supply store, but not many. Aikido schools were scarcer still—unless you lived in or near a large city, your chances of finding one were slim. Today, however, things are different. Aikido has enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity over the last twenty years or so. You can find books on aikido at the bookstore in your local mall, and a check of the Yellow Pages™ will undoubtedly turn up at least one school within reasonable commuting distance.

      Part of aikido’s rise in popularity can quite simply be attributed to time. In the almost thirty years since the death of aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba O’Sensei, his many students have spread his philosophy and vision across the world, passing it on to a new generation of students who continue to sow the seeds of his legacy. More recently, aikido’s appearance in popular films and on television has exposed O’Sensei’s teachings to a worldwide audience, inspiring many to seek out more information and, ultimately, to study. Aikido’s fundamental philosophy of non-violence is one that today’s increasingly more violent society seems eager to embrace. In addition, aikido’s non-reliance on physical strength or size for effectiveness arguably invites a broader range of students than other martial arts.

      Whatever the reasons, aikido’s rise in popularity has come at a cost. Aikido is now subject to the same broad misconceptions that first greeted more established and familiar (at least now) arts such as karate, judo, kung-fu, taekwondo, and so on, perhaps even more so. Because of aikido’s emphasis on non-violence, some people characterize it as more of a spiritual pursuit than a practical means of self-defense. Others argue that aikido will work only if regressed to its more brutal Daito-ryu jujutsu roots, and that spirituality is secondary, at best. These schools of thought are very much like the parable of the four blind men feeling an elephant for the first time. One feels the trunk, and says an elephant is like a snake. Another touches a leg, and says it is like a tree, and so on. While these observations contain some truth, it is an incomplete truth. It is for this reason, among others, that Complete Aikido: Aikido Kyohan was written.

      Roy