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“The Founder, his son, and Europe’s top teacher!”

Duration: 8:49 minutes
Access: Paid subscribers

This is a marvelous video consisting of a segment of a French TV documentary made about 1983 dealing with Japanese martial arts. Featured in this section on aikido are the Founder Morihei Ueshiba, Second Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba, and well-known French instructor, Christian Tissier, then a 6th dan. There are scenes shot both at the old Aikikai Hombu Dojo, in Iwama, and in France. You will see Morihei performing warmup exercises and several techniques. Kisshomaru executes randoris against multiple attackers. There is a very well-done interview with Christian Tissier, a randori, and partnered jo sequences. Also appearing is Micheline Tissier who gives an excellent demonstration. This documentary was based on the research of French author Michel Random.

Morihei Ueshiba is the creator of aikido and the footage included here was taken late in his life, around 1965. His son, Second Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba, is shown in films taken in the mid-1970s. Christian Tissier is about 30 years old in this documentary, and at this point, has already firmly established himself in France and Europe as one of the art’s foremost teachers.

Since we have opened the Aikido Journal Members Site last fall, we have uploaded a multitude of historical materials consisting of videos, screencasts, books, PDF files, and various other documents. We are working hard to continue at this pace, and we have enough source materials to last for many years. One of our reasons for these efforts is to insure that the materials we have gathered over nearly four decades find a permanent home and that their survival for subsequent generations is assured.

As a practitioner of aikido or somewhat interested in the art, you now have an opportunity to access an immense volume of documentation that will challenge and educate you on this subject. Regular practice is of utmost importance, and the furthering of your knowledge about all aspects of aikido, its techniques, personalities, and history are required for those who wish to really excel.