by PAOLO N. CORALLINI - In the Far East, everything is deeply linked to symbolism. Ancient customs and traditions still coexist with modernity and the most advanced technological advancement. In this contemporary era where humanity seems to be increasingly driven towards exotericism, an unaffected world still survives where the most generous and chivalrous virtues can still inspire us: the world of Budo
by ANTONINO CERTA - Antonino Certa devoted over 50 years of his life to the study of Budo, and since 1991 has undertaken a deep and dedicated study of Daito-ryu Aikibudo at the Daitokan in Abashiri. Over the years the humble and bashful Masters of Abashiri have passed on their knowledge to him in a direct disciple/master relationship, based on the only condition that their art would be correctly passed on to future generations. Antonino Certa has agreed to share part of that knowledge in a series of articles for Aikido Italia Network
by ADRIANO AMARI - Minoru Mochizuki sensei was a great Master of Martial Arts, an exceptional communicator, a witness of the transition from Bujutsu to Budō made by the innovators Jigorō Kanō and Morihei Ueshiba, and also an opponent of today's growing corruption of classic Bujutsu and Budō in more commercial sports versions. Adriano Amari, who was lucky enough to meet him, offers us his memory of Mochizuki sensei
by SIMONE CHIERCHINI - From coveted and valid beacon landmarks in the past to devalued pieces of paper that everyone can get today, once paid the relative grade trafficker... A Fall from grace: a brief history of the twilight of Aikikai grades
by SIMONE CHIERCHINI - It is not a typo, we didn't mix Morihiro Saito and Morihei Ueshiba. In 1932 Kiyoshi Nakakura married Matsuko Ueshiba, the founder's daughter, and was legally adopted by Morihei into the Ueshiba family as Morihiro Ueshiba, thus becoming his officially designated successor
by SIMONE CHIERCHINI - We visited Paolo Corallini Shihan in his traditional dojo in Osimo and Corallini sensei described it for us, also allowing to photograph the interiors of his sanctuary. His is a Dojo lovingly built piece by piece in honour of Aikido, a Dojo full of relics, memories, energy and inspiration. We share this exciting experience with you
by SIMONE CHIERCHINI - The peak of any art in Budo, receiving the 10th Dan is the equivalent of entering Budo heaven, where only the gods of martial arts are allowed to float. Let's see together what is the story of 10th Dan in Aikido
by SIMONE CHIERCHINI - One thing is Aiki, another is academia. Academy-style teaching has its function, but once that has been carried out, there should be an ever-increasing space for experimenting with free-style Aiki training, otherwise, we must honestly declare that our discipline is already dead and buried
by SIMONE CHIERCHINI - The average aikidoka is convinced that the word "Aikido" was created by Morihei Ueshiba or by the Aikikai Foundation to designate the set of techniques codified by the founder himself. However, there is a direct testimony that seems to unequivocally demonstrate that things happened differently: the students of Ueshiba-Ryu would have rather "appropriated" - thanks to the success of their style - a word that had been coined specifically to act as an umbrella for a variety of different styles with common origins. This fact sheds new and interesting light on how even today we should approach the world of Aikido
by SIMONE CHIERCHINI - There is a great deal of confusion around the basic pedagogy of the interactive relationship between tori and uke in Aikido. Everyone in their dojo is free to teach and practice the way they like, however, we find that one thing is misleading: to justify one's pedagogical choices with the words of the Founder and of his direct disciples, especially when it would appear that none of them has ever pronounced them
Aikido Italia Network 