MORIHEI UESHIBA - WAY OF HARMONY
Dvd 4

The fourth installment in a six-part series on the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba. This exciting DVD showcases the rare films of the Founder taken between the years of 1958 and 1962. In addition, a never-before-heard audio interview of O-Sensei is presented in its entirety for the first time. Here is a full list of the contents of this wonderful new DVD of Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba:

Aikikai Hombu, 1958

Highlights of a class and demonstration given at the World Aikido Headquarters in Tokyo. The Founder demonstrates a variety of seated and standing techniques in this clip. (3:07)

TV Documentary, 1958

This film was shot contemporaneously with the American tv documentary “Rendez-vous with Adventure” by an amateur cameraman. A number of scenes from the Founder’s remarkable demonstration edited out of the televised program are preserved in this exciting footage. (2:08)

Aikikai Hombu, 1959

The footage contained in this film preserves some of the finest action scenes ever of the Founder. His superb skills are displayed in numerous seated, standing, ken and jo techniques. Features beautiful slow-motions sequences. (9:18)

Aikikai Hombu, 1960

A rare film with outstanding action featuring Kazuo Chiba as the Founder’s partner. Many dynamic sequences of free-style and weapons techniques are captured in this film. (4:14)

Honolulu, Hawaii, 1961

This film was shot on the occasion of the Grand Opening of the Honolulu Aikikai in February 1961. This was the Founder’s only trip to the United States. This footage contains crystal-clear shots of the founder’s misogi jo kata and swordwork as well as scenes from the dojo festivities. Koichi Tohei and Nobuyoshi Tamura also appear. (8:07)

Aikikai Hombu, 1962

This footage shot in 1962 by an American couple for a tv documentary that was never completed and lay in storage for 23 years. It was shot in beautiful 16mm film and is some of the highest-quality footage of the Founder known to exist. The Founder is shown teaching a class at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo with American Terry Dobson serving as his training partner. (3:03)

Bonus Feature

O-Sensei radio interview. This DVD contains a fascinating interview of the Founder conducted about 1962 during which he is questioned about aikido. As was his custom, many of the Founder’s comments reflect his spiritual views and mention Japanese kami. This recording affords a rare chance to gain an intimate glimpse of the Founder’s warmth and personality. English subtitles provided. A series of beautiful close-up photos of the Founder serve as the backdrop for the interview. (12:30)

Aikido Journal editor-in-chief Stanley Pranin also appears to introduce and explain the programs.