The Friendship Demonstrations

The Friendship Demonstrations

2 Seasons

In April 1985, Stanley Pranin organized the first Aiki News Friendship Demonstration in Tokyo, commemorating the anniversary of O-Sensei’s passing.

Six aikido masters participated in the event. The list of the masters are: Shoji Nishio, 8th dan; Morihiro Saito, 9th dan; Kanshu Sunadomari, 9th dan; Mitsugi Saotome, Yasuo Kobayashi, Yoshio Kroiwa.

These six teachers had an opportunity to express their training philosophies, and display their technique in depth. In their respective lectures and demonstrations, each instructor lays out the best of his art, the product of decades of training under the tutelage of aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba. Every demonstration is accompanied by English translation by Stan Pranin.

Additional Friendship demonstrations were organized in 1986, 1987 and 1988.

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The Friendship Demonstrations
  • Mitsugi Saotome: 1985 Friendship Demonstration

    Episode 1

    This video features a demonstration by Mitsugi Saotome Shihan.

    Mitsugi Saotome Shihan started aikido in 1954 and began training at Hombu Dojo in 1961, where he trained and taught until 1975. He moved to the USA in 1975 and founded The Aikido Schools of Ueshiba. This demonstration includes fr...

  • Shoji Nishio: 1985 Friendship Demonstration

    Episode 2

    This video features a demonstration by Nishio Shihan.

    Nishio Shihan started aikido in 1951 and has extensive experience in judo, karate, as well as other arts. Nishio Shihan is one of the art’s true innovators who possesses a dynamic style built on long years of study in other disciplines. S...

  • Morihiro Saito: 1985 Friendship Demonstration

    Episode 3

    This video features a demonstration by Morihei Saito Shihan.

    Morihei Saito Shihan started aikido in 1946 at Iwama Dojo. He served as a Chief Instructor from 1969 until his death in 2002. Saito Shihan is one of aikido’s most prominent figures, expert in taijutsu and the aiki ken and jo. In th...

  • Yasuo Kobayashi: 1985 Friendship Demonstration

    Episode 4

    This video features a demonstration by Yasuo Kobayashi Shihan.

    Yasuo Kobayashi Shihan started aikido in 1955 at Aikikai Hombu Dojo. His aikido style is classic Aikikai. He opened Kodaira Dojo in 1969 and served as Chief Instructor of the Kobayashi Dojos (over 120 groups controlled and/or affi...

  • Kanshu Sunadomari: 1985 Friendship Demonstration

    Episode 5

    This video features a demonstration by Kanshu Sunadomari Shihan.

    Kanshu Sunadomari Shihan started aikido in1942 and opened Manseikan Dojo in 1954 in Kumamoto, Kyushu. In the demonstration, he emphasizes the importance of blending with the opponent and controlling her/him from the moment of con...

  • Yoshio Kuroiwa: 1985 Friendship Demonstration

    Episode 6

    This video features a demonstration by Kuroiwa Shihan. In this demonstration, he discusses the similarities between stick and empty-handed movements, using shihonage, ikkyo, nikyo, kotegaeshi.