Practicing Japanese Martial Arts in Japan for the last two years has allowed me to learn more about Judo, Kendo, and Aikido.  Within Aikido, I was first attracted to comprehend the Aikikai style as there are today many different variations of Aikido.  The founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, had many live-in students over the years, and one was Yasuo Kobayashi Sensei, who is today an 8th dan in Aikido.  I could write several articles about Kobayashi Sensei because of my unique experiences in this dojo learning the Aikikai style, much about taiho jutsu, the jo staff (aikijo), the bokken (aikiken), and among other disciplines like Japanese calligraphy after classes on Saturdays.  During the era of Covid-19, I was not able to travel a lot east into central Tokyo, where Ichiro Shishiya Sensei was teaching; however, this would change in 2022.  So for 2021, it was a deep dive into the Aikikai approach to Aikido with Kobayashi Sensei.


(Shoji Nishio practicing Judo in...