In the 1930’s Master Morihei Ueshiba (O’sensei), the Founder of Aikido, published two known technical manuals for his Art. Both manuals are a source of constant reference at our dojo and form an important part of our study of O’Sensei’s Aikido through Aikido Kenkyukai.
The second of the two manuals, and certainly the most well-known, is simply titled Budo (1938). The content of this 2nd manual is supported by step by step photographs and instructional commentary for each technique.
For a convenient overview of the techniques referenced in the manual see below a chart that was prepared by Preston Aikido Sakura Dojo in Preston, Lancashire, UK.
Master Morihei Ueshiba (O’sensei), the Founder of Aikido, authored 3 instructional manuals in his lifetime. The first “Budo Training in Aikido” (originally called “Budo Renshu“) was published in 1933.
“Budo Renshu” contains 166 techniques, all of which are accompanied by hand drawings and training notes. The techniques in the manual represent an interesting blend of Daito Ryu and what would become to be known as Aiki Budo (and then later Aikido).
In the below video, Dojo senior Jeremy Gehrke draws on his studies of Aikido and Daito Ryu to demonstrate some of the techniques found in Budo Renshu and some of their extended applications.Please note the demonstrations are informal only and done with minimal planning or preparation.
Master Morihei Ueshiba (O’sensei), the Founder of Aikido, produced 2 instructional manuals for his martial art in the 1930’s.
Evident in both manuals is the time and effort taken to not only write but also make visual representations to support the instruction. For example, in one of the manuals there are 166 techniques, all of which are accompanied by hand drawings to assist the reader.
In the 2nd manual, the instructional aspects are supported by photographs. However, even this would have been painstakingly long process given the relative primitive state of photography at the time.
Unfortunately, and one might even say bizarrely, neither of the manuals appear to be a major reference point for modern aikido practice with the exception of Iwama Aikido. I have heard a number of reasons given for this. However, they also seem to share the common ground that O’Sensei’s pre-war Aikido (or Aikido Budo as it was then labelled) was very different to post-war, hence making the manuals historically interesting but largely irrelevant.
I have long struggled with this argument as it doesn’t align with personal experience. For example, we frequently use the manuals as reference points to inform our practice in our dojo and have found them to be very relevant and insightful in our study of O’Sensei’s Aikido through Aikido Kenkyukai.
In fact I would go as far to say that in substance O’Sensei’s prewar Aikido share many similarities with his post war Aikido. The main differences being that in his later years O’sensei seems to have stopped teaching the more complex pins. Other changes could be described as refinements and at most, alternative variations.
However, don’t take my word for it. Look at the below video and make up your own mind.
In the meantime, I think we at Aikido Warrior Dojo will continue to hold the only written technical teachings of the Founder of Aikido in the highest regard.
Ian Grant
Dojo Cho
Aikido Warrior Dojo
Acknowledgement: The above video was not made by Aikido Warrior Dojo, but by a person who goes by the You tube name of Marius V. While I have never met Marius V, I would like to acknowledge and thank him for his extraordinary work in producing the video.
This training note provides guidance on how to control the space when responding to a katadori attack (i.e. a single hand shoulder grab). The video extract is from a class given by Peter Kelly Sensei (Aikido Yuishinkai) at our Dojo on 17 May 2014.
While the video extract deals specifically with a response to a katadori attack, the principles discussed and demonstrated are equally applicable to a wide range of other techniques where it is necessary for the uke to step to the rear. Principles discussed include the correct foot positioning, maintaining forward energy, direction of centre and sinking/grounding.
In the context of sinking and grounding, Peter Sensei comments:
“Sinking/grounding is paramount in aikido as it represents the vertical plane. All aikido techniques have both a vertical and horizontal plane. This is what O’Sensei called the cross of Aiki.”
In the 1930’s Master Morihei Ueshiba (O’sensei), the Founder of Aikido, published two known technical manuals for his Art. Both manuals are a source of constant reference at our dojo and form an important part of our study of O’Sensei’s Aikido through Aikido Kenkyukai.
Aikido Warrior Dojo 
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