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Welcome to the Martial Arts Pod Newsletter 9!
We have a great following with over 170 pod pages and over a thousand members!
Again, I would like to thank everyone who has ordered my first book:
The Martial Arts Info Guide Vol. 1.
It is almost ready to go into it's second print but anyone who wants a copy of the 1st edition
can still get one through my web page.
uplandmacenter

People who have comments or suggestions about any of the articles included can send them directly to the author.
I have included the author's e-mail whenever possible.

Please continue to send in articles, announcements, etc for inclusion. We want this newsletter to become a great resource for martial artists.

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Here's an article from Bryan's Aikido Page (voted best of Pod in April 99)
Please Check out the rest of his site
Bryan's Aikido Page at Tripod


History of Aikido

Aikido's founder, Morihei Ueshiba, was born in Japan on December
14, 1883. As a boy, he often saw local thugs beat up his father for
political reasons. He set out to make himself strong so that he could
take revenge. He devoted himself to hard physical conditioning and
eventually to the practice of martial arts, receiving certificates of
mastery in several styles of jujitsu, fencing, and spear fighting. In spite
of his impressive physical and martial capabilities, however, he felt
very dissatisfied. He began delving into religions in hopes of finding a
deeper significance to life, all the while continuing to pursue his studies
of budo, or the martial arts. By combining his martial training with his
religious and political ideologies, he created the modern martial art of
aikido. Ueshiba decided on the name "aikido" in 1942 (before that he
called his martial art "aikibudo"and "aikinomichi").

On the technical side, aikido is rooted in several styles of jujitsu (from
which modern judo is also derived), in particular daitoryu-(aiki)jujitsu,
as well as sword and spear fighting arts. Oversimplifying somewhat,
we may say that aikido takes the joint locks and throws from jujitsu
and combines them with the body movements of sword and spear
fighting. However, we must also realize that many aikido techniques
are the result of Master Ueshiba's own innovation.

On the religious side, Ueshiba was a devotee of one of Japan's
so-called "new religions," Omotokyo. Omotokyo was (and is) part
neo-Shintoism, and part socio-political idealism. One goal of
Omotokyo has been the unification of all humanity in a single
"heavenly kingdom on earth" where all religions would be united under
the banner of Omotokyo. It is impossible sufficiently to understand
many of O-sensei's writings and sayings without keeping the influence
of Omotokyo firmly in mind.

Despite what many people think or claim, there is no unified
philosophy of aikido. What there is, instead, is a disorganized and
only partially coherent collection of religious, ethical, and metaphysical
beliefs which are only more or less shared by aikidoka, and which are
either transmitted by word of mouth or found in scattered publications
about aikido.

Some examples: "Aikido is not a way to fight with or defeat enemies;
it is a way to reconcile the world and make all human beings one
family." "The essence of aikido is the cultivation of ki [a vital force,
internal power, mental/spiritual energy]." "The secret of aikido is to
become one with the universe." "Aikido is primarily a way to achieve
physical and psychological self-mastery." "The body is the concrete
unification of the physical and spiritual created by the universe." And
so forth.

At the core of almost all philosophical interpretations of aikido,
however, we may identify at least two fundamental threads: (1) A
commitment to peaceful resolution of conflict whenever possible. (2)
A commitment to self-improvement through aikido training.

TOURNAMENT - SEMINAR - and ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE WONDERS OF CHI KUNG WORKSHOP
Date: June 19-20, 1999
Time: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: McGill University, Bishop Mountain Residences
3935 University Ave. , Montreal, Quebec, Canada
** Limited Space available ! Book early to avoid disappointment !

Fee: $ U.S. 165.00 ( $Cdn. 185.00) before May 15
$ U.S. 185.00 ( $Cdn. 215.00) after May 15

Information:
USA
Tel: Keith Weiner : 505-255-4277
email: [email protected]

Quebec
English: Tel: Pat Lawlor : 450-656-4768 email :[email protected]
French: Tel: Robert Hedan 450-922-5744
email: [email protected]

Ontario
John Hum Tel: 613-226-9516 Fax: 613 -226-2557
email : [email protected]

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I would like to know of a school or form of chinese karate known as Tong
Leong Gwo Shu Goan. If you have any info I would really appreciate it.
Send Info to Kevin Dill email: [email protected]

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5th Annual Lapu Lapu Classic, featuring Arnis/Kali/Escrima schools and fighters
from across the U.S. -
Sunday June 20, 1999 at Lincoln Square Community Center,
250 W 65th St, New York, NY.
Registration is from 9-11 AM and the cost is $10 for spectators. Any questions should be sent to Guro
Doug Pierre of the Village
Martial Arts School in NYC at (212) 614-3250 or
[email protected].

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If you have any announcements, tournaments, seminars, etc. Please send them to:
Martial Arts Poderator

We would also like interesting or useful links!
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Some Interesting Info on Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan

Born: April 7, 1954

Where: Hong Kong

List of serious injuries: