THE AIKIDO GUIDE
Welcome to the web application of the aikido guide
The Aikido Guide has four sections:
- The techniques
- Technical Guide
- Aikido principles
- Individual Practice
The central part of the Aikido Guide, the “Techniques”, is built up from a combination of 12 attacks and 19 core techniques. The application provides easy selection by attack and/or technique. This is a filter based guide and you can choose one attack, one technique and one form, or leave one of them open to see a bigger selection. You can not choose two. Not all possible combination is produced, so you can experience that no video shows up. This means that the chosen combination of attack and technique is not normally performed.
A characteristic of the Guide is its four modes of performing the techniques:
Basic mode: Precise movements with focus on how to go out of the line of attack and how to execute techniques correctly.
Two flowing modes (front and back): Large circular movements blending with the partner; Tenkan to the back of the attacker and Tenshin to the front.
Advanced mode: Direct entrance with sharp and swift movements.
In sum there are 344 videos of different combination of attack, technique and mode. Counting variations such as Omote and Ura, Irimi and Tenkan, etc., the material contains 568 applications. Each application is shown from two or three angles/sides.
Technical guide: The Aikido Guide places much attention to understanding the way of entering into the technique; the Taisabaki such as Irimi sokumen, Tenkan, Uchikaiten irimi, etc. For each of the attack/technique combinations there is also a link to an explanation of the Taisabaki (14 videos). You will also find videos with in-depth explanations of the core techniques (19 videos), the attacks (.. videos) and in depth explanation of the techniques. (.. videos) The application also contains explanations of the logic behind the four modes of performing the techniques (4 videos).
Individual practise: A chapter for individual practice shows basic postures and movements such as Kamae, Kaiten, Tsugiashi, Ayumiashi, Irimi, Tenkan, Shomen uchi and Shihogiri and Happogiri, forward and backward Ukemi, Shikko and Torifune (18 videos).
Aikido principles: In addition to this, emphasis is put on providing some information about the principles of Aikido, such as the Triangle, the Circle and the Square (4 videos).
The Aikido app has worked well and served its time. With changes at Apple and App Store it got difficult to keep the app up to date and working on every unit. We therefore decided to transfer the app over to web. We hope this web application still can be helpful for you.
The Aikido Guide is a powerful tool that fully utilises app technology to give a unique learning experience. It is built up in an eclectic way, inspired by different teachers and schools. The Guide introduces a system that aims at extracting common patterns of movement from a multitude of techniques. Access to different levels of information will provide challenges and inspiration to beginners as well as teachers.
New to this web version is filtering. You can toggle trough the guide using filtering to filter out what you want to see.
Aikido is a living art that will be perceived and expressed slightly different by all those who explore it whether as a recreational activity or as a way of life. The best way to learn Aikido is to find a Dojo that is run by or linked to a recognized teacher and organization, and to put your heart fully into the training. The Aikido Guide is meant to be a supplement to such training.
The Aikido Guide does not claim any authority over other interpretations or learning tools. It is a well considered tool that aims at being a guide and reference to Aikido techniques and Taisabaki for Aikido practitioners.
This guide is alive, and more videos will come
Ukemi
Jo Ring Giske, 5th Dan
Stein-Are Engstad, 5th Dan
Mai-Eli Johansen, 4th Dan
Kai-Harry Hansen, 4rd Dan
Geirr D. Cranner, 4rd Dan
Kim André Tinderholt, 3rd Dan
Sverre Gullikstad Johnsen, 2nd Dan
Kamilla Lundhaug, 3nd Dan
Kristofer Bøken Seierstad, 2nd
DanEivind Kongsvold, 1st Dan
Eivind Kongsvold, 1st Dan
Ragnhild Røysland, 1st Dan
Karl Kristian Kroken, 2nd Kyu
Photo session
Lars Lomell, 5th Dan
Dimitris Farmakidis, 5th Dan
Thy Thy Vanem, 4rd Dan
Laura Coupe, 1st Kyu
Interviews
Interviewer: Elin Østraat
Camera: Christin Thobroe
Introduction to the Aikido Guide
Voice: Liv-Hanne Haugen
Concept and project management
Bjørn Eirik Olsen, 7th Dan
Editing
Bjørn Eirik Olsen, 7th Dan
Camera
Geirr D. Cranner, 4rd Dan
Webapplication (2025)
Elisabeth Lomell, 1th Dan, Tenshinkan aikido
Coming soon!
Important basics
Taisabaki
Shiho- & Happogiri
On this page, we will publish extra teaching material as a supplement to the 400 videos in the Aikido Guide.
We will start with Ikkyo. Ikkyo actually means “the first teaching” which signifies its importance in Aikido. Four variations of Ikkyo will be shown:
- Basic Ikkyo – Irimi sokumen entering to the side of the attacker
- Flowing Ikkyo – Tenkan entering in behind the attacker
- Flowing Ikkyo – Tenshin entering to the front of the attacker
- Advanced Ikkyo – Direct entering to the front of the attacker
All of the variations will be illustrated by clear and simple sword and body movements.
1. Basic Ikkyo illustrated by sword
By Shihan Bjorn Eirik Olsen. Ukemi: Stein-Are Engstad, 4th Dan.
Comment on “basic”: There are many opinions about the concept of “basic form” (Kihon) in Aikido. In the Aikido Guide we talk about a “basic way of entering” for each technique. Basic entering should place you in a position where the attacker cannot reach you and cannot easily make a counter attack. This will usually be accomplished by an Irimi sokumen or Uchi kaiten entering to the side of the attacker (depending on the technique you want to do), or by Tenkan taisabaki in behind the attacker. The basic form should also allow you to stop in several key positions during the execution of the technique, making it possible to study your position, control of the attacker, etc.The emphasis in Basic form should be on positioning (footwork), solidity (stable hips) and correctness of technique.
2. Flowing Ikkyo with Tenkan entering
By Shihan Bjorn Eirik Olsen. Ukemi: Stein-Are Engstad, 4th Dan.
This video is the second in a series of four videos showing how to enter into the Aikido technique Ikkyo. When attacked, it is possible to do a flowing movement either behind or to the front of the attacker. In this second video “Flowing Ikkyo with Tenkan entering” there is a circular turning of the body in behind the attacker. This is the safest and most basic way to do a flowing entering against any attack. Moving in behind the attacker, it is still possible to stop and check one’s position, stability, posture, etc. Then, gradually, one can focus more and more on timing while keeping the inner strength and while securing precise hand and body movements. In this way, Tenkan entering can be said to be a stepping stone from basic to flowing applications of any technique.
To do a flowing application of a technique is not the same as doing a basic technique fast. When gradually increasing the “flow”, the form of the technique will naturally change. If the basic form and one’s hip-stability are not well settled before moving into flowing applications, Aikido techniques will lose their martial efficiency.
A common mistake in flowing Tenkan movements is to swing the arms (and feet) in horizontal circles. This will slow down the turning movement of the body, and it will make it difficult to control the distance between oneself and the attacker – and thereby make one vulnerable for counter attacks.
3. Flowing Ikkyo – Tenshin nagare – Entering to the front of the attacker
By Shihan Bjorn Eirik Olsen. Ukemi: Stein-Are Engstad, 4th Dan.
The flowing Taisabaki to the front of the opponent is given different names by different teachers. Some call it “Irimi tenkan” whileothers call it “Nagare”. Also the general term “Taisabaki” is used in some Dojos. It does not really matter, as long as the movement itself is understood and done properly. Here we call it “Tenshin nagare” wich means to do a “body turning in a flowing manner”.
Entering to the front is very different from entering in behind the attack (as in video 2 above). Placing oneself in the front of the opponent leaves one vulnerable for a second attack. To prevent this, it is important to blend fully with the opponent, not coming to close or too far away from the opponent.
Secondly, it is necessary do an Atemi to control that the opponent cannot do a sudden advance to launch a second punch or kick. This Atemi has to be a Shomen uchi (vertical cut) and not a Youkomen uchi (diagonal cut). A Yokomen uchi will soon pass the center line between oneself and the opponent, and there will be an opening for the opponent to advance and launch a new attack.
Done properly – with a correct timing and Atemi – Tenshin nagare is very effective. In this video it is applied to a Katatedori guakuhanmi attack. It can also be applied to attacks such as Katadori, Munedori, Ryotedori, Shomen uchi, Yokomen uchi and Tsuki. Morover, in this video it is followed up with Ikkyo. However, almost any technique can be applied, such as Iriminage, Shihonage, Kotegaeshi, Koshinage, Kokyuho or Kokynage.