(1)合気道のすべての技は相手の力を相手に返してしまうようにできており相手の技は空を切り知らぬ間に自分の方から倒れていく。その意味では合気道では初めから相手は存在しないのと同じである。
All the techniques of Aikido is composed of bouncing back the power of the opponent to himself. Therefore the opponent always beats the air and falls down by himself before he knows. In this meaning we can say that Aikido doesn't have any opponents.
(2)合気道は勝つことを稽古する武道ではなく、初めから勝っていることを稽古する武道である。
We don't practice Aikidoto win the opponent. We practice it to make the situation that we have already won.
(3)合気道の本質は相手の力にぶつからず、相手の力を合理的に利用することである。自然に逆らわず相手と争わず無抵抗主義(無闘争主義)に徹することで初めから勝ってしまう武道である。
The essence of Aikido is no resisting against the power of the opponent but utilizing it rationally. No disobey the universal principle and move under the law of non-resistance, then people can win before fighting. This is Aikido.
(4)合気道の無抵抗主義の中に潜んでいるのは絶対的な抵抗主義である。何故ならみんなを言うことをきかせてしまう、一軒残らず合気の原理を行わせてしまうからである。
The true meaning of the law of non-resistance is the law of absolute resistance. Because we must control everyone, everywhere and any time under the principle of Aiki.
(5)合気道は絶対不敗の武道である。
Aikido is exactly an invincible martial art.
(6)柔道、剣道その他すべての武道に「気の力」があり、みんな持っている。合気道はその「気の力」を本質として実際に稽古している。従っていかなる者が挑戦してこようと何ら恐れることはない。
There are Aiki (harmonize Ki-power) in all martial arts, Judo, Kendo, and so on. They have all Aiki. We are practicing the Aiki as the essence of Aikido indeed. Therefore we never need to worry about even if anyone to try to challenge to us.
(7)合気道はあらゆる武道の上に出る武道である。
Aikido is the martial art that is superior to all other martial arts.
(8)剣の理を体術に移したのが合気道じゃ。
The martial art whose body techniques was created from the principle of Ken (Sward) techniques is Aikido.
(9)剣・杖・体術 – みんな一つや、みんな一緒や。
Ken (Sward), Jo (Stick) and Taijutu (Body techniques) are all the same kind of techniques and belong to the one category.
(10)強くなりたかったら、固い稽古(つかみ稽古)をたくさんやれ。
If you want to become strong, you must train Katai-keiko (Tsukami-keiko) as much as you can.
(11)わしは固い稽古を60年やったから今日があるんじゃ。お前達に何ができるか。
I am what I am because I had trained Katai-keiko for sixty years. What do you think you can do?
(12)実戦の場面では勝負は瞬間できまる。これを勝速日という。その意味で稽古はきびしく実戦は簡単である。
The win or loss at an actual self-defence scene will be settled in a moment. It is called Katsuhayabi. In this meaning the practice is always hard and complex but the actual fighting is brief and simple.
(13)合気道は半身で始まり、半身で終わる。武器技によって半身をしっかり身につける。
Aikido begins with Hanmi stance and ends with Hanmi stance. We have to acquire appropriately Hanmi stance. And the weapon techniques are very useful to do it.
(14)合気道は常に多人数を相手にすることで出来上がっている。一人を制するのは下、多人数を制して初めて合気道である。
The techniques of Aikido are always constructed under the condition that you fight against many opponents at the same time. Therefore if you could conrol only one opponent, it is not so good. If you could control many opponents one after another, it is the real Aikido.
(15)一分一厘くるっても技にならない。
If we mistake a technique even 1-bu (3.5mm) 1-rin (0.35mm) length, it doesn't become the real technique.
(16)手首に毛が残っているようではダメだ。(諸手取り呼吸法)
If your wrist hair still leave after Morote-dori Kokyu-ho practice, it means that your practice is not enough.
(17)外へ行って立ち木に四教をかけて来い。外へ行って気合いで小鳥を落として来い。
You should go out and try to do Yonkyo against a stuck of a tree. You should go out and try to fall down a bird by your Kiai (Shouting).
(18)剣の素振りによって呼吸力は効果的に鍛錬される。正しい素振り(ふりかぶり・ふりおろし)は誰も止めることはできない、誰も受けることはできない。
The breath power is trained efficiently by Suburi of Ken. No one can stop or receive the real Suburi (real strike up and down) even if a child does it.
(19)呼吸力の養成は技ではなく鍛錬である。固い稽古で力一杯持ってもらって、きつい鍛錬から始めなくてはいけない。
The breath power doesn't mean a kind of techniques but the training itself. You have to begin this hard training by Katai-keiko (being grabbed by the hand firmly).
(20)今までの合気道はあかん。これからが本当の合気道や。―——(注)昭和30年代に言われた言葉
The conventional Aikido was an incomplete Aikido. From now on I'll do real complete Aikido.―――(Note) The word at his seventies in1960s
(21)お前達が一歩進んでいるうちにわしは十歩進んでいるんじゃ。
I am always proceeding ten steps while you disciples are proceeding one step.
(22)わしは死ぬまで修業じゃ。わしの最高は死ぬ直前じゃ。
I will train Aikido until my death. Therefore my most skillful situation is the time just before my death.
(23)相手を引き出すことができなければ本当の気の流れはできない。―――(注)相手が合わせてくれるようなものは本当の気の流れでない。
The real Ki-no-nagare must be one that makes your partner move naturally and involuntarily.―――(Note) Such kind of Ki-no-nagare that your partner harmonize voluntarily with you is not real Ki-no-nagare.
(24)練習は常に愉快に実施するを要す。
The practice of Aikido must be always pleasant and delightful.
(25)合気道はわしの置き土産じゃ。初心者も高段者も合気道をやる者はみんなわしの子供じゃ。
Aikido is my own present to the world. Regardless of biginners or high class players, Aikido players are all my children.
(26)オモテはあくまでも進みウラはあくまでも開く。つかませたら側面へくずし、正面で受けるときはつかませずに流す。中途半端な稽古をしてはならない。
When you do Omote-waza (Front technique) you must go forward to the end and when you do Ura-waza (Rear technique) you must open rearward to the end.
When you were grabbed you must make your partner unbalanced sideward, when you receive the attack in front of you you must make your partner parry rapidly without grabbing.
In this way we should do obvious practices not evasive practices.
(27)わしは合気道を通じてみんなの個性を呼びおこすのだ。あとはお前達が自分でやれ。
I'll bring out your characters (personalities) individually through Aikido. So after then you should go ahead by yourselves.
(28)教えてもらったらそれができるように稽古する。それが弟子の努めだ。
After you were taught some technique, you must try to do it well. It is the duty of disciples.
(1)合気道は実戦の武道であり、あらゆる技に変化技があり、応用技があり、返し技があり、試合にならない。
Aikido is a kind of a practical martial arts. There are Henka-waza (Varied techniques), Oyo-waza (Application techniques) and Kaeshi-waza (Counteractive techniques) for each technique. Therefore any kind of Aikido's matches cannot exactly hold.
(2)武道家は人にあなどられたらお仕舞いである。一生に一度や二度でも決して負けてはならない。合気道は正しくやれば決して負けない武道である。
If Aikidoka (Professional martial artist) was treated with contempt by others he/she is all over. Even once or twice in your life you must be never defeated at an actual scene. And Aikido is absolutely an invincible martial art if only you do it correctly.
(3)合気道の要訣は「合わせ」と「角度」である。中でも合気道の真髄といえるものは「合わせ」である。
The keys of Aikido are Awase (Harmonization) and Kakudo (Angle). Especially Awase is the most important key.——— (Note) I think Angle means appropriate forms.
(4)武器技と体術との形を100% 合わせるというのは無理である。しかし「合わせ」という点では武器技と体術とは完全に一致する。
It is impossible to try to coordinate the Weapon tehniques (Ken and Jo) with the Body techniques to a hundred percent. However Awase (Harmonization) of the both techniques exactly coincide and is always the same one in Aikido.
(5)常に初心を忘れず、道に達したとうぬぼれることは禁物である。合気道は自分を知るための鏡である。
We should never forget the resolution that we had when we were beginners. And never conceit even after we became skillful. Aikido is the mirror to know ourselves.
(6)相手につかまれて動けなかったら武道ではない。先ずつかまれても動けるようになった上で相手につかませないようにすればよい。
It is not a martial art if someone can't move when the opponent grabbed by one's hand firmly. So we have to train to be able to move even being grabbed firmly and after then it is better to try no grabbing.
(7)大の力で大の力を制するのは武道ではない。小の力で大の力を制することができなくては武道ではない。
If you can control the big martial power of your opponent with your big martial power, it is not a real martial art. If you can control it with your small martial power, it is a real martial art.
(8)人を導くためには先ず自分が動かなくてはいけない。
If you want to make someone move, you must move first.
(9)野球はキャッチボールから始まる。同じように合気道は正面打ち一教と剣・杖の素振りができればみんなできる。
The lesson of baseball techniques begins from catch. Like that Aikido lesson begins from Shoumen-uchi Ikkyo and Ken and Jo Suburi. If you can do these techniques you can do all Aikido.
(10)ナイフや短刀は触れれば切れる。しかし当て身や突き・蹴りはそれなりに強く入らなければ効果はない。
合気道では武器技そして武器取り(短刀取り、太刀取り、杖取り)を稽古する。これらの技を実戦の場面にあてはめれば突き・蹴りの攻撃には対処することができる。
If we touch a knife we must be injured, like this all edged weapons are very dangerous. On the contrary about Atemi (strike or blow), Tsuki (thrust) or Keri (kick), they cannot be effective unless they hit to the soft part of our body strongly.
In Aikido we practice Buki-waza (Weapons techniques), Tanto-dori (knife- taking), Tachi-dori (sword-taking) and Jo-dori (stick-taking). So if we would apply these techniques corresponding each situation, I think we could deal with the attacks accompanied Tsuki or Keri.
(11)呼吸力がなくては合気道にならないのは、力がなければ相撲にならないのと同じ。
Unless we keep our Kokyu-ryoku (breath power), we cannot do Aikido. It is exactly the same as Sumo wrestlers cannot do Sumo without their martial power.
(12)合気道にはある程度の「力(筋力)」は必要である。力が要らないなどというのは 「うそ」 である。
It is ture that it is surely need Aikidoist have to have his reasonable storength. It is false Aikidoist doesn't needto have any storength.
(13)初心者にはもっともっと呼吸力の指導を指導をしなければいけない。多少きつくても仕方がない。
You have to instruct for your trainees to train their breath power. Although it is a little hard training but you must do it.
(14)呼吸力だけではダメ。先ず技の形と順序を覚え、それに呼吸力が加わって結果として出てくるのが気である。初心者に初めから気の力などと言ってはいけない。
However it is not enough with only breath power. First we should know the correct forms and orders of each technique. After then we should add our breath power into them. As the result we can pour out our Ki-power.
Don't teach about Ki-power for your trainees from the beginning.
(15)初めから気の力ばかり言っていると、気が気にひっかかって出てこないよ。
Don't instruct about Ki-power for your trainees from the beginning. Otherwise they cannot pour out their Ki-power but their illusion.
(16)技に気は吹きこめるがことはできる。しかし気に技は吹きこめない。
You can pour your Ki-power into your techniques but you cannot pour your techniques into your Ki-power.
(17)力が抜ければ一人前。いつも力を抜くことができるようになれば呼吸力がついたことになる。
In Aikido if you can relax any time, it means you have become skillful. It also means you have acquired real breath power.
(18)私は大先生の本(「武道」)にのっている技が大先生の晩年の技へ変化していった過程を全部説明できる。大先生は晩年まで技の改善に努めておられた。
I can understand and explain all development processes of O-sensei's techniques from his forms shown in the book "Budo (1938)" to those in his last years. O-sensei had always tried to improve his techniques until his death.
(19)私は大先生の技を消滅させないで伝えようと思っているだけですから楽なものです。私の技はすべて大先生の技であり、もし私がつくったものなら私は天才ですよ。ただ剣・杖の教え方は私が工夫したものです。
I am rather at easy to my Aikido because I only hope to convey O-sensei's Aikido in order to prevent it from being extinct. My techniques are all O-sensei's techniques except for the teaching method of Ken and Jo.
(20)合気会本部スタイル合気道も確かに合気道ではある。しかし高段者がやるべき気の流れを初めからやっていて基本(固い稽古)がない。大先生の技とは違う。
Aikikai Hombu style is surely a kind of Aikido. However from the first stage they begin Ki-no-nagare that should be played by high class (black belt) Aikido players and neglect Katai-keiko that are real basic techniques.
That is different way from O-sensei's way.
(21)他のスタイルの技を間違っていると言ってはいけない。それぞれ尊敬すべきものを持っている。ただ大先生の技とは違う。
We must not state that other styles are wrong. Each of them has respectable merits. However they are different form O-sensei's techniques.
(22)岩間で大先生から教えを受けたあと自分のスタイルをつくり上げた先生は大変でしょうね。基準となる確固としたものがないからいつも技を変化(改善)しようとしているからー。
I think some teachers who created their own styles after they had O-sensei's lesson for a little time will a lot of work. Because they always have to change (improve) their techniques due to not having the basic core firmly in their techniques.
(23)私は私のやり方でここで大勢の有名な先生達の技を分析しています。しかしはっきりと言えることは尊敬すべき先生は沢山おられますけれども大先生を越えた人はまだいないということです。将来のことはわかりませんけれどー。
I am trying to analyze the techniques of many well-known teachers by my method here now. For the present I can say definitely that there is no one beyond O-sensei although there are many respectable teachers. But I cannot say the thing in the future—.
(24)合気道の技の上手下手は演武ではなく、その人の弟子の技を見ればわかる。
The skill level of Aikido shouldn't be evaluated by one's own demonstration. It should be evaluated by one's disciples' demonstration.
(25)初心者を指導できる人が合気道の上手な人。技を途中で止められる人が合気道のうまい人。
Those who can teach the beginners well can be called skillful. Those who can stop their technique on the way for a moment can be called skillful of Aikido.
(26)指導していてダメなときはダメと言う。ダメと言わない指導者が多すぎる。
When you teach Aikido you must say "Dame (Wrong)" on the spot any time your trainee has played incorrectly. Few teachers say "Dame" nowadays.
(27)今やっている稽古が自分なりに納得できればいつか必ず強くなれるという実感が湧く。そうすれば稽古は自然と楽しくなる。
If you can feel satisfied with your usual practice, you can have a confidence that you will become skillful some day in the future. Then your practice will become naturally delightful.
(28)合気道は募集して人を集めてやるようなものではなく「一緒にやりましょう」と誘うようなものではない。やりたい者だけが集まって稽古をする、それが本当です。
Aikido is not the thing like to force others to join, so it doesn't need to say "Please join our group". That is all right that only those who want to play it themseleves come together and practice it.
(29)下級者の間違いが分からぬような先輩はバカ、下級者の間違いを直さないような先輩はアホ。
If a senior cannot recognize any mistake of his/her juniors, he/she is stupid. If a senior doesn't correct any mistake of his/her juniors, he/she is useless.
(30)大先生は生涯一人も門人を破門したことがない。門人のやることはすべて可とされてきた。
O-sensei never expelled any his desciples in his lifetime. He allowed them to do their own development and improvement at all.
(31)武道をたしなむ者は豪気な面と細心な面(気くばり)の両面を備えていなくてはいけない。
Two characters are necessary for Budoka (martial artist). They are fearlessness (bravery) and carefulness (prudence).
(32)合気道は力が要らないというのはウソ。初めのうちは力が要るのである。それがだんだん力が抜けて要らなくなるのである。
It is not true that Aikido doesn't need any martial power. During beginners you cannot help using your martial power to a certain extent. After then you will be able to become relax and no need it step by step.