Aikido Ashi Sabaki 1

In this beautifully shot two-volume DVD collection, Imaizumi Shihan offers his personal framework for getting back to the foundations of aikido: the study of ASHI SABAKI, or “footwork.”

As Imaizumi Shihan describes this approach: “When I was young, I came across this Zen expression ‘Kyakka wo shoukoseyo.’ The word ‘kyakka’ means ‘beneath your feet’ and ‘shoukosuru’ signifies ‘to pay attention to.’ Thus, the expression literally means ‘to pay attention to one’s feet’ and also implies reflection on one’s conduct. So, I have practiced Aikido keeping this Zen expression in mind as a lesson. I hope that the viewers of this DVD set will appreciate the meaning of these Chinese characters I have described and derive benefit from their teaching.”

These two DVDs offer a clarity of presentation unseen in most martial arts videos. Imaizumi Shihan’s teaching is offered in a series of easy-to-navigate menus, and each sequence features all technique names subtitled for easy study.

Shizuo Imaizumi Shihan began his study of aikido in 1959, and was a full-time student of Morihei Ueshiba at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo until the Founder’s death in 1969. He was Chief North America Instructor for the Ki no Kenkyukai until 1988, when he founded his Shin Budo.