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Old 08-21-2008, 11:32 AM   #1
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Push Test with Ueshiba

Only shows up to Aiki News Issue 66, but here are the parts where Ueshiba is tested by being pushed or pulled.

Quote:
Aiki News Issue 001 wrote:
A Sumo wrestler named 'Tenryu' tried to push Ueshiba over while the latter was seated on a wooden plank floor. Realizing he was unable to move the Aikido Master, 'Tenryu' attempted to push with both hands and shoulders. Despite all his groaning and straining and the perspiration on his forehead, Ueshiba was still unmovable. At that point, Ushiba asked 'Tenryu', 'How are you doing? Is that as hard as you can push?... Then, I'll do this!' And O'Sensei, his power focused in the abdomen, sent the Sumo wrestler flying about three feet backward, the latter ending up on the ground supporting himself with his hands.
Quote:
Aiki News Issue 007 - Ueshiba Kisshomaru wrote:
Thus, it is necessary for us to contribute to the development of the well-rounded person through the unification of the mind, and body in the "immovable stance", considered to be the most superior aspect of Aikido.
(NOTE: He goes on to relate to what he thinks is "immovable stance", but doesn't say what his father's view of it was.)

Quote:
Aiki News Issue 019 - Ueshiba Morihei wrote:
... I asked someone at my side who this person was. It was explained to me that he was the famous Tenryu who had withdrawn from the Sumo Wrestler's Association. I was then introduced to him. Finally, we ended up pitting our strength against each other. I sat down and said to Tenryu, "Please try to push me over. Push hard, there's no need to hold back." Since I knew the secret of Aikido, I could not be moved an inch.
Quote:
Aiki News Issue 019 - Ueshiba Morihei wrote:
Strength Contests? ... One Incident took place, I believe, before the episode with the military police. Several captains who were instructors at the Toyama School invited me to test my strength against theirs. They all prided themselves in their abilities saying things like: "I was able to lift such-and-such a weight," or "I broke a log so many inches in diameter." They gathered around me to test my power. I explained to them: "I don't have strength like yours but I can fell people like you with my little finger alone. I feel sorry for you if I throw you. So let's do this instead." I extended my right arm and rested the tip of my index finger on the end of a desk and invited them to lay across my arm on their stomachs. One, two, then three officers lay themselves over my arm and by that time everyone became wide-eyed. I continued until six men lay over my arm and then asked the officer standing near me for a glass of water. As I was drinking the water with my left hand everyone was quiet and exchanging glances.
Quote:
Aiki News Issue 019 - Ueshiba Morihei wrote:
... Then I let him push me while I was seated. This fellow capable of lifting huge weights huffed and puffed but he could not push me over. After that, I redirected his power away from me and he went flying by. As he fell I pinned him with my index finger and he remained totally immobilized. It was like an adult pinning a baby. Then I suggested that he try again and let him push against my forehead. However, he couldn't move me at all. Then I extended my legs forward and, balancing myself, I lifted my legs off the floor and had him push me. Still he could not move me.
Quote:
Aiki News Issue 023 - Tenryu wrote:
I will give you my left wrist and you can do whatever you like with it using all your strength," Sensei said to me. I thought that the old man could not be very strong and no matter what happened I could defeat him. Above all, he was small. So I grabbed his hand. As I had been engaged in training I could feel something. The moment I grasped his hand I felt overwhelmed, I was amazed. It felt like I was holding an iron bar. But I thought it would be shameful for me to admit defeat then since I was the first to attack. Besides, everyone was watching. I felt vexed and didn't want to admit defeat in that situation. Sensei said, "You can do anything you want with my hand, twist, push, turn, anything. Go ahead." He did like this (gesturing) saying, "I'm relaxed." So then I lunged at him but my timing was completely thrown off. I was amazed, but since I had already felt something I immediately recognized what had happened.
Quote:
Aiki News Issue 025 - Tenryu wrote:
Sensei, with that small physique ... I couldn't budge him no matter from what angle I would push or pull once he was seated.
Quote:
Aiki News Issue 032 - Ueshiba Kisshomaru wrote:
One day, while my father and Mr. Shioda were traveling on a train, a man who was standing next to the Founder suddenly jerked up into a stiff, motionless posture. Mr. Shioda recalls the following: "O-Sensei smiled and chuckled. I thought it was surely just some old acquaintance. But when the train arrived at the next station and Sensei said, 'Okay, get off!' and the fellow flew off the train I asked who it was. I was surprised when O-Sensei said, 'It was a pickpocket." At any rate, when the pickpocket slipped his hand quietly into Sensei's inside pocket, in a wink, he twisted his wrist tightly and the fellow's whole body became numb and he stood up immobile.
Quote:
Aiki News Issue 044 - Editor wrote:
... However, I have in my possession films of Ueshiba Sensei. He takes a jo about 3 and 1/2 feet long and holds it out to his side. People come and push on it and he can hold them here from the side; from a perpendicular angle! That's one thing. Another is this. he sits with his feet crossed underneath, hands relaxed, three men come close before him and try to push him over. They can't.
Quote:
Aiki News Issue 049 wrote:
So it was decided that there would be a match between Tenryu of sumo and Aiki's Ueshiba. But when it came time to fight, the big Tenryu, push or pull as he might, could not move the little more than five foot Ueshiba.
Quote:
Aiki News Issue 063 - Shirata Renjiro wrote:
Other officers came saying they would like to see his strength since they heard that he was very strong. At that time we had already finished training and Ueshiba Sensei and I had finished dressing and were about to go home. Sensei stood at the very edge of the tatami of the dojo and told us to push against him using our whole bodies. First, one, then two and then three of us pushed against him but he didn't move at all. Then, the officers said they wanted to try pushing him. Even though they were students they were about 30 years old. About ten of them pushed against us from behind with all their might but Ueshiba Sensei didn't move at all. The tatami on which we were standing on started to slip backwards, but the tatami on which Ueshiba Sensei was standing didn't move.
Quote:
Aiki News Issue 063 - Shirata Renjiro wrote:
Sensei, who was sitting on a Japanese cushion, didn't slide forward at all no matter how much we pushed him. When we pushed our legs slipped backwards. He told us to push and we pushed and he said: "Your ki will come out."
Quote:
Aiki News Issue 066 wrote:
NOTE: Just relates Tenryu meeting as shown in a previous AN edition.
Quote:
Aiki News Issue 066 wrote:
The Founder once took Tenryu to the famous Kurama Mountain in Kyoto. Tenryu related in his memoirs how the Founder helped him realize a "secret teaching" of Aiki:
(NOTE: Part of the training involved pushing the Founder up steps and breathing correctly.)
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