Aikido on National Geographic

Have you all seen the documentary about Aikido on National Geographic?

Interesting to see how things work in Japan... Was hoping to see more of the techniques though. What did this trip cost? An exclusive interview with Osensei's grandson, joining a class with the 'last' 10th dan aikidoka and following classes with Sensei Saito. Wow, I can't pay for that unless I win the 'lotto'!!

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He was on of the greatest. Really.
I have three videotapes featturing him.

I watched this documentary myself. They were a little cagey as to Gisettes (pardon the spelling) rank, and also whether or not she was doing an exam at the end there or not..

Some lovely demonstrations of the art though and my wife was actually impressed I think..

I have read other posts about this being shown in Europe and on National Geographic Asia. Does anyone know if this is going to be shown in the U.S.? If so... when? what time? I have tried to contact the National Geographic Channel and all they give me is a form letter reply.

Ah, was this the one with Josette, from Montreal?

Yes, I believe that it is.

thatoldfool wrote: Ah, was this the one with Josette, from Montreal?

yep.. she seems a very talented lady and I love the way the she gives anything a go. probably a bit too much of each episode is taken up with the obligitory "Josette begs the leader/sensei to take her in as a live in student for the life of the documentary only"...

Ian Williams wrote: yep.. she seems a very talented lady and I love the way the she gives anything a go. probably a bit too much of each episode is taken up with the obligitory "Josette begs the leader/sensei to take her in as a live in student for the life of the documentary only"...

I enjoyed the program, one of the better one's I've seen on Aikido. I too was a little mesmerised at this, she has apparently been studying Aikido for a couple of decades, and looks good at it too, so I was a bit suprised at the "faux pas" she mentions when signing up at Iwama. Then she was accepted, signed as an uchi deshi, and was gone........

It was interesting that the cameras were in place in the room before she came into meet Saito sensei, before she was initially rebuffed etc. Kinda makes you wonder whether there wasn't some sort of script involved.

Having said that, I'm picking holes, there have been much worse documentaries with a lot less content.

Over all it was a good piece, I'd like to see all of the dropped footage of Hikitsuchi sensei, Yamada Sensei, Saito sensei etc.

Does anyone have any more info on her Aikido background? I've done a bit of googling, but everything points to the programme, nothing to her background.

rgds

Bryan

I watched it already in 2 weeks ago, i met Doshu, Saito Hitohiro Sensei and Yamada Yoshimitsu Sensei and the "last" 10th Dan Aikidoka (i don't know what was his name) in Kumano Juku, Wakayama. As simply i like to tell you all about, Aikido is not something devotional and Christians are welcomed to join us.

Misogi, Kodotama, Funakogi, Furitama, Chinkon, etc, those are nothing for me.

Anyway, i still like to keep my keiko up!

Have a nice day!

so... is this program going to be on again (or at all in the US?) if so, when??? Any info would be helpful
Gaia

I saw this documentry and found it fascinating.
It allowed an aikidoka from New Zealand an insight into aikido in Japan.
It was nice to see a glimpse of how aikido is going in present day. I have so much footage of older aikido stuff that seeing something a little more up-to-date was nice.

In New Zealand this documentatry series came pretty soon after the Xtreme Martial Arts feature so it looked brilliant by comparison :-). The Aikido episode was good, I enjoyed it. Over all though I found the series to be a tad frustrating as a martial artist. I guess because it wasn't made for martial artists. So episodes were more about Josette's journey through the arts rather than the arts themselves. I would have loved to see more detail on the techniques of Caporeia, Kalariypayat, etc etc.