" Is the Iwama Style Aikido of Morihiro Saito the Founders Legacy? Find Out the Facts on Morihei Ueshiba's Teachings! "
This style refers to the aikido taught in Iwama - Japan, by Morihiro Saito, who was a close student of Morihei Ueshiba for about 24 years. Technically it includes a focus on the relationship among Taijutsu (unarmed), Ken (sword) and Jo (staff) movements. Iwama style Aikido reflects the teachings of O'Sensei between 1946-1955. It includes more techniques than are currently practiced at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. Iwama style Aikido can be found both within the biggest aikido organisation Aikikai, and also outside of it. A major non-Aikikai branch is Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shurenkai, headed by Saito's son Hitohiro Saito. It includes the combined study of traditional Japanese weapons (bukiwaza) and empty-handed aikido (taijutsu). Iwama practitioners often claim that their aikido is closest to that of the founder, as preserved by Morihiro Saito. Many other styles and practitioners claim that Iwama style is mainly Morihei Ueshiba's aikido of the 1940s and 1950s and doesn't consider his later years. Of course this really depends on your individual perspective and which style you are studying. Compared to many other styles of Aikido (apart from Yoseikan Aikido, Yoshinkan Aikido and Shodokan Aikido), Iwama style Aikido tends to be practiced in numbered steps. Also weapons work involves many repetitions of solo and paired practice with a pause between each movement. This helps speed up the learning process, as it reduces the fear of being struck with a weapon. On the other hand fear of being struck can speed up learning also! A great deal of focus is placed on a stable stance in Iwama style aikido. Uke will often test nage's posture by pushing against them in a number of directions during a pin or during a pause in static practice of a technique. You can speed up your learning process and achieve Aikido Success 
Also, while a number of Aikido styles practice with the hips square to the front, Iwama stylists sometimes rotate the hips inward when sinking lower into their stance, especially when using a sword. Iwama style Aikido has a larger number of kokyunage and also a strong emphasis on the use of atemi during technique. Many of the basic techniques that begin from shomen-uchi, start with nage pre-empting a strike to uke. This is in common with Gozo Shioda's and Michio Hikitsuchi's basic practice, but opposite of how most other styles of Aikido teach it. Once this variation is mastered, students will also practice with uke striking, but tori is initiating the encounter. In ukemi practise Iwama practitioners usually attempt to parry atemi strikes being thrown by nage, often discouraged in other styles of Aikido. The sword forms of Iwama style are generally recognized as being descended from Kashima Shinto-ryu sword techniques. In particular the first two kumitachi are almost identical to forms from Kashima Shinto-ryu. Ara-waza (course techniques), are occasionally practiced by Iwama syle Aikido practitioners. These techniques are intended to show the more vicious applications hidden in Aikido technique. Some henka-waza (modified basic techniques) in Iwama style Aikido also include entangling joints, locking large joints, strikes to vital points, and occasionally chokes using the arm or the partner's dogi. FAST-TRACK YOUR AIKIDO SKILLS TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL?   Finally Revealed... the NEW Aikido Success Blueprint ebook. You can Fast-Track Your Aiki skills to peakperformance levels with this massive collection of knowledge, ideal for beginners, students and instructors. The NEW Aikido First Aid Kit ebook teaches you How to prevent and treat Aikido injuries. It gives you the tools you need to help you stay on the fast track to Aikido mastery. PLUS 4 other FREE BONUS ebooks. Aikido Success Blueprint Ebook Collection
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