Page 12 - Martial Science Magazine April 2017

“Stanley

Pranin:
An Aikido Life”

HE STAYED FOR 20 YEARS, STUDYING
AIKIDO UNDER THE FOUNDER OF AI-
KIDO’S PRIZE STUDENT, MORIHIRO
SAITO SENSEI, AND EARNING HIS 5TH
DAN BLACK BELT IN AIKIDO, WHICH
TAKES 6 YEARS TO COMPLETE.

Stanley Pranin born July 24, moved to Japan, living there Virgil Crank. He continued
1945, was an American pu- for 20 years and continuing his training in 1963 under
blisher and editor-in-chief to publish his journal in Japa- Isao Takahashi and Richard
of Aikido Journal (formerly nese and English. Aiki News Taylor at the San Pedro
Aiki News), founded in 1974. evolved into Aikido Journal, YMCA, following the Koichi
Pranin, a researcher and ar- currently a web publication Tohei-led curriculum.
chivist of aikido, has written with resources on Aikido,
and published several books Daito-ryu and related sub- Pranin moved to Japan in
and many articles about aiki- jects. August 1977, studying aikido
do, Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu, and under Morihiro Saito in Iwa-
Morihei Ueshiba and was an Stanley Pranin succumbed ma. In May 1978, he inter-
influential figure in the aikido to advanced stomach cancer viewed Kisshomaru Ueshiba
world. on March 7, 2017 in Las Ve- for the publication of Morihei
gas, NV. Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido,
Pranin originally began prac- his Japanese-language bio-
ticing Yoshinkan aikido in In 1962 Pranin saw an aiki- graphy of his father. Pranin
California in 1962, later swit- do demonstration at his high interviewed Ueshiba more
ching to Aikikai. During the school in the San Pedro nei- than ten times, the last in De-
late 1960s and early 1970s, ghborhood of Los Angeles, cember 1996.
he taught aikido in California. and in August of that year he
In 1974, Pranin founded the began practicing Yoshinkan During his 20 years living and
journal Aiki News; in 1977 he aikido in Lomita with 2nd Dan researching in Japan, Pranin

12 MARTIALSCIENCEMAGAZINE.COM