Shoji Nishio

Shoji Nishio (西尾 昭二) was a prominent Japanese aikido practitioner and innovator. He held the rank of 8th dan shihan from the Aikikai. He was a direct student of Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba, practiced along with the like of Seigo Yamaguchi and Hiroshi Tada. He is a very versatile and competent martial artist as he also achieved multiple high ranking honors in other martial arts, most notably Iaido, Judo, Karate.

Nishio developed his Aikido style based on his understanding of Ueshiba's teaching and experience with other martial arts. His style has been described by practitioners as dynamic, natural and effective. The uniqueness of his style compared to other Aikido styles is the deep integration of the sword principles into Aikido techniques.

His diligent and innovative approach to martial art is demonstrated by the creation of a new school of iaido, the introduction of koshinage, a different interpretation of classical budo concept, among others. Some emphases of his Aikido style include the importance of acknowledgement of opposition, weapon techniques, natural stance, atemi.

Nishio's contributions to Aikido extended beyond technical aspects as he played a significant role in the art's international development. He left a lasting impact through his teachings, publications, and the worldwide propagation of his style. It is taught in 19 countries in Europe, America, Asia, South East Asia and Australia. He was honored by the Japanese Budo Federation with the Budo Kyoryusho award (2003) for his contribution to Aikido's development and global reach.

Judo
Nishio started practicing judo in 1942 a dojo near Ministry of Finance in the Japanese Mint, where he was then employed. After the war ended in 1945, he joined the Kodokan Judo Institute. Kyuzo Mifune, considered to be one of the greatest judo practitioners ever was Nishio's trainer during this period. He achieved 6th Dan Kodokan Judo.

This background created the technical foundation that helps him introduced koshinage into official Aikido throwing repertoire.

Karate
By 1950, Nishio switched to practicing karate because he feels the restriction from judo competition inhibits his martial art growth. In karate, Nishio was trained under Yasuhiro Konishi, the founder of Shindō jinen-ryū (神道自然流) karate. He achieved 5th Dan Shindō jinen-ryū.

The technical influence of karate in Nishio's Aikido style is significant as he always emphasized the importance of atemi (strikes, Aikido usage is mostly for breaking concentration rather than hurting) as well as the comprehensive range of atemi types in his teaching.

Encounter with Aikido
Still feels that karate was limiting, Nishio kept on searching for another martial art. After being told about a ghost-like martial artist whom Nishio's sensei at the time couldn’t even hit, he decided to go to try out Aikido. With his Karate friends, Nishio came to to watch Aikido. He signed up after watching 2 classes. Changing primary martial art did not stop Nishio from practicing other ones. At the beginning of his Aikido career, he was still practicing Judo and Karate. It was common for him to train about five hours a day.

Nishio started practicing martial since his teenage years. He was lucky to learn from the best martial art practitioners. Even though he was familiar with strength from other disciplines, there was something unique and overwhelming about Ueshiba's Aikido that left him feeling almost paralyzed by its power.

Aikido, Views and Philosophy
Nishio joined Aikikai Hombu Dojo in 1952 after 10 years of practicing other martial arts. This was when Aikido was still in very early stage of development as the dojo was not yet properly repaired after the war and there were only 5 people practicing on a good day. He was promoted to shihan and began to teach around 1955. As his Aikido developed, he incorporated skills and principles of other martial arts into his own specific aikido style. In 1976 he was promoted to 8th dan Aikido.

Philosophy of Engagement with Oppositions
Nishio believes that one of Aikido's core tenet is about acknowledging the other person. Most Aikido techniques offer 3-4 opportunities to striking down opponent but ultimately choose the least damaging option. Even as throwing, he said, Aikido practitioners should try not to injure the attacker. This type of choice materializes the philosophy of acknowledgment, understanding, acceptance and mutual respect of and for others, even as they are opposition. Aikido's philosophy stands in contrast to other martial arts' goal of overcoming other. Nishio believes that this context helps recreating each technique close to the spirit of Ueshiba.

Views on Innovation in Aikido
Nishio strongly believes that the innovation of Aikido is a requirement Ueshiba has from its practitioners. He also asked practitioners to develop based on on their own background. His conclusion based on Ueshiba's words before passing:"Before the Founder passed away thirty-four years ago he told us, “This old man has brought [aikido] this far; all of you must take it from here.” In light of these words, I think it is insufficient—unforgivable, in fact— for us to simply maintain the status quo."The commitment to this view is reflected by Nishio numerous technical contributions and distinctions within the martial art world. He is considered as "one of the foremost technical innovators" in Aikido.

Perspective on the relation between Aikido and other martial arts
Nishio believes that other martial arts knowledge is a "nourishment" for one's Aikido development. "All styles of budo are continuously struggling in their own fashion to improve. Practitioners of budo must remain aware of and understand the nature of these changes. Arts like karate, judo and kendo all have their good points and these can be used to nourish one's own budo training, taking them into account and making even greater efforts. [...] The only people who condemn other budo are those that do not practice them;. Shoji Nishio"Indeed, he was still practicing judo and karate for a period even after signing up for Aikido. He also practiced in-depth iaido (and other weapons to a lesser extend) independently from his aikido training. His martial art technical application system is clearly influenced by knowledge and experience from other martial arts.

Stance
Nishio believes that natural stance (shizentai) is the way to face an opponent, adversary, or training partner. It becomes a physical manifestation of humanity in Aikido. It's said that in his final years, O'Sensei also disliked kamae (roughly means stance before the fight).

In Nishio's style, the stance takes form of hand, hip straight down naturally. Both feet should also be straight with one slightly higher than the other. This feet position let the practitioner face his opposition directly and acknowledge him (a core tenet in Nishio-style). This stance is the same when practitioner use a sword or a jo (a wooden stick). With the sword, the tip of the sword lie down near front foot in front of the holder. With the jo, the direction of the jo intersect with opposition's eyes.

Physically, these form a "no stance" stance; however, practitioner should already taking a mental stance of acceptance, awareness, preparation. The hand is then offered to the opposition. Entering technique starts at the moment of contact.

In comparision, most other Aikido styles' stance have one hand or both hands extended forward, usually with extended fingers.

Irimi interpretation
In budo, irimi is essentially the movement to obtain an opponent's "dead angle." This refers to a strategic position offering effective strike and control opportunities while it is significantly harder/slower for the opposition to do so. In Nishio's style, in front-facing position, irimi is taken as a half-step instead of a one-step in other Aikido schools. The step is to the right and slightly forward, create a direction of about 30 degree compare to the shoulder's initial position. By taking half-step instead of full step, practitioner stays connected to the opposition thereby maintaining effective control of the situation.

Atemi
"Aikido is forty percent throwing and sixty percent pinning. [...] Further, in all of the techniques there is atemi. [...] In the aikido I learned (and that I now teach), we do throws and pins with the rhythm and feeling of atemi. Shoij Nishio"In mainstream Aikido styles, atemi are demonstrated infrequently, and felt into disuse. In Nishio's style, atemis are everywhere and numerous (his teaching list at least 10 different hand strikes, 5 elbow strikes). Almost all Aikido techniques demonstrated by Nishio have multiple atemis at the beginning and during techniques. More than strikes, atemis in his style determine the rhythm and timing of techniques.

Introduction of Koshinage - hip throws
The "hip throw '' which is now commonly performed during promotion examinations at Aikikai dojos, was not a well-known technique at first. Aikido's throwing repertoire was limited to iriminage, shihonage, and kotegaeshi. Koshiwaza was independently researched and developed by Nishio (utilizing his Judo background) and Hiroshio Kuroiwa when they were young instructors at the headquarters, and it is said to have spread to other Aikido practitioners.

Approach toward Weapons Usage
In 1955, due to the lack of explanation regarding sword and jo techniques from Ueshiba (and other instructors), Nishio started study Iaido under Shigenori Sano (10th dan Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu). He achieved 7th Dan Nihon Zenkoku Iaido Renmei.

In iaido, Nishio practiced number of different styles and consolidated what he believed to be useful. By 2001, after 46 years of learning and perfecting the art, after numerous addition and revision, he finalized his iaido system to 15 katas, most of which correlated to specific Aikido movements. His system is called Aiki Toho Iaido or Nishio-ryu Iai. This system differs significantly to the more common system that derives from Morihiro Saito.

In 1957 or 1958, similar reason to practicing Iaido, Nishio trained in jōdō with Takaji Shimizu (headmaster of Shintō Musō-ryū jōjutsu) and Yari or art of the spear (Hōzōin-ryū sōjutsu).

Underlying principles
In Nishio's style, all techniques can be performed with the wooden sword bokken, wooden stick jo in hand as well as without weapons. "I have experience in karate and judo, and feel the way of the sword is central, so I reflect empty-hand techniques and throws in my sword and jo movements. O-sensei said, 'If your hands hold a sword, then aikido is a sword; if your hands hold a jo, then aikido is a jo.' - Shoji Nishio"In weapon training, he believes, practitioners should try to be "on the edge". That means avoid being struck, deliver an effective final strike and stop within hair's breadth of contact.

Purpose
Nishio believes the purpose of the Aikido sword is to purify, as he calls it the "sword of purification".


 * The sword in Aikido does not cut opponent. Rather, it's a tool to control the attack, even before its occurrence. The sword is used to redirect opponent's energy, voiding the need of physical strike. This approach of usage emphasizes the focus on control, the removal of conflict and unnecessary of damaging others. Thereby using in this way, it will forge the sword's controller out of mental "impurities" (the desire to hurt and creation of conflict).
 * The sword techniques in Aikido aim to find unified direction, not cutting down opponent. Therefore it's a tool to guide both persons toward new understanding and mutual respect. This aspect shows the "purification" of intention of the opposition.
 * The swords also help practitioners understand the core physical mechanics of empty-handed Aikido techniques. This view of utility emphasizes striving for perfection of bodily movements, hence "purifying".

Characteristic
"The sword of Aikido makes no sound. - Shoji Nishio"Described as otonashi, or "silent," Nishio's sword work relies on minimal blade contact. His sword techniques anticipate and exploit gaps in opponent's attacks, turning defense into offense with precise, flowing movements. This approach is very different from Morihito Saito's style, where the majority of controls are achieved through impact with the other sword, resulting in significant clashing of the swords heard throughout.

Impact and Influence
Nishio's impact on Aikido went far beyond Japanese border and transcended techniques. He contributed to the international development of Aikido through out the world by teaching, holding seminars and help establishing dojos of his Aikido style. The regions teaches Nishio-style Aikido includes Central and Northern Europe, the United States, Mexico, France and Germany as well as Vietnam, Iran, Australia. In 2003, Nishio received the Budo Kyoryusho award from Japanese Budo Federation for his lifetime contribution to development and worldwide propagation of Aikido.

Notable students
Frequently travels around the world to propagate Aikido, Nishio have cultivated a dedicated following in many countries. Some notable practitioners of his style includes:

Personal Life and Character
Nishio was born in Aomori Prefecture of Japan in 1927. Occupationally, he mostly worked for the Ministry of Finance in the Japanese Mint for his entire career from 1942 to 1980. He is well-known for being mild-mannered and frequent smiling. He died in March 2005 at the age 77 from prostate cancer.

Books

 * Shoji Nishio, Aikido – Yurusu Budo. The Irimi-Issoku Principle, Dou Publishing, 2004. ISBN 4-900586-29-3.
 * “The Path to Forgiving Martial Arts” (Interview) “Definitive Edition Morihei Ueshiba and Aikido 2 - Direct Disciples Talking About the Founder” edited by Aiki News Editorial Department, Dou Publishing, 2006, ISBN 4-900586-83-8.

DVDs

 * "Shoji Nishio's Aikido Volume 1: Reverse half body one-handed/Aihan body one-handed edition", Dou Publishing, 2004, ISBN 4-900586-41-2.
 * "Shoji Nishio's Aikido Volume 2: Sho-uchi Edition", Dou Publishing, 2004, ISBN 4-900586-42-0.
 * "Shoji Nishio's Aikido Volume 3: Yokomen-uchi/Ryote-dori/Sode-dori/Shoulder-men-uchi editio,n" Dou Publishing, 2004, ISBN 4-900586-43-9.
 * "Shoji Nishio's Aikido Volume 4: Aikido Toho Iai Edition", Dou Publishing, 2004, ISBN 4-900586-44-7.