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Tetsutaka Sugawara was born in Hokkaido in 1941. In 1960 he began Aikido at the Hombu, Tokyo, under O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido. In 1961, he became uchideshi under O-Sensei at Ibaraki Dojo. In 1964, he returned to Tokyo and entered Chuo University. In 1973, he established Minato Research and Publishing Co. (currently Sugawara Martial Arts Institute, Inc.) In 1975 he entered the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu receiving the 'kyoshi' instructor's licence in 1986. Apr. 1992, Introduced Aikido to Shanghai Institute of Physical Education, Beijing University of Medical science. Nov. 1992, Received Kyoshi-license of Okinawan Goju-ryu Karatedo by Yasuichi Miyagi. June 1993, Introduced Aikido to Wuhan Institute of Physical Education, Fujian Teachers' University, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medical science in China. May 1995, Received Aikido 7th dan by Kisshomaru Ueshiba. Intruduced Aikido to Chengdu Institute of Physical Education in China. Received the Lecturer's License of Shanghai Institute of P.E.

Lujian Xing was born in Shandong province in the Peoples Republic of China in 1963. He entered Fujian Chinese Medical Science University in 1980 graduating in 1985. He studied northern/southern style 50 kinds of Chinese Martial Arts under Changxiang Du, Yanling Xing and other instructors. In 1992, he entered Sugawara Martial arts Institute as an uchideshi under Tetsutaka Sugawara and learnt Aikido and Katori Shinto Ryu techniques, also studying the relationships between Aikido and Chinese martial arts with Tetsutaka Sugawara. In 1993, he entered the School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University. After graduation, he joined the National Institute of Health Sciences, Japan in 1995, studying to create new medicines using herbs. He had successfully completed a program of Pharmacological Study of Grude Drugs in Division of Pharmocognosy and Phytochemistry from April 1, 1995 to March 29, 1996.

Mark Jones was born in San Francisco, California in 1951 and began his Aikido training in 1970 at Napa Valley College under the direction of Dr. William Morris. Since that time, he has studied with many teachers in the Bay Area and in Japan with Morihiro Saito Sensei in Iwama, Ibaraki-Ken and Tetsutaka Sugawara Sensei in Machida, Tokyo. Mark founded Aikido of Napa in 1983 which is affiliated with Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan. Aikido of Napa has ongoing classes for both chidlren and adults and is host to Sugawara Sensei on his annual trips to the USA. Mark holds the rank of godan, 5th degree black belt, in Aikido and has studied various other martial arts, including Katori Shinto Ryuk, Karate, Judo and Tai Chi as well as competing in foil fencing in college. Mark works full time in the computer industry and in his spare time teaches Aikido at his dojo in the beautiful Napa Valley, Californing. He can be reached through the dojo web page at www.napaaikido.com.

Contents

Introduction
Part One: Aikido Weapons Training
Chapter 1. Basic Knowledge of Weapons
1. How to Grip the sword
2. Makiuchi strike
3. How to grip the Jo--An example of the correct grip; How to change your grip yin and yang; How to strike and block (Strike from the stance; The three elements; Poor striking; Tsuke; Block and thrust; Tatezue-no-kamae; straight thrust; Target
4. How to use the sword
5. The principles of Martial arts-Mokujin (wood-man); Shin (Shen in Chinese); Ipppo, or one step; Issoku Itto, fit one step to one strike; Aiki, or Ki-ken-tai-no-icchi, fit ki (mind_, ken (sword) and Tai (body); Sprial block and attack
6. Circular attack and block-Spiral block; Circular jo training with yand grip; Partner practice; Circular block with sword
7. Kamae and the leverl of the tip of weapons-Various types of Seigan-no-kamae (middle level stance); Gedan or gyaku gedan-no-kamae (the knee level); In (Yin)-no-kamae (The ear level); Jodan-no-kamae (the head level); Sha-no-kamae
8. Block-Chudan level block with sword; Chudan level block with jo; Upper level block; Sword strike with jo; Block the neck
Chapter 2: Hard style Kumijo (sword vs. Jo)-Kumijo #1 through #4
Chapter 3: Soft style Kumijo (Sword against Jo)
Chapter 4: Jo-ai (Jo against Jo)-Reishiki (Etiquette); Jo-ai #1 through #5; Reishiki after training.
Part Three: Chinese Martial Arts
1. A Brief Introduction to Swordplay
2. Components of a Sword and their Functions-The Head; The handle; The Crosspiece; The Blade; The Edges; The Spine; The Tip; The Tassel
3. Basic Attack Methods of Swordplay-Tap with sword (Downward Tap; Upward Tap; Inward Tap) Stab with sword (Level Stab and vertical Stab); Upward Stab and downward Stab (Stab Upward in side bow stance; Twist sword and stab upward; Twist sword and stab downward; Side stab; Backward Stab; Turn-up Stab); Chop with sword (block and chop; Parry and chop; Twist and chop); Uppercut with sword (Chkop, uppercaut and strike from side; front block and uppercut; side block and uppercut in a bow stance); Horizontal cut with sword (upward block and horizontal cut; HKorizontal cut in a dodge; Horizontal cut in a forward step; Block in middle section and horizontal; horizontal cut straight ahead)
4. Basic defense methods of swordplay-Basic defense movements (block a blow overhead with sword; twist with sword; tilt with sword; intercept with sword; swong sword upward; thump with sword; withdraw sword sideways; hold sword vertically or horizontally; raise sword with the tip pointing downward; parry with sword; twist in figure-8's); defense principles of sword play (block crosswise; keep tip of sword on central line; strong hands and flexible body; change position to counterattack (raise wrist to tap back; sway head and cut back; pull belly in and cut back; turn to the side and thrust back; retract and chop back); keep a safe distance; cut arm on Blocking a sword)
Appendix: Ancient furnace and iron smelting
1. Introduction to the Japanese Sword
2. Some questions about the Japanese sword
3. The development of the smelting furnace
4. The materials of the Japanese
5. Modern smelting Furnace and refinery
6. The beginning era of the furnaace (the earliest stages of the Ancient furnaces)
7. The most famokus steel production place in the world
8. Special techniques for making steel
9. Indian Wootz steel-How to make Wootz steel; Application of the Wootz steel; Transfer routes of the Wootz method
10. Iron stone and iron sand-Shamanism and metal; The Compostion of iron stone (The ingredients of the beitetsu (rice-cake iron); Iron stone in the Mogusa; The ingredients of the Limonite and the Hematite); Iron sand (The ingredients of the iron sand); Tkhe Utilization of titanium; Comparision between Iron stone and iron sand; The temperature of smelting iron sand
11. Bloomery Iron Method (Kaimentetsu-ho)-Pit-like furnace; Shaft (Blast Pipe) furnace; Tatara furnace
12. Puddling method (Shoko-ho)
13. Bronze casting furnace in Xia era in China-Bronze casting pot of Yin era (Skhang); The Cokmponents of bronze Weapons; The principle of shoko-ho
14. Casting furnace (standing) in Shang and west Zhou eras-Standing bronze casting furnace; Standing furnace to the blast furnace development into large blast furnace); Heap roasting for desulfurizaton; Smelting method with Chinese Casting furnace; The detail of the Chinese casting furnace in Han era (BC 6th century-AD 3rd century)
15. Jomon Pot-style and quality of the Jomon Pot; Excavated smelting pot (the pot excavated in Hokkkaido); The era of the Jomon Pot including Mica; Concerning Mica; Heat resisting Jomon Pot; The making of carbide and acetylene gas; The ukse of the Jomon pot for smelting and refining; The use of the Jomon pot and crucible smelting (similar to Indian Wootz); Concerning the use of iron sand
16. The Iron Material in Medieval Japan-Production method or iron material
17. Mizuhodo (Water Furnace)
18. Conclusion
Footnotes and bibliography