Shin Budo (新武道, lit. new budo) is a now defunct magazine that ran through from April 1941 through most of World War II. It argued that budo could bear some worthwhile teachings that could, often literally, be applied within the greater scope of the Pacific War. Indeed, the journal's editorial line was clearly pro-Japanese expansionism and it played its role as a propaganda medium, using such tactics as the glorification of the Japanese identity through its martial techniques, and drawing on a sense of tradition. In its short life, the journal had as contributors a number of people from the military, but also some of the most proficient budo practitioners of that time. Ueshiba himself contributed this technical article, showing both empty-handed and with weapons.
This article is entitled "Looking into Tenshin-ryu Aiki-budo" (天眞流合気武道を見る). What is immediately striking is the fact that the protagonists are not wearing the usual keikogi and hakama, but military clothes insteadMany thanks to Ellis Amdur for pointing that out, when I initially thought that those might have been farming clothes.. Considering the editorial line of the magazine, I think it is safe to assume that Ueshiba was asked to demonstrate the closest thing he could to real fighting techniques, which might explain the outfitI encourage the reader to watch the discussion that I had with weapons experts Alex Bennett, Baptiste Tavernier, and Jordy Delage, since we spent quite a bit of time dissecting Ueshiba's bayonet techniques.. This is very interesting because based on the reporter's introduction, it seems that Ueshiba had already begun to move away from such considerations, implying that there might be a use for budo outside the battlefieldFor a full discussion on that theme, I encourage you to watch my discussion with Jordy Delage.. We must note however that at that time, Ueshiba was still invloved with the military, teaching officers of the Toyama and Nakano military schools.
There has been much debate around the various iterations of the naming of Ueshiba Morihei's art, and the term Tenshin-ryu Aiki-budo may be novel for many readers. While some authors ascribe little attention to this naming, arguing that it was either too inconsistent, or that Morihei did not really care, it is worthwhile to note that one month after the publication of the present article, the following official notice was published in Shin Budo.
Notice published in the April 1942 issue of Shin BudoMany thanks to Yamamoto san from the Aikikai Foundation, and Mihaly Dobroka for making me aware of this entry
The notice states the following:
Renaming Aiki-budo
The martial art taught at the Kobukai school led by Ueshiba Moritaka, which we introduced in the previous issue, was generally called "Aiki-budo" until recently, but it has now been officially renamed "Tenshin-ryu Aiki-budo". Ueshiba's many years of training embodied the spirit of Daito-ryu Jujutsu, Aioi-ryu Heiho, Yagyu-ryu jujutsu, Hozoin-ryu spearmanship, and Shinkage-ryu swordsmanship, but it was finally narrowed down to Ueshiba Sensei's most profound and divinely gifted Tenshin-ryu Aiki-budo.
Notice published in issue of April 1942 of Shin Budo
I personally feel that it is extremely relevant that such an official notice was published, presumably upon request from the Kobukan, if not from Ueshiba himself. Either way, the founder would have been quite closely involved, since he participated the month prior to a high profile photoshoot for the same magazine. It is unclear at this stage whether the publication of this notice was done following reactions to the previous month's article, or whether the Kobukan/Ueshiba felt that a clarification was warranted.
Interestingly, the General director of the Kobukan from 1942 was Hirai Minoru, who is thought to have been involved in registering the name Aikido towards the Dai Nippon Butokukai that same year, after many board meetings with the stakeholders of the organization, all quite independently of the Founder.
Another interesting historical fact is that it is after reading this particular article that an 11 years-old Arikawa Sadateru became fascinated by Ueshiba Morihei. He became his student a few years later and subsequently, one of the most prestigious instructors of the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. To finish, note that all pictures were taken in Ueshiba's Tokyo dojo in Ushigome.
Cover of the March 1942 issue of Shin Budo
A Look Into Tenshin-ryu Aiki-budo
Ueshiba Moritaka argues that martial arts must keep evolving.
Budo have evolved in the same way as that of the universe and its celestial bodies, and that’s why it should not stay still. Ueshiba's budo is done by the first generation of Ueshiba, and the second generation of Ueshiba should step over it and reinvent it as if it were new.
Said the professor, a hero who survived the Russo-Japanese war who will turn 61 this year.
The professor’s desire is to make use for the martial arts that he had trained for many years in actual battle while he was in the armed forces. He puts on a weight that is several times that which the military wears and runs outdoor around the dojo in ChibaThis is interesting because I am not aware of Ueshiba owning a dojo in the Chiba prefecture, nor him having had any extensive teaching activity there such as gasshuku. I believe that this actually refers to the Ibaraki dojo., goes up and down the mountains and polishes his techniques using vigorous young deshi. In the summer, he goes out to the Kumano seaKumanonada (熊野灘) is a body of water located in the Kumano region of the Kii Peninsula located in the prefecture of Wakayama. Ueshiba Morihei was born not far from there, in the city of Tanabe., jumps into and trains in the water. Ultimately, martial arts refine the spirit and lead to purificationMisogi (禊) is a shinto purification ritual that uses water., but what you see in an instant on the battlefield is nothing but the result of hard work and daily training.
The reason why Ueshiba claims the name of Tenshin-ryu is because he learned the five bujutsu that compose it, i.e. Daito-ryu Ju-jutsu大東流柔術, Yagyu-ryu Ju-jutsu柳生流柔術, Aioi-heiho相生流兵法, Shinkage-ryu heiho新陰流兵法, and Hozoin-ryu So-jutsu寳藏院流槍術. He then refined and purified them into one and reorganized them as a new budo, which is what the professor says, is suitable for the present time.
Aiki-budo has no kata. No two phenomena in the world can ever be the same, and it is the same when it comes to a moment and its conditions. So, he says that it is irrational limit oneself by training such a single kata.
Techniques that are noticeable are undesirable. As one accumulates training, spiritual and physical being become one and the technique becomes quick, and it cannot be noticed. It will stop the enemy's technique without giving him a chance to touch one's body. Ueshiba Sensei then performed a few techniques with one of his disciples, a judo 5th-dan, but the techniques were challenging, literally there was no chance to understand the motion, and honestly, it felt impossible to try to capture that through the lenses of my camera.
Whether the opponent has a weapon or not, he is not presided over by the circumstances of the moment, but rather he is the one deciding of the circumstances.
Three henka
When both opponents face each other, the next instant... 
enter to the left and with your right hand, grab the enemy's right hand, and with your left hand, hit his neck. 
To follow, move to the left and hold the enemy down by controlling his right wrist. 
With the right hand towards the face, your left hand grabs the enemy's right hand palm, and with your right foot, put the enemy down instantly.
A variation
Starting in the same stance as the enemy, 
enter to the right and take his left hand, the enemy won't be able to resist and will fall due to the pain. 
The way in which to hold the hand and push it is very difficult to explain.
When facing an enemy with a sword
At the same time as the enemy cuts down, the right hand grabs on the handle of the sword, and the left hand hits the pressure point of the face. 
As an alternative, as he strikes, enter to the left and press down on his neck. 
The enemy is now completely under control.
Facing a bayonet
When facing an opponent with a bayonet while one is holding a sword, 
raise the sword high,
and at the moment the opponent thrusts forward, shift your body and cut. It is a shame that this exquisite body movement cannot be caught by the camera.
Juken-jutsu
The Ueshiba-ryu has a very special style of bayonet. 
This art of the spear (sojutsu, 槍術) is illustrated by the very prompt way in which he manages to redirect the tip of his weapon towards the throat of his opponent...
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