24 Facts About Stanley Pranin

Stanley A Pranin was an American martial artist, founding publisher, and editor-in-chief of Aikido Journal.

Stanley Pranin originally began practicing Yoshinkan aikido in California in 1962, later switching to Aikikai.

In 1974, Stanley Pranin founded the journal Aiki News; in 1977 he moved to Japan, living there for 20 years and continuing to publish his journal in Japanese and English.

Stanley Pranin died of advanced stomach cancer on March 7,2017, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In 1962 Stanley Pranin saw an aikido demonstration at his high school in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles, and in August of that year he began practicing Yoshinkan aikido in Lomita with 2nd Dan Virgil Crank.

Stanley Pranin continued his training in 1963 under Isao Takahashi and Richard Taylor at the San Pedro YMCA, following the Koichi Tohei-led curriculum.

Stanley Pranin passed tests for 1st Dan and 2nd Dan given by Tohei.

Stanley Pranin attended classes taught by Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Koichi Tohei, Kisaburo Osawa, Seigo Yamaguchi, Yasuo Kobayashi and Morihiro Saito, and practiced at Shoji Nishio's dojo in Sugamo.

Stanley Pranin audited Japanese classes at the institute and taught aikido at the nearby University of California, Santa Cruz with Robert Frager.

In May 1974, representing Northern California aikido schools with William Witt, Stanley Pranin attended a meeting in Los Angeles at which Koichi Tohei announced his resignation from the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo.

Stanley Pranin received his 4th Dan certification in January 1977.

Stanley Pranin moved to Japan in August 1977, studying aikido under Morihiro Saito in Iwama.

Stanley Pranin interviewed Ueshiba more than ten times, the last in December 1996.

That year Stanley Pranin interviewed Kenji Tomiki, creator of a competitive form of aikido, for a second time.

Stanley Pranin was promoted to 5th Dan by Morihiro Saito in 1983.

Stanley Pranin visited Abashiri, Shirataki and Engaru while researching Morhei Ueshiba's years in Hokkaido.

Ueshiba's association with Takeda lasted over 20 years, and Stanley Pranin's published research was instrumental in establishing the role of Daito-ryu Jujutsu in the creation of aikido.

Stanley Pranin has collected hundreds of hours of film and video recordings, a portion of which have been edited and published.

In July 1963, Stanley Pranin was a member of a YMCA committee which organized an Athletic Circus with aikido, powerlifting and a bodybuilding exhibition by Bill Pearl.

The event took place in San Pedro, with Stanley Pranin participating in the aikido demonstration and powerlifting events.

Aiki Expos were martial-arts seminars, organized by Stanley Pranin, which assembled high-ranking teachers of aikido, Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu, classical Japanese martial arts, karate and Systema.

Since beginning his research, Stanley Pranin has collected and filmed many hours of film and video of aikido teachers beginning with founder Morihei Ueshiba.

Stanley Pranin has lectured on aikido history and the life of founder Morihei Ueshiba in the US, Mexico, France and Japan.

Stanley Pranin has conducted aikido seminars, and released an online video course in 2013.