Richard Bowe Demonstration Video

Shihan Richard Bowe — the man who brought Nihon Goshin Aikido to America — rarely needs an introduction in martial arts circles. But seeing him in action is something else entirely.

We recently came across this rare footage from the early 1980s featuring Shihan Bowe and his black belts in a live demonstration. It offers a remarkable window into the early days of Nihon Goshin Aikido in the United States, showcasing the fluid throws, precise joint locks, and calm control that define this self-defense art.

Watch closely and you will see why Nihon Goshin Aikido is different. There are no flashy acrobatics or tournament-style point scoring. Every technique is rooted in practical, real-world self-defense — the kind that works regardless of your size, strength, or age.

Shihan Bowe trained directly under the art’s founder, Master Shodo Morita, on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. He became the first American to earn a black belt in Nihon Goshin Aikido in 1962, and went on to establish the first dedicated Nihon Goshin Aikido dojo in the United States in 1963. The lineage he built continues today here in Myrtle Beach at Aikido School MB.

We hope this video inspires you as much as it inspires us. If you are curious about learning these techniques yourself, we would love to welcome you onto the mat.

Please note: we do not own the rights to this video and share it purely for educational purposes.