Considered by many to be the most humane of all fighting arts, aiki-do was founded by Japanese grandmaster Morihei Ueshiba. Ueshiba spent his lifetime devoted to the ancient jujutsu arts. His art consists of highly effective joint locks, pressure points, leverage, balance and throwing techniques that require minimum effort to yield the maximum results. The fact that police agencies around the world have since adopted and incorporated aiki-do in their training curriculum is testimony to the efficacy of this art"s apprehension and restraining techniques. In this five-volume DVD series presented by the experts at Black Belt Magazine, Sam Combes sensei - a retired police officer who holds a 6th-degree black belt from the Yoshinkai Aiki-do Institute in Japan - teaches the kata, self-defense and weapons techniques which form the cornerstone of this art. In the first volume of the DVD collection, Combes teaches aiki-do"s basic stances, proper falling, vital drills and techniques. Topics also include: exercises to make your body supple, kihon, ki and the internal spiritual power.