A worthwhile book for anyone interested in Aikido

books:


	• Total Aikido: The Master Course (Bushido--The Way of the Warrior) Gozo Shioda Kodansha International, 1997 - 208 pages average customer review:based on 28 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Total Aikido

As a practitioner of Aikido and Aikijutsu I find "Total Aikido: The Master Course (Bushido--The Way of the Warrior)" a useful reference point. Any student of aikido will find the details in this book golden.

A worthwhile book for anyone interested in Aikido

Gozo Shioda was a direct student of Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba and this experience is seen through the detail of this book. The beginning of the book goes over various basics and exercises taught in Aikido. This proves very helpful for anyone who has not actually taken an Aikido class. There is a great deal of detail for various basic moves, explaining everything from breathing to shifting weight. One of the problems with soft martial arts such as Aikido is the difficulty in performing the throws or locks if you have not had an instructor. The book helps in this by explaining key points to the technique that should be remembered as well as explaining the mechanics of it in detail. Close up and side bars providing further detail along side the clear step by step pictures of the techniques as they are being performed also make it easier to learn these moves with a partner. I would give this book a perfect score if it were not for the Japanese technique names. This book was translated from Japanese. While the names of the techniques are translated to English the explanation for how to do the technique uses traditional Japanese terms at times.

For example:
from Four Direction Throw 1

"1-2 From migi ai-hanmi kamae, uke grabs your left wrist and pulls in a straight line. You strike with right-handed back-fist atemi to uke's face."

While this is a bit of learning curve I didn't find it as cumbersome once I had the basic terminology down.

As for the practical side. While Aikido does not come as easily as learning to throw a good right hook, many of the throws and joint locks can be employed without much effort once they are learned well. The techniques are presented often against traditional grabs or overhand strikes, however much of the material can be used just as readily by simply training with someone shoving, throwing a punch or going to tackle. There was a lack of kick defenses, but most people starting a street fight will not kick high anyway. The joint locks to control people are useful, especially if you are in a position where you cannot knock someone out who attacks, such as a teacher or a security guard.

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An enduring classic

Gozo Shioda's masterful presentation of the fundamentals of Aikido is profound. The reader is drawn into a world that is both complex and very simple, through techniques which require great skill to perform but which flow like water when done right. The Ai (harmony) element is present throughout the book, and I now recommend this book to my students and give it as gifts to my friends.

A brief comment

This is a very fine book on aikido. Clear text, crisp and easy to understand photos, and detailed and well written text. I had a specific reason for reading this text--I needed help with all the Japanese terminology for the moves, which I'm weak on--and this book presents that quite well. Both the attacks and defenses are given the full names. I note one reviewer here who says that the spelling for some of the techniques is slightly different from what he's used to. There is also better and more complete coverage for all the moves. Most aikido books seem to present only a sampling of the various techniques. This book takes a more systematic approach. Aikido especially is one art you can't learn from a book, or even good videos, but they can help you with your training in the dojo. I've also found the videos of Ken Ota, Robert Liedke, and Rod MacEwen helpful in that regard. Overall, a fine book and a worthwhile addition to your martial arts library.

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Un libro excelente

Uno de los mejores libros de artes marciales que tengo.

Es tal vez el libro que todo principiante del aikido debería tener como guía de referencia, ya que explica cómo se producen errores más comunes que solemos cometer en las técnicas básicas como ikkio, nikio, sankio, yonkio, cómo agarrar bien al compañero (uke o tori)...

Incluye también algunas aplicaciones interesantes a la defensa personal (goshin waza).

Buena edición la versión en inglés, con tapa dura.

Ojalá encontrara más libros como éste.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

The basics are only a guiding principle.
Your strongest posture is the one that fits your constitution.
That cannot be taught to you, you have to find it for yourself.
It is not a question of widening your stance or narrowing it,
if the truth be told.
But, people will do what is comfortable for them, so if you allow them to,
they will just make it up for themselves.
That is why, you must always return to the basics.
This is what is important.
-Gozo Shioda
Aikido students and enthusiasts the world over will be delighted with this English translation of Gozo Shioda's
"hidden principles," finally made available by the Yoshinkan school of aikido. An outstanding student of aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba, Shioda, who taught thousands of people in his lifetime, left a profound legacy, successfully teaching the spiritual and practical applications of a martial art that could all too easily become mired in one or the other.
In this sequel to Dynamic Aikido, the preeminent master continues his explanation of the essential principles but in finer detail. Comprehensive and fully illustrated, Total Aikido covers the basic postures and movements with special emphasis on certain key points for perfecting one's technique to achieve maximum effect with the minimum of effort. Demonstrations are provided in a dojo setting, with helpful pointers for avoiding common mistakes. To enable students to develop greater strength and control, they are shown how to increase their speed, shift their center of gravity, and synchronize movements with those of their opponents.
This is an essential work for students of all levels, a treasury of expert information.

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