An Illustrated Introduction (Tuttle Martial Arts)

I read some of the sample pages before I bought this book for my kindle. I got the impression that this was going to be an explanation of Aikido from the Western viewpoint--a scientific viewpoint, with some explanations into the history and philosophy. Unfortunately, I was sorely disappointed. 25% of the book deals with what the author calls "the inner sphere of aikido". All of this content is complete waffle. It tries to blend Western science with Eastern religious thought. A terrible combination. The so called "scientific explanations" are complete garbage, clearly written by someone who has no grasp of how physics actually works. The book is filled with nice looking diagrams that explain nothing. The style of writing is pretentious and convoluted. The diagrams and explanations of the techniques are the book's only saving grace. However, I found the diagrams a little bit small, and difficult to interpret if you haven't done the technique before yourself. The explanations were also difficult to follow. I would also have appreciated some information about the kinesiology aspect of Aikido, since many of these traditional techniques are actually very damaging to your skeleton (for example, suwariwasa ruins your knees). More information about how to do the techniques correctly so that your joints are not damaged, and the health benefits and muscles used for certain techniques would have been a great addition.

In summary, this book has some ok diagrams to explain the techniques, but do not look for any sort of scientific explanations or medical authority here. If you want to learn a bastardized version of eastern religious thought and blend it in with some pseudo-science, this is the book for you.

Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere is excellent as far as martial arts books go (at least the ones I've seen): it provides you with a little history, a little philosophy behind the art, and a lot of discussion of technique & application. Interestingly, the line drawings used throughout the book to illustrate techniques work *better* than photographs here, because the minimalist presentation allows you to see the line of attack, irimi tenkan, etc., which are usually integrated with the drawing. (Photographs also tend to be grainy or poor quality in Aikido manuals for some reason.) I seem to recall reading somewhere (an Aikido Journal review?) that the illustrator actually won an award for his work in Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere. Read the book, and you'll see why he earned the distinction.

I would definitely recommend *Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere* to anyone starting out in this martial art as a supplement to your training. Two other resources I would highly recommend are 'Aikido 3D' and the late Shoji Nishio's DVD series available from Aikido Journal. Nishio Sensei had developed a unique style that, by his own estimation, isn't found in most Aikido schools; but he was a direct student of Morihei Ueshiba, and as a black belt in Karate, Judo and Iato, he brought a critical understanding to the art that is sometimes lacking in modern Aikido techniques -- namely, that Aikido was meant to be a true martial art, and accordingly its techniques should adapt and develop relative to other martial arts... otherwise, Aikido forfeits its practical value, and your training is basically a dance or cardio workout.

`Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere' is one of the better Aikido books out there and the one recommended to me by my Sensei when I first started this martial art. It has extensive illustrations that show each technique clearly and that manage to show motions of force and movement, something photography never seems to achieve, no matter how good. This book looks at explanations of Aikido, it's history and ethics, organizations, the theory of practise and defence, warming up and preparing for training, posture and motion, basic and advanced techniques and it also has an extensive glossary. The writing is clear to understand and completely engaging and the illustrations add to the text whether they are describing a technique or not. My one minor gripe is that the techniques are labelled `Immobilization No: x against attack No: y', although you know what the immobilization is as that is what's being described in that particular section, it is harder to remember what all the attacks are. It would be good if they added the actual Aikido terms beneath the label so that you know exactly what attack and technique are being demonstrated and also so you can learn the terms for use in the dojo. This is a minor point and one that would improve on an already superb package. This is a good introduction to this beautiful and effective martial art, with clear descriptions and diagrams and it would make a worthy addition to an Aikido book shelf. Well worth a look.

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Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Although I do not actively practice aikido, I am an active, experienced martial artist. My current obsession is the Chinese internal martial arts. That being said, this was an interesting book for me.

I'd have to agree that this book is best for the beginner. It goes into significant detail about aikido history, traditions, etiquette, and concepts as well as philosophy. Very detailed!

It was interesting, because despite all that detail, once the techniques section started, it got very rudimentary. The explanations became somewhat superficial-- do this, switch to this, move this foot. Nothing about intention, energy, or key elements to the technique. The drawings were pleasing, and useful, again, for the generalized movement. No focus on key details like hand positioning, intention, etcetera. Which is something that drawings would be especially useful for, in lieu of photographs.

I guess my frustration is that coming at it from a different martial art style, I wanted more aikido concepts embedded in the explanation of the techniques. "As you are turning here you are joining centers, then projecting him this way off you back foot or whatever" was never in evidence. Which surprised me given the detail that went into defining the "aikido sphere" in the early parts of the book.

It's kind of an examination review manual, this book. The authors have a beautiful chart that list all the techniques, classifying them in all sorts of ways, and attributing them to all sorts of levels of advancement. If ever I have to take a written test on aikido, I'm set. Unfortunately...

Conceptually, I was disappointed in this book. But I was expecting something different. This is, ultimately, a techniques review book, not necessarily for an experienced practitioner looking for insights on refinement or internal development.

Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere is one of those books that tells the story but you must dig a little for the information. Depending on your years of experience, or lack thereof, this book will be your Bible of Aikido or something you prop the door open with. This is not a teaching book but a tome to be savored. To be read and re-read to gather the knowledge the authors are trying to impart to you. I purchased this book three times over the years because mine keeps disappearing and would glady do it again, it is that good.
The one drawback is that at times the techniques are numbered instead of named but even that turned out to be a plus because it forces you to pay attention. Whatever you have read about this book it is true, if you don't have it in your library, get it. This is not so much a review than it is an endorsement. I have plenty of books in my martial arts library but there is only a few that I would keep replacing and this is one of them.
They call this an illustrated introduction but it goes way beyond that. Combined with your personal training this is a Masters thesis in paperback.

"An Illustrated Introduction" -- the authors claim in the sub-title of this book. For this reviewer, this is like saying an accurate well-written, well-pictured, well-mapped travel-atlas is merely an illustrated introduction to the region -- when, with it, and some other help, one is unlikely to get lost exploring the region. Maybe they should have called this quality work something more like -- "The Dynamic Sphere of Aikido -- An Atlas for Aiki Artists and All".

I have other good Aiki books -- some of great quality -- but none quite so well-balanced as "Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere". Some works dealing with older Aiki Arts have as good quality -- each are great for their particular sub-style of Aiki -- but I have to add them together to get a full-balance of the Koryo Aiki Arts.

"Hapkido", by Marc Tedeschi, does for Hapkido-related Arts, in fullest fine detail, what the book under review does for Aikido-related Arts -- but more like an encyclopedia than an atlas. It contains many good charts, explanations and illustrations -- much like the book under review. It is also well-organized, as it must be, to handle all the details of Hapkido Arts. "Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere" is also as well-organized -- as the earnest authors prefer.

Then there is my favorite Aiki-like guide-book, "Jiu Jitsu Complete", by Kiyose Nakae, making great use of clear and sharp line-drawings with just as clear and sharp descriptions -- just like "Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere". "Jiu Jitsu Complete" is wonderful for its streamlined personal blend of Kito Ryu Jujutsu with Kodokan Judo -- for a well-balanced small Aiki-like Jiujitsu Art. But, the book under review does this for all of the Aikido Arts together.

As in "Secrets of the Samurai", by the same authors, one can see the results of great enthusiasm, respect, study and skill [and especially for the great line-drawings and explanations] -- they seem to be warm-hearted perfectionists -- who succeed -- like the other books and authors refered to in this review. This is good, for a modest little streamlined eclectic Kenpo art, like mine -- we can use all the help we can find. For a pure Aikido-follower -- or any Aiki-seekers -- get this book +++

I used this book often when I was living in Japan and studying Aikido. My sensei emphasized the spiritual / philosophical aspects of Aikido more than other sensei I have studied under; those explanations and concepts can be somewhat esoteric even for native Japanese, so while I was at a linguistic disadvantage compared to the other students, this book gave me a good, broad overview of the mental / spiritual underpinnings of Aikido as a whole, so that I was not completely lost during his discussions. The artwork which is used to illustrate the many basic techniques is not complicated by any means; but it is perfectly suited to its purpose: to as clearly as possible show correct form and technique. I used this book for review purposes before a promotion test, or just to try and figure out what I was doing incorrectly or how I could improve. I wouldn't recommend using this or any other book in lieu of actual real training, but this book is an excellent supplement.

I really enjoy reading this book. Note the present tense here, as this is a book I often pick up and re-read sections of. The first time I read part of it a few years ago, I found it very 'academic' and thought it difficult to understand, but that was before I began to practice aikido. Since them, I still find it a little 'bookish', but now have some physical experience to match with what the authors were attempting to describe. I think that this is one of the only books that attempts to systematize aikido training, or at least systematize some of the various techniques used in aikido. It provides a great under-pinning to ones mat-work by putting a bit of theoretical base and structure to what you learn while on the mat. I only gave this a 3-star because I think it could do with a bit of spruce-up given that it has been over 20 years since it was first published, and much has happened in the world of aikido since then. This is definitely not a work that a beginner will get much out of at first, but should be part of any serious practitioner's collection!

The world of martial arts can often be confusing. There is
a spiritual aspect that is often hinted at, but when the
practice invloves techniques for bone-breaking and face
smashing....well....
Then there's Aikido. And the quality of this book in explaining
the concepts of attack, the sphere of defense and the
philosophical standpoint of Aikido is impressive.
It goes beyond just Aikido and provides a deep understanding
of what a martial art can be (not just crunchy-bones!).
However, Aikido is obviously what it addresses and it does
so amazingly well. It's worth the price for Part V alone!
To boot...it has excellent inllustrations, and is printed
on high-quality paper that smells good!
ooooo----you should buy this book.

I have been enamored with the marital arts for most of my life. When I was younger, I didn't have any opportunity to practice an art, but I read voraciously about them. I first looked through this book when I was about 12 years old. The pictures stayed with me for a long time, especially the graphical discussion of the ethics of combat, even as the subject dimmed in my memory. 10 years later, when I began practicing Aikido, I was thrilled to find that I had been practicing the art that this book was describing - it was like stumbling across an old friend.
Now I have been practicing Aikido for about 10 years, and I still find myself returning to this book - reading, re-reading, and pondering sections.
I would recommend this book for any serious student of Aikido.

I am a real aikido novice, but a hard-core martial arts veteran, having trained in Shotokan karate for more than a quarter-century. I kind of stumbled into aikido training awhile back. I haven't had a chance to become a regular part of an aikido school but my aikido library is quickly catching up with my karate library--more than five feet of bookshelf space devoted to martial arts. This book is superb. First, let me say that I am a big fan of using illustrations to teach things like martial arts because sometimes better clarity can be obtained and Oscar Ratti's are the best I have ever seen in print. There is much more background material about the techniques and the foundations of aikido than about ninety percent of the books out there. This is definitely not your basic martial arts "cookbook"
Last but not least, here is food for thought. This book was first published in 1970 and only last year (2001) did it go to paperback. Any book that lasts 31 years in hardcover has to be taken very seriously.

As an Aikido "newbie", who joined and left various Aikido Dojos for a few good years now ... I found this book to be an EXCELLENT source about Aikido. It covers EVERYTHING new students would want to know, plus ALMOST everything a veteran would like to know (Aikido, after all, has a LOT of variations and moves..). It covers the philosophy of Aikido, the History of Aikido, the etiquette of Aikido, and of course, the Art itself. The whole book is full with -lovely- illustrations that are great to look at, especially at all the techniques covered in this book.
Anyhow, I've done some research before purchasing this book, and I firmly believe this is one of the greatest, if not the best, books you can read about Aikido.

Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere is the first aikido book I acquired, and it served as my introduction to the art. It covers the subject well and provides insight into the principles (as opposed to techniques) of aikido that may be omitted in other, more technically-oriented works.

The language of the book is slightly stilted by the editorial choice to refer to "thows" as "projections" and "pins" as "immobilizations" -- if George Orwell had been an aikidoka, he'd roll over in his grave at the rejection of straighforward anglo/saxon-derived, but perfectly serviceable, words. Likewise, the decision to use numbers to designate throws and pins ("projection #3", "immobilization #2"), instead of more traditional Japanese terms ("shihonage", "nikkyo") also counts against the book, because it requires the development of some kind of translation mechanism to go from Ratti/Westbrook-ese to the dojo. I believe I understand the logic of the reasoning for these decisions, but I don't agree with the conclusion.

In spite of these minor criticisms, this is a solid book made better by Oscar Ratti's superlative illustrations. Nearly every page has a picture which enhances the text and pleases the eye.

I bought this book before I began practicing aikido. If I had not bought it then, I probably would buy it now.

Having just started training in Aikido, I needed a few books to give me the proper background. If one is to own just one, this would be it. There is a lot of ritual in Aikido, and some of it I do not care for, but overall, I believe this to be a very good self defense system, which can be modulated in intensity to correspond to the ferocity of the attacker's energy and intent. The drawings and explanations are very clear, while the theory and tradition is not overwhelming. Highly recommended!

This book occupies a place of honor on my bookshelf and deservedly so! The quality of the book, first of all, is par excellence. The binding will last for years; the type is clear and easy to read; the illustrations are beautiful and clean. A very well produced book.
The content is better! I learned about the true Aikido from reading (and re-reading) this book. It set the standard for all martial arts books and so far, none of them have even come close. Buy and cherish this wonderful book.

Last month I started aikido lessons at age 30, with no previous martial arts experience whatsoever. I chose aikido because of its pacifist nature, which I learned about, albeit superficially, while doing a little bit of internet research. It didn't hurt that the dojo was in walking distance from my apartment. When I stepped into my first class, though, I felt like I was drowning, figuratively. The senior students were throwing around Japanese phrases left and right, and I was embarrassingly ignorant about the rituals. And there are lots of rituals. Believe me. I decided after my first class that I needed a book that would 1) explain the basics of each exercise, 2) have a glossary of Japanese terms used in aikido, and, most importantly, 3) describe the rituals in a typical aikido class and what they're all about. This book has all these things. It turned out to be an ideal supplement to what I'm learning in class. The only thing that prevents me from giving this book five stars, however, is that the, um, excessive style of writing is irritating at points. An example: "The practice then is the way along which a man can proceed from the basic, utilitarian consideration of learning an efficient means of self-defense which will follow certain ethical guidelines, to the 'high country' where the art becomes a Discipline of Coordination [sic] aimed at the harmonizing of opposites or alternates- not an art bent on or resulting in destruction, individual or wholesale." Quickly, someone, take away that man's thesaurus...

I have read more than 10 books and read countless articles on the martial art of aikido, and this book was by far the best one. The philosophy of aikido clearly comes through and gives the reader more than just technical information on various techniques. Great illustrations too. While the drawings aren't as easy to follow as photos or video, they are profuse, with over 100 different techniques illustrated.

There's not really much I can add to the many highly favorable reviews already given on this book, it is quite simply the best book on Aikido ever written. Besides the excellent drawings illustrating the various techniques and warm-up exercises, it also has the most well-written description of the philosophy and theory of Aikido I've ever read. The only thing missing is that the japanese terms for the techniques that are taught in the dojo are missing, making it a little difficult for beginners to match the techniques in the book with what they are taught. (For those experiencing this problem I recommend the book: Aikido Exercises for Teaching and Training, by C.M. Shifflett ISBN 155643314X which gives the japanese terms and tells you the exact page which they may be found in Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere book). In over 30 years no Aikido book has yet to match this one, a definite must-have for anyone interested in the art.

I bought this book after the first month of practice of aikido and it quickly gave me an understanding of what the meaning of exercises in dojo was. This book gives exactly what it promises: an introduction with illustrations. I find it useful for self practice and for exploring new techniques. So if you are at the beginning of your aikido journey I strongly recommend this book as a reference. I will come back to it many times just to go through the simple, yet powerfully dynamic illustrations.
If there is one thing which I felt was missing than it would be the Japanese naming of techniques of attack and defense.

I am a seven year student of Korindo Aikido which is a style of aikido based on the teachings of hirai rather than Ushiba. Despite the differences in style and martial thought, I found this book to be very good in describing the basics and the techniques are well illistrated and explained. This is a good book on Aikido and the writers seem to know the system from within rather than describing from the outside.

I have only one year studying Aikido in France and it is hard to find good books related to it. I greatly recommend this one because of it's clarity. It doesn't emphasize only on techniques as most book usually do but approach Aikido in his philosophical and spiritual aspect. It's my bible. Note: the drawings are very clear and nice compare to all of other books I have seen :)

WestBrook and Ratti cover all throws taught in Aikido up to black belt level. There are full walkthroughs of all projections and immobilizations in the book, and modifications to them. There is also a section on the jo - short staff - that includes a kata for you to practice. Unlike other books, Westbrook and Ratti cover smaller, but some of the more important, aspects of aikido, including start positions (kneeling, crouched, standing, etc.), etiquitte, hand-to-weapons defense, history, ki development, ki usage, philosophy, and so much more. I have been in martial arts for well over a decade, and this is by far the finest literature on aikido I have ever seen. Complete with pictures, walkthroughs, philosophy and the like, Aidkido and the Dynamic Sphere is on par with "Secrets of the Samurai" (same authors). Both are absolutely fantastic and comprehensive.

I've read quite a few books on Aikido and most are nice pictures and short descriptions of the throws. This book provides great detail - both with written and graphical descriptions - to fully explain the full sequence of events as well as the general mechanics of why/how Aikido works. It is perhaps the best book written that fully describes the art.

A classic book. The intro part is well done, the philosophy of aikido. The fashion-plate-type illustrations do the trick too, somehow making the movements more obvious than photographs may. A tight classic of the Ki society. I wish the authors had done a comprehensive book of technique to follow up, as the technique part is a shade skimpy, but that was not this book's purpose. A great text!

If you wish to learn the art of Aikido and could only have one book; this would be it. It is effectively illustrated, better than photos. From history and theory, dojo etiquette and fundamental techniques of defense...all is covered. This book will give you broad overview of the mental and spiritual underpinnings of Aikido as a whole. Must have this book in every library.

1. Read this book twice.
2. Underline all the important stuff.
3. Mull over the stuff you don't understand immediately. It will become clear in time.
4. Don't be too concerned with the slightly old-fashioned tone of the authors.
5. Look at the average number of stars for this book: 5.
6. Tell your friends to buy it!
7. Now read it again.

This book does an excellent job of showing popular moves and variations. It does so in detailed manner that encourages a student or teacher to pay very close attention to small parts of any given movement. It's not an easy read, being written at a higher level than most MA books are, but it provides a valuable resource to anyone interested in these moves and principles.

A lot of good things have been said about this book by many others, and I basically agree with them. So, I'm not going to repeat any of them here. However, the one thing that I don't like about this book is that, instead of using the common terminology used by aikidoka around the world, the authors use algebraic terms like "attack #1" neutralised by "immobilization #2". Why can't they just use the proper terms such as "shomen-uchi" and "nikyo"? Give me a break. This is like calling "slamdunk" a "scoring technique #5".

I am in my first year of learning Aikido and this book has been good for the insights. As well the drawings have been easy to follow. I know some of the terms used are slightly different than my class uses. I find it interesting how many of the senior students have this book and have said it has been great to reference, even if you only read it once. Hope this book helps me to unlock more secrets of aikido than I have already seen.

I highly recommend this book for any person studying or contemplating the study of Aikido. It provides an excellent overview of the art's basic principles and techniques. The illustrations are outstanding and often show the flow of techniques better than photographs.

I am in my first year of learning Aikido and this book has been good for the insights. As well the drawings have been easy to follow. I know some of the terms used are slightly different than my class uses. I find it interesting how many of the senior students have this book and have said it has been great to reference, even if you only read it once. Hope this book helps me to unlock more secrets of aikido than I have already seen.

I highly recommend this book for any person studying or contemplating the study of Aikido. It provides an excellent overview of the art's basic principles and techniques. The illustrations are outstanding and often show the flow of techniques better than photographs.

Having only minimal experience with Aikido, and limited time I found that this book was a great source for learning this artform on my own schedule. I shopped around for a few days before settling on this book mainly becuase of its clear pictures and wonderful descriptions of movement. I fealt that it far surpassed any other text for ease of use and mastery. Additionally, while reading I found that it equally imparted the "feel" of the techniques and theory behind them which seemed to add another dimension to learning. Although I do not think that this book will take you to the master level it definitely is a must read for beginners.

I foud this book to be the most informative book on Aikido on the market. It has many easy to follow illistrations, and it goes into explaination that other books on Aikido don't even touch on. This is by far the best Aikido book out there!

I just bought this book and it's great. It doesn't only teach you techniques but the bases (spiritual) of the art. It surprise me when I read the section of ethics. It has give me new insights that'll push me to practice harder and with more determination. I recomend this book to students who wants to take seriously this art.

I used to have an older publication of this book and it is the best publication out there for learning the fundamentals of aikido. Everything from warming up to learning each and every technique is covered and perfectly illustrated and broken down in such a way to grasp everything step by step. This is the perfect book for any beginner or intermediate to supplement with their aikido class.

I've studied Aikido, as well as a number of other martial arts, and don't believe that you can truly learn them from a book. That being said, this is a very nice reference for students of Aikido and other martial artists who want to learn more about Aikido. Even more, the illustrations are absolutely beautiful. Well worth getting. [...]

It was my first book that I bought on Aikido, and although I bought quite a few more in the 9 years that I practise Aikido now, I haven't found another one that gives one such a comprehensive view on this martial art. It covers the history, the philosophy, the basic ideas and techniques, some guidance and hints for training. And, best of all, the graphics, by their simplicity are vastly more instructive than the standard series of photographs.

I have read many books on the martial Arts before and this is the best one so far. There has never been another book that goes into such detail on the style of aikido. The part that I liked the best about this book was the fact that it showed more to aikido than just the martial side. Aikido is a very deep art and this book has the ability to take you through the hole style. A prefect book for anyone who trains in Aikido no matter their rank.

Though I am not an Aikido practicioner I have been involved in Martial Arts for most of my life and most of the instructional books available simply do not convey the necessary information in any usable way. Ratti and Westbrook took the time to make this as thorough as posible and it is the finest instructional manual for any Martial Art that I have ever seen. However, like all books, videos etc. I only reccomend this material to someone with a strong Martial Arts background.

I think this should be required reading for any beginning aikido student. I have found it to be insightful and it provided the focus in my training that I needed. Before this book I did not understand why my instructor was teching me to do what I was doing, but after reading this book I was much more enlightened toward the dynamic system behind this fine art.

I highly recommend this book!

The best martial arts book I have seen, and I have seen quite a few. The illustrations and conceptual explanations in this book unified many things I have seen in the dojo or read in a coherent and simple way.

As I said, this is an excellent primer. This is my first read on this subject, having read quite a bit on other martial arts. The tone of the book oozes religious bias, however; I cannot take away from the nobel philosophy from which Aikido came to be -that of sheer defense, no attack.

The martial arts taught in much of the West as influenced by the rising interest in mixed martial arts has created a new breed of opponent. This books enumeration of the types of possible attack (chapter 4) is in serious need of revision to be "with the times."

Neither Western or Thai boxing nor grappling art shooting attacks, the most prevalent forms of attack seen in today's popular mixed martial arts venues, are not even mentioned. This is not to say that Aikido cannot be used against such opponents, but it would be extremely difficult to do so against an opponent with reasonably good form in these fighting arts. (By the time an Aikido move is accomplished, much punishment will likely have occured).

That said, I would like to stress that there are many types of people in the world and no one martial arts style meets the personality needs of all individuals. Aikido, an effective yet limited art, is an excellent art to pursue for individuals with a more thoughtful, harm-free nature who also value self-defense tools.

Now, this is the first and only book I've read on Aikido. I apologize ahead of time if this book in fact does not represent the art fully. I chose this book based upon the many reviews stating that this is a best primer reference, which, in my opinion, could have been better if actual photos were used instead of line drawings (which are quite good from an artistic perspective).

This book is a very easy read book. It is easy to read and easy to understand! Many martial art books are often written so that "normal" people woulden't understand the true meaning. In this book everybody can understand! This book is very direct and full of facts about Aikido.
Well it is a beginners book with a lot of useful information. So if you are about to start your Aikido training or has just begun, this book is it!!

As an Aikidoka I strongly advise anyone (despite the rank), to buy one. It is extremely well written and the images are clear and precise. A book for anyone who wants to progress in Aikido or in any other form of Budo.

This book categorize attacks into 12 kinds of holds, 3 kinds of blows, and categorizes counters into 7 kinds of immobolizations and 28 kinds of projects. Then it sets up a matrix of which counter can be used on which kinds of attacks. It draws diagrams for each application. Very illustrative.
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Aikido and the dynamic sphere is very detailed in its descriptions of every aspect of aikido and also offers many various illustrations to aid in understanding the full idea of each topic. Easy to read and useful in any aikido Endeavour.

If you are studying Aikido, this is a must buy.

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As a new student of Aikido, I found this book to be very helpful.. It shows you the basics in easy and descriptive ways so even after your class, you can easily go back and practice what you've learned.. I think this book is a must for the beginnner..

As a beginner of aikido, I am sometimes at a loss at remembering everything from the recent class. This book gives a good insight into aikido and has brilliant illustrations to aid the novice with technique.

A MUST HAVE FOR ANY BEGINNER

This book provides a very clear teaching about the art of Aikido.The technical background is useful for the martial artist who wants to practice street combat without damaging the assailant and provides also a full spiritual guide on budo and the ki power.Very good one!

I had just ate a bowl of chili and started doing the rolling around the ground excersices and rolls and I threw up all over the mat
don't eat a heavy meal before doing your rolling excersices. Be careful doing the training in this book
I am just letting you know, aikido is a complicated art and is deceptive. My example for one will tell
if you do your ground rolls don't eat chili or any other heavy meal.

OK, the illustrations LOOK easy and simpel. But i really dislike this book. Techniques have names, these names expand your knowledge of japanese, the language for a part as well as how to understand it. And here we use some numbers ????

Uke uses attack #37, tori responds with a number #12... no... that's old school, in times when we didn't know beter...