BeginerAikido book suggestion?

[JBoggs]

Hello, please make a book suggestion for a beginer Aikido student. I am currently reading "The Aikido Student Handbook" by Greg O'Connor.

Thanks

JBOGGS

[Ron Tisdale]

I haven't read the book, but O'Conner Sensei's aikido and dojo are really nice. Trained at his home dojo a couple of times, felt his waza at a seminar once. Good guy, knowledgable, fine aikido.

You might look for a book by Lynn Seiser and his teacher, Phong Sensei. Tuttle publishing house, but I forget the name...should be easy to find in any martial arts section of Barnes and Noble or Borders. I liked it a lot.

For a different approach you might want to expose yourself to yoshinkan aikido through Gozo Shioda's books, like Aikido Shugyo, Total Aikido, and Dynamic Aikido.

Best,
Ron

[ezzthetic]

I liked Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere (http://www.amazon.com/Aikido-Dynamic-Sphere-Illustrated-Introduction/dp/0804832846/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-7728384-0308830?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1187101710&sr=8-1) by Adele Westbrook and Oscar Ratti.

[Ron Tisdale]

:) yo, dude...your signature is longer than most of my posts! ;)

Ok, maybe not...but you get the idea...

Best,
Ron

[rgoad]

Book: I would go out of my way to not get a book. Picture books with really neat stuff, history books with photos of old guys and stories are all OK. Maybe a philosophy book, if that's part of what you are looking for. You won't learn anything from a book about Aikido. If you find one that is written by someone with tight association to your school you might use it to jog your memory forthe syllabus, terminology, etc. But you are only going to learn on the mat and for the foreseeable future only from someone very advanced. A book will only confuse you.

By the way, even the history books need to be looked at long and hard before you spend the money because many, or even most, are as misleading as the instruction books.

[ezzthetic]

:) yo, dude...your signature is longer than most of my posts! ;)

Ok, maybe not...but you get the idea...

Best,
Ron

In my country we have a saying: "A good poem / song is never repeated too often." :wink2:

[Ron Tisdale]

In my country we have a saying: "A good poem / song is never repeated too often."

Good on you! Like that.

Rgoad, not sure I agree with you on that. I actually think books *may* be very usefull at many different stages of training. Ueshiba Sensei thought books and reading were integral to his studies, and often suggested reading to his students.

While you may not learn aikido's physical waza well from any book, there are other things. And history books, even when flawed, simply offer other perspectives. I see no reason to shut them out, even if disagree with them. How am I supposed to even know if I disagree if I don't read them?

A bit of confusion is ok too. Look at me...I've spent most of my life confused about the human race, and still managed to make a living! ;)

Best,
Ron

[rgoad]

Maybe that came off too cynical. History books are fine as long as you know it is usually someone's personal perspective and may be incomplete or biased. The photo books of old guys are really nice as history, too. I just think that a beginner has got to focus on experiencing the techniques and trying to capture that sensation and then try to replicate it. The stuff that is in a book may be perfectly correct, but it may not be well written, or just emphasise a particular aspect and exclude others. Confusion can be a sin of omission as well. I don't know what Mr Boggs is studying, but unless his school has a published book from their lineage, he is probably going to have something that would contradict his teacher. If he is going to broaden his perspective timing and context will be important.

I like Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere because the cartoons are nice. Maybe that explains the reason for my perspective. :laugh:

[David Anderson]

Books are fine...I've bought a whack of them over the years. However they are almost irrelevant to learning Aikido, IMHO. After a few years of practice you may start to find them worthwhile, but as a beginner, what you need is two or three sessions per week with your instructors.

Same deal with videos. You won't even understand what you're seeing on the screen until you have developed some skill and understanding on the mat.

[Brian Dugger]

Hello, please make a book suggestion for a beginer Aikido student. I am currently reading "The Aikido Student Handbook" by Greg O'Connor.

Thanks

JBOGGS
Dynamic Aikido by Shioda or his Total Aikido. The Dynamic Aikido has withstood the test of time and has been in print now for forty years.

[Jeff C.]

I've got an old dog-eared copy of that too Brian. I agree.

I have a great reference book by Kisshomaru Ueshiba (the title escapes me right now - probably called "Aikido" :laugh:). I have another book that is a black-and-white photo essay of O-Sensei - absolutely fascinating!

Technique books for a student are a good memory jog to help remember the lesson of the day - reference material because the human memory is weak.

Jeff Cook

[X_plosion]

Yes, Ueshiba Kisshomaru's book is indeed titled "Aikido". I have one and I like it.

I read Shioda's "Dynamic Aikido" too. It's another good book.

I agree with what has been stated above. The books are good, but at the beginner's level, live instruction is essential.

Furthermore, I have noticed that different Aikido teachers have different approaches to techniques and teaching them. Too much information at once may confuse the beginner.

Anyway, just my humble opinion. :bow:

[SeiserL]

IMHO, I personally like any of the Ueshiba family and Tohei Sensei's work as a point of reference.

Since they were mentioned here, the books we (Phong Sensei and I) wrote for Tuttle Publishing (Aikido Basics, Advanced Aikido, and Aikido Weapons Techniques) were meant to be a simple reference point. We have received good reviews and acceptance. We hope they are of some small assistance.

[Aikidog]

I swear by Dynamic Aikido by Shioda Sensei

[don]

The usual answer to this question is, "Ask your teacher." Surprised no one's offered it.

For my money, I like the technical works of Saito (published by Aikido Journal) and Crane and Crane ("Aikido in Training). The Yoshinkan stuff is good, too.

[Brian Dugger]

I like Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere because the cartoons are nice. Maybe that explains the reason for my perspective. :laugh:

Got this book too and recommend it. Sometimes the artist's renderings can be difficult to follow for the beginner. After some training, most if not all of it will make perfect sense. The folks that compiled and wrote the book trained with Yamada I believe, so the book gets a little Aiki kai flavored for my liking. It is still an excellent book!

[Jose Garrido]

I agree with the recommendation of the books by Saito sensei. I have the complete set of the original Traditional Aikido and the new set that Stanley Pranin published and they hold a wealth of information.

I would also recommend two books by Shioda sensei, Dynamic Aikido and Total Aikido. Both excellent and show a different side of Aikido thatn that of Saito sensei.

And....why didn't you ask your sensei this question?

Jose Garrido

[grondahl]

Aikido Masters by S Pranin
Living Aikido by B Klickstein.
Takemusu Aikido series by M Saito
Total Aikido by G Shioda

[Ron Tisdale]

I'd personally skip the books by Klickstein if you pay anything for them that would end up in his pockets. Do a search on him and you'll find why I say that.

Westbrook and Ratti (Dynamic Sphere) have a lot of mis-information in their book. But the pictures are neat! I'd get that one, but just be aware that it's not always very accurate.

Best,
Ron

[citom]

While Dynamic Sphere was one of the books I read when I was starting Aikido, I now know that it contains a lot of misinformation (as Ron pointed out). I would heartily recommend Shioda Kancho's two books (Dynamic Aikido and Total Aikido), all 5 volumes of Saito Sensei's Traditional Aikido series, as well as the book titled "Aikido" by Kisshomaru Ueshiba Doshu.
Also, for those who train in Shoji Nishio Sensei's method, his "Yurusu Budo" is a must-have.

[DragonMind]

I'd personally skip the books by Klickstein if you pay anything for them that would end up in his pockets. Do a search on him and you'll find why I say that.Agreed. Link (http://www.aikiweb.com/forums/printthread.php?t=6531&pp=25)

[grondahl]

In my defence I would say that I bought the book before I started surfing the web for aikido-information. But it´s still the best book on aikido that I own or have read exept for Pranins historical works.

[Ron Tisdale]

No defense needed. I haven't read his book myself, but everyone who has read it tells me it's excellent.

I may well read it myself, if I can get a free copy. I just personally won't put money into his pockets. Anyone else should make their own call. But the Aikikai doesn't do Hamon lightly...

Best,
Ron

[grondahl]

Did the Aikikai actually kick him out? I was under the impression that it was M Saito himself that more or less physically fetched his certificates and kicked him out.

I think the Aikikai bylaws says that dan-rankings not can be reversed, but that could of course be a more modern update.

[Ron Tisdale]

I think the Aikikai bowed to Saito Sensei's wishes...which were strong.

Best,
Ron

[Peter Rehse]

Personally I don't recommend any books for a beginner. But if you are going to get a book ask your teacher for one that best reflects what you are learning in the dojo.

Dynamic Sphere has very little to do with my aIkido and I dislike it on several levels. Still if your teacher recommends it fine.

Aikido: Tradition and the Competitive Edge is a fine book but again it might have very little to do with your aikido. Again if your teacher recomends it fine.

Still remembers someone coming to my dojo waving Steven's Little Red Book and proclaiming what I was doing wasn't aikido. Of course this one hadn't even stepped on a mat to train yet.

[Ron Tisdale]

Aikido and the competitive edge is excellent. Didn't think about that one. I think ex-judoka would really appreciate that one too.

Best,
Ron

[TheAikidoNinja]

I would recommend A Beginners Guide to Aikido by Larry Reynosa Sensei. It's a good book with some good interviews with Shihans Steven Seagal, Kanai, and Saotome. Overall it's a good intro to Aikido ettiquette, basic dojo goings on, and so on. I also enjoyed Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere, Dynamic Aikido, and Aikido the Way of Harmony. I think books are a great reference for any Aikidoka and we should hold onto the "beginner's" books as a tool to remind us of where we came from and what we should aspire to be. Besides what's better than a good book on a subject you love?

Nate Baber

[pilgrim]

My favorite "beginner" Aikido book is "Aikido: Principles of Kata and Randori" by Nick Lowry. Granted, he's a Fugakukai guy, but this book is a phenomenal SUPPLEMENT to your training! Great practical advice, and clears some of the fog surrounding Aikido principles that most beginners struggle with. You can find it on Amazon.
I didn't care much for Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere...

[scruffysmileyface]

I'll second that. Nick Lowry's book should be required reading for anyone studying within the Geis line, in my opinion. It was immeasurably helpful to me while I was coming up through the kyu ranks.

Beyond that, I'd recommend the Doshu's books, Best Aikido and Best Aikido Master Course.

[Shinkei]

In my Dojo (Tomiki Style) I recommend Tomiki Aikido Randori & Koryu No Kata by Dr Lee Ah Loi as this book starts from the basics but still cover the complete Tomiki System apart from the Goshin ho.

[Erik]

Dynamic Sphere has very little to do with my aikido and I dislike it on several levels.
I have heard this a few times and I don't understand why.

I'm not an aikidoka so I wouldn't know what I'm looking at but the book (and the very clear pictures) looked pretty informative to me, as did the authors' other book on Budo.

Care to elaborate, Peter?

[Ron Tisdale]

If you search on e-budo and some other sites, you'll find specific references to the errors.

Basically, a couple of shodans got together at a time when there wasn't much info out there. I think for the time and their level at that time, their efforts were admirable. I just wouldn't recommend it for someone now. At least not without some context, and corrections for the mistakes.

Best,
Ron

[Neil Yamamoto]

I'm one of those who think this book is pretty useless except as a "wishful thinking about how aikido is a wonderful art" for those who like to delude themselves.

Here's how I put it for the guys in Icho Ryu:
--
This book is considered a classic for aikido and the more I study martial arts the more I don’t like it.

My opinion, this book became popular for what appears to be the simple reason it was one of the few works in English on aikido, written by Americans, available at the time of publishing in aikido’s growth spurt of the late 1960’s in the USA. This book is more about aikido as perceived by the authors as they wished it to be, not what was taught by any of the sensei who were teaching aikido, at least that I’m aware of based on other books written by Tohei, Ueshiba Kisshomaru, Yamada, etc in that era.

So, why do I suggest you read it? For the same reason you read a good book on the topic, so you get a balanced perspective on what aiki arts are perceived to be in the United States.

This is most definitely not what I want to hear, see, smell, feel from anyone for Icho Ryu and what we are trying to accomplish.
--

So while I agree this is a best effort attempt for a couple of junior yudansha for the 1960's /early 1970's, the research on any history is horribly flawed by todays knowledge of aikido history.

But even given the revisions to history pushed by the Aikikai (Modern aikido is more of Kisshomaru Uyeshiba and Tohei's creation in my opinion) and the material available at the time, it still is not a good book in terms of technique explainations.

[SeiserL]

I really like Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere.
Simply because it has some content different than how I personally see it, doesn't mean it isn't a worthwhile useful read.
It was a great effort. I respect anyone who has the courage to put forth their ideas to be publically judged for the rest of time.
But, I tend to read anything I can get my hands on and setal what I can from each without accepting any as the authoritative definitive final word.

[Ron Tisdale]

Hi Lynn, understood...but as Neil and I point out, what about the down right factual mis-statements in the book? Stuff that is just plain wrong? A biginner without context is going to go around spouting this stuff...

And then you, Neil and I get to correct them online! :D

B,
R (Oh, if we could only get paid for this stuff...)

[Wreckedlumbar]

I think a book is fine for a beginner, as a reference. I really wish that Mr. Lowry's book had been around when I started.

[nishoy1]

dynamic sphere was a good book to me the first couple of weeks i started Yoshin Ryu Jujitsu and then I started to do research, still a good book for the visuals and effort. i may be starting aikido as a second art so it may give me something to look to

[Blade]

"The Spirit of Aikido" by Kisshomaru Ueshiba, translated by Taitetsu Unno is the only reference that I have around. It is a reference for aikido's phylosophy, principles, history, etc.... It even has some photographs and techniques performed by Kisshomaru.

[Nick L.]

I really like reading any book by Shioda, he seems to have a realistic grasp on how Aikido can be applied.

[Kasey Keckeisen]

Hi everyone, this is my first post. I'm a little late to the party on this thread it looks like.

Books I recommend
Dynamic Aikido - Shioda
Aikido Competition and the Competitive Edge -authors mentioned earlier in this post.

2nd subject addressed in this topic beginners reading books. At best any student is only in the dojo a couple hours a day, a few days a week. The world is your dojo, and reading allows students learn about Aikido when they are not on the mat. Obviously only hard training with a good teacher is going to improve skill, but there is more to an ART than just technical skill