from dust jacket

Aikido has ofter been referred to as the gentleman's fighting art. Though it is not an unfamiliar word, few outside the world of the martial arts can distinguish it from various other 'methods of self-defense.' Its trademark, however, lies partly in its sophisticatied style and particularly in its esential motivations.

Aikido is a method of self-defense which can be used against any form of attack and-at its highest levels-a Discipline of Coordination, a 'way' of harmonizing all of man's vital powers. There is no attack in aikido; i.e., its goal is merely to neutralize an aggression and render the attacker harmless, without causing him any serious injury if at all possible. To do this requires skill, but even more, it requires an ethical intention. The very word aikido, in fact, cotains the three elements which comrpise the art: (ai), harmony or coordination; (ki), spirit or energy; (do), the method, the 'way.'

A man who studies and practices aikido correctly desires only to defend himself without hurting others. To possess this attitude, one must achieve a very high level of integration of the powers of mind and body, the harmonious combination of physical means and ethical motives.

Adele Westbrook, who works for one of the largest advertising agencies in the world, studied philosophy at Columbia University at the same time co-author Oscar Tatti was doing graduate work in classical languages. They began to practice aikido together, and while studying under a variety of instructors in the United States and Europe, started the collection of notes and sketches which finally developed into this illustrated introduction to the art of aikido.

Oscar Ratti, now a commercial illustrator, received his degree in classical studies and law from the University of Naples where he was intercollegiate Greek-Roman wrestling champion and a member of the championship judo team. He later came to the United States and began to study aikido with Yasuo Ohara, one of the first instructors to teach in New York. In addition to being co-author of the book, Mr. Ratti provided all the excellent drawings that apear in this volume.

Miss Westbrook and Mr. Ratti also taught aikido in New York, working with youth groups at Centers affiliated with the Y.M.C.A.

Contents

Acknowledgments; Preface; List of Charts
I What is Aikido?-Defense in Aikido; The 'Centre' and 'Ki'; The Strategy of Neutralization; The Potential of Aikido
II The Foundation of Aikido-The Founder; Main Sources of Formation and Inspiration; The Martial Arts; The 'Ethics' of Defense
III Organization-The Hierarchy; Promotion; The Uniform; The Practice Hall ; The Mat; Etiquette and Classes
IV The Practice of Aikido-The Theory of Attack; Physical Factors; Dynamic Factors; Technical Factors; The Unified Power of Attack
V The Theory of Defense-The Process of Defense and Its Factors; The Inner Factors: the Role of the Mind; The Principle of Centralization; The Principle of Extension; The Principle of Leading Control; The Principle of Sphericity; Circuits of Neutralization; Spirals and Semi-Spirals of Neutralization; The Dynamic Sphere; Fusion and Special Exercises
VI The Physical Preparation-Preliminary Exercises: Suppleness; Basic Exercises: Coordination; Rolls and Somersaults
VII The Posture and mOtion of Defense-Stages and Unity of the Akido Process of Defense; The Posture; The Motion
VIII The Basic Techniques of Neutralization-General; Recommendatons; Immobilizations; Projections; Combinations
IX Advanced Practice-'Mat' or Kneeling Aikido; The Stave Exercises; The Techniques of Neutralization Applied Against an Armed Attack; The Techniques of Neutralization Applied Against a Multiple Attack; Free Style
X Conclusion
Glossary; Selected Bibliography; Index

Excellent illustrations and explanation of history. Every aikidoka should have this in their collection. ( )

I don't like this book at all. I don't like the concept and I don't even like the title. Aikido and the dynamic line or aikido and the dynamic curve would have just the same meaning or lack of meaning and aikido is not necessarily based on a sphere. Probably a lot of the people who gave this book positive reviews don't do aikido.

The first problem is that the authors quite arbitrarily rename all the techniques with numbers so that for beginners it is incomprehensible. Literally incomprehensible. It's like for a book on tennis instead of saying forehand volley you say: do the number one stroke against the number three ball. And for anyone who is not a beginner it is superficial and of limited interest. So I've got no idea who the book is for.

One star because the illustrations are charming but if you want to learn aikido this book is worse than no book. Seriously. But Secrets of the Samurai by the same authors is quite interesting although again the title is misleading and poorly chosen. ( )

a fine reference for any aikido practitioner or person interested in aikido technique ( )

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. ( )