Total Aikido: The Master Course

Like most americans, I practice Tohei's ki society. So the book doesn't match class, but it's great to see the hard fighting aikido, and understand how the softer Shin Shin style is the same idea, really. I find this book is great and deepens my ki aikido practice. I don't actually practice these movements with a partner, as I fear that would confuse my muscle memory for class. This book also shows fine points of the controls lacking in other books, and for this it is valuable and immediately useful in any class. A great effort, makes me want to learn more about shioda :)

This is a great overview of Aikido. It explains the principles of aiki without getting into too much philosophy. The author mentions that Aikido is 70% striking ("atemi") which is very different from what you'll hear from most Aikidoka. Most Aikidoka that I come into contact with seem to forget that Aikido is a martial art and not a dance. The best set-up for an Aiki technique is to first belt your opponent.The basic techniques (which is all you'll really ever need for self-defense) are explained in detail and demonstrated with clear black-n-white photos.If you're already a martial artist, these techniques will be a great supplement to your existing arsenal.

This is the best book on aikido I have in a extended collection. Yoshinkan Aikido is explained in a very detailed manner, exactly pointing out the do's and don'ts of aikido's basic techniques, both ura and omote as well as tachi as suwari waza. I myself find it especially helpful to review a specific technique when I encounter problems with them myself. Sometimes the fluent movement from my instructor in class is a bit too fluent to pinpoint certain details. Shioda's book offers the possibility to keep a certain detail in mind for the next time.In any case, Total Aikido is a buy you'll find hard to regret.

I've purchased several Aikido/Martial Arts books in the past few years and I must say that this one is the best. It is difficult, if not impossible, to describe Aikido techniques in text; thus, proper illustration and easy to follow photographic sequences are critical to any Aikido text. This book has the most illuminating graphic representations of Aikido techniques of any that I have read so far. They even thought to number the photos in the sequences (a supprisingly novel concept). The accompanying description and explanation are quite well written. I wish all Aikido books were this well done.It should be said that this book was written by Gozo Shidoa, the founder of Yoshinkan Aikido. Yoshinkan is a style that your local dojo may or may not practice. However, I find myself continually comming back to this book despite the fact that my own dojo doesn't practice Yoshinkan.

This is one of the greatest book written about Aikido. The techniques are shown in sequences and it covers everything from the basics to the advanced techniques of Aikido. Although the style taught is Yoshinkan, other schools will find it beneficial to their learning of Aikido techniques.OSU