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Old 05-17-2002, 12:06 AM   #1
Chris Wells
 
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Dojo: Capital City Aikido
Location: Montgomery, Alabama
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Books for the beginer?

Hello All,

I am a beginer studying aikido and i wanted to get some suggestions on what books are good for aikido beginers?

Thank you

Christopher R. Wells
Capital City Aikido - Montgomery, Al
http://www.capitalcityaikido.com
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Old 05-17-2002, 01:40 AM   #2
Olivier Uyttenh
Dojo: Aikikai gent
Location: Ghent, Belgium
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Hi Chris,

Welcome to the wonderfull world of aikido .

I got this book when I started aikido and I really like it: 'aikido and its dynamic sphere' written by O. Ratti & A. Westbrook.

Olivier
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Old 05-17-2002, 02:50 AM   #3
erikmenzel
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Very useful is the book:

The Aikido student handbook by Greg O'Conner.

No techniques in this book, but very very useful.

Erik Jurrien Menzel
kokoro o makuru taisanmen ni hirake
Personal:www.kuipers-menzel.com
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Old 05-17-2002, 05:42 AM   #4
Greg Jennings
Dojo: S&G BJJ
Location: Springboro, OH
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Re: Books for the beginer?

Quote:
Originally posted by Chris Wells
Hello All,

I am a beginer studying aikido and i wanted to get some suggestions on what books are good for aikido beginers?

Thank you
Hi Chris!

Since you're in an Iwama dojo, I highly recommend the Takemusu Aikido series by the late Morihiro Saito Shihan.

They are available from http://www.aikidojournal.com/ .

Best Regards,

Greg Jennings
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Old 05-17-2002, 08:01 AM   #5
SeiserL
 
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IMHO, as a beginner it is more important to practice than to read. It is very hard to make sense out of most reading without the physical expereince on the mat. Aikido is best learning in the practice not the discussions.

That said, go the library aand read everything on Aikido you can get your hands on for free. I have picked up many others a used book stores.

I tend to favor the direct Ueshiba material.

Welcome to origami with people and learning to blend by becoming one with the mat.

Until again,

Lynn
Nidan Tenshinkai Aikido
Lucaylucay Kali JKD

Lynn Seiser PhD
Yondan Aikido & FMA/JKD
We do not rise to the level of our expectations, but fall to the level of our training. Train well. KWATZ!
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Old 05-17-2002, 09:11 AM   #6
Brian Vickery
Dojo: Aiki-Buken Aikido
Location: Gilbert, Arizona
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Thumbs down Re: Books for the beginer?

Quote:
Originally posted by Chris Wells
Hello All,

I am a beginer studying aikido and i wanted to get some suggestions on what books are good for aikido beginers?

Thank you
Hello Chris,

...I'm with Olivier & Erik on their suggestion, I'd recommend both these books!

'Aikido Student Handbook' is great for learning the little etiquette nuances that almost every dojo observes, plus it explains them ...invaluable for a new student!

'Aikido & the Dynamic Sphere' is a great technical aid. You can leaf thru the 100+ techniques illustrated within its pages and begin to get a feeling & appreciation of the width & breadth of the art you've decided to practice! ...and this stuff is just the very BASICS!

Good luck with you study of aikido!

Regards,

Brian Vickery

"The highest level of technique to achieve is that of having NO technique!"
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Old 05-17-2002, 10:00 AM   #7
Wayne
Dojo: Aikido of Madison
Location: Madison, WI
Join Date: Mar 2002
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My two or three cents worth...

Hi Chris and welcome to Aikido.

I have four book suggestions for you and all four are quite possibly found in your local library or through inter-library loan. In order of (my) enjoyment with a few comments...

1. "Helm" by Steven Gould. This is a science fiction story where aikido plays a major part. If you like sci-fi and aikido, you'll probably like this book.

2. "Aikido in America" by John Stone and Ron Meyer. This is a collection of interviews of American aikidoists. It gives some history and background to how they started and where they see aikido going.

3. "Invincible Warrior" by John Stevens. This is an updated biography of O-Sensei and is interesting reading if you like that kind of stuff.

4. "Angry White Pyjamas" by Robert Twigger. This is an account of a journalist's year of intensive Japanese aikido training. It describes a lot of physical and emotional challenges. I'm glad I read it but I probably won't read it again.

If you do look for these books, please let me know how you like them. As an aside, I also liked the Student Handbook.

Wayne
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Old 05-17-2002, 10:08 AM   #8
cdwright
Dojo: Yorkville Aikido
Location: IL
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Grr! Re: My two or three cents worth...

4. "Angry White Pyjamas" by Robert Twigger. This is an account of a journalist's year of intensive Japanese aikido training. It describes a lot of physical and emotional challenges. I'm glad I read it but I probably won't read it again.



I have to say Twigger's book was amusing. I thought it was VERY direspectful the way he described the passing of Shioda sensei. The class being happy because it got one week off of practice? I was appalled to read this. Those students should NEVER be allowed to set foot in a dojo again.
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Old 05-17-2002, 12:02 PM   #9
Chris Wells
 
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Dojo: Capital City Aikido
Location: Montgomery, Alabama
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thank you

Thank you all for your replys. I will look for all of the books you have named.

I know that books will not help me out that much with the physical part of learning aikido, but i would like to further my knowlege of all aspects of aikido. spiritual and etc.


again i thank you

Christopher R. Wells
Capital City Aikido - Montgomery, Al
http://www.capitalcityaikido.com
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Old 05-17-2002, 12:50 PM   #10
Olivier Uyttenh
Dojo: Aikikai gent
Location: Ghent, Belgium
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Chris,

If you like to read, try some books written by Eric Van Lustbader (the ones with N. Linnear I think are really cool ). After reading some of his books I started to look for an aikido dojo and began training.
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Old 05-22-2002, 05:03 PM   #11
eric white
Dojo: lehigh valley aikikai
Location: Pennsylvania
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Hi, I would suggest: "Beyond the Known"
and "Toward the Unknown" by
Master Tri Thong Dang. Master Tri was a
Tai Chi Chuan master then learned Aikido
from Tadashe Abe then from O'sensei! He
is in my lineage of Sensei's. Very
excellent for both students and techers.
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