If you could only have one Aikido book ?

If you could only have one Aikido book, which one would it be and why ?

Thanks

(Just curious)

I have only got the one book so far... but it seems very good!

Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere. I have found it very insightful, if a little difficult to read (reasonable technical language and words I cannot pronounce..) and there are some diagrams of technique, which is nice.

Robert,

Have read a lot of good reviews about that on Amazon , may pick it up today.

Russ

Robert Townson wrote: Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere. I have found it very insightful, if a little difficult to read (reasonable technical language and words I cannot pronounce..) and there are some diagrams of technique, which is nice.

That was my first book also, and I still like it. It is a good read that gives an overall look at Aikido in general. I would say if I could only have one book, that would be it.

But I also like Principles of Aikido (Saotome) and Total Aikido (Gozo Shioda), although I don't practice Yoshinkan Aikido, Total Aikido does a good job at describing some of the inner mechanics involved in technique that other books do not.

I found the Dynamical Sphere really helpful like 3 years ago. Now when I read it I still think it's a great book but it doesn't give me much anymore. Haven't read much else.

BUT as there is now a campaign on ordering books to estonia I would take some advice what to order... what would be a more advanced level book than Aikido and the dynamical sphere was?

Jorgen Matsi wrote: BUT as there is now a campaign on ordering books to estonia I would take some advice what to order... what would be a more advanced level book than Aikido and the dynamical sphere was?

I am not really sure about any advanced level books. Most of the books I have read describe the basic principles and techniques of Aikido. However, I do have one book entitled: Aikido: The Heavenly Road by Kenji Shimizu. I am not sure if the book is in print anymore, but the techniques demonstrated in this book are a breath of fresh air compared to most others I have read. Some very interesting and advanced techniques are demonstrated in this book.

Aikido Exercises For Teaching and Training by C.M. Shifflett, by far!

This was my bible when I first started and I still refer to it sometimes. Best Aikido is good as far as pictures of techniques.

Dueling with O'Sensei

The blue book.

"This is Aikido" by Koichi Tohei Sensei

The version printed from about 1968 to 1974.

Pragmatic philosophy in a nutshell that actually makes sense,
pictures you can actually follow,
For each technique shown often has several tips on how to teach each technique as well as exercises to communicate important points
from a master teacher.

overall, I have never seen better. and it still stands up to time.

"Aikido Shugyo" by Gozo Shioda. Engagingly written, to the point, and addresses most questions that plague Aikido forum dwellers.

Jorgen --

I really like Aikido and the Harmony of Nature by Mitsugi Saotome. It's not very technical but a lot of history and philosophy. Not sure if this would be appropriate for you or not but it's a good read.

The Tao Te Ching

Not specifically aikido, or any martial art, but definitely applicable. I guess if i had to have just one book about specifically aikido it would be aikido and the dynamic sphere or Tohei sensei's Ki in daily life

Karen Wolek wrote: Aikido Exercises For Teaching and Training by C.M. Shifflett

holmesking wrote: Dueling with O'Sensei

Ooooh, two good choices. I'd be hard pressed to pick between those two if I had to stay aikido specific. If it didn't have to be strictly aikido I would probably pick Beyond the Known by Tri Thong Dang.

Bronson

Aikido and the Harmony of Nature - Saotome Mitsugi - my personal fav.

The Spiritual Foundations of Aikido - William Gleason - for the challenge - I still haven't read all the way through after 4 years of owning it

Takemusu Aikido by Morihiro Saito.

I get to cheat and get 6 books under one title.....

Regards,

BUDO-(the original) by O sensei then have it translated.
The closest version avaliable is saito sensei version

Aikido by Doshu Kisshomaru Uyeshiba

I´m waiting for the inevitable "Aikido for Dummies"!

Ignacio Jaramillo wrote: I$B%((Bm waiting for the inevitable "Aikido for Dummies"!

This is the closest I could find.

Bronson

steff miller wrote: BUDO-(the original) by O sensei then have it translated. The closest version avaliable is saito sensei version

Steff,

Why do you think this?

Charles Hill

Greg Jennings wrote: Takemusu Aikido by Morihiro Saito. I get to cheat and get 6 books under one title..... Regards,

Well if you can do that then I can pick, Traditional Aikido.

Bryan Bateman wrote: Aikido and the Harmony of Nature - Saotome Mitsugi - my personal fav.

Mine, too.

The Spiritual Foundations of Aikido - William Gleason - for the challenge - I still haven't read all the way through after 4 years of owning it

It's a haul. I found that a lot of background reading cleared up some things. There's good stuff there, but you do have to dig your fingernails bloody to mine it.

(Still pounding my head agains the KOTODAMA stuff, though. It doesn't help that Western scholars tend to savage the concept and its applications...)

steff miller wrote: BUDO-(the original) by O sensei then have it translated. The closest version avaliable is saito sensei version

Charles beat me to the question while I was down stairs checking something out.

I have two different translations of this book, the Kodansha copy translated by John Stevens, and the Sugawara Martial Arts Institute copy translated by Seiko Mabuchi and Larry Bieri. Just looking at these two copies, they differ in their interpretation. Saito Sensei`s version is labelled as a commentary (his interpretation), what makes you think that this a closer translation of the original than either of the other two copies I am looking at ?$B!!(B

Rgds

Bryan

Zoli Elo wrote: Well if you can do that then I can pick, Traditional Aikido.

That would be my second choice. It would be my first except that I could get the "Budo" with Takemusu Aikido.

I have both and find comparing and contrasting them very interesting.

Regards,

If only more of the Traditional Aikido series was published, I feel that it would have place itself a significant cut above the rest... I guess the same could be said for Takemusu Aikido.