Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #84533 in Books
• Published on: 2001-07-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 375 pages

Review
"...The finest book on a martial art...very highly recommended." -- Library Journal

About the Author
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 Ratti was doing graduate work in the 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 appear in this volume. Mr. Ratti and Ms. Westbrook have also! taught aikido in New York, working with youth groups at Centers associated with the Y.M.C.A.

Customer Reviews

Hands Down The Best Book I Have Ever Read On Aikido!
Although I have been a practicing martial artist for over 25 years, I have yet to find a better book that covers more detailed information on the art of Aikido than this book. Simply put, this is the best book that is currently available on the market as of today (October 7th, 2008), on the Japanese martial art of Aikido.

The sheer amount of technical and analytical information that is contained in this book is simply staggering. I have read this book numerous times now and still find something that I missed the previous times that I have read through it. This has happened each and every time that I have read this book, and I am not one to miss much when I am reading.

The authors of this book did a phenomenal job of providing the reader with a wealth of detailed information. And even though they did not use photographs, but instead chose to use illustrations, the detail is outstanding and the illustrations are done in such a way that I actually prefer them to the use of actual photographs.

This book is definitely the "Gold Standard" to which all other books on Aikido must strive to obtain. If you could only have one book on the subject, this would definitely be the book you would want to own. I have no reservations about giving this book my highest recommendations.

I would also recommend the following DVD's for working on your joint techniques.

Lock On: Joint Locking Essentials Volume 1: Wrist Locks with Alain Burrese

Lock On: Joint Locking Essentials Volume 2: Arm Bars & Elbow Locks with Alain Burrese

Lock On: Joint Locking Essentials Volume 3: Shoulder Locks with Alain Burrese

Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.

Indispensable for Aikido fans, excellent for any martial artist
The best martial arts book I have seen, and I have seen quite a few. The illustrations and conceptual explanations in this book unified many things I have seen in the dojo or read in a coherent and simple way.

Simply a great book
This book is fantastic. I have had it for many years and feel the need to write a review finally. The pictures are very clear and easy to understand. The subject matter starts with easy and then guides you seamlessly into the advanced. A wonderful, wonderful guide to the art.