Product Description

Mitsugi Saotome—a principal student of Morihei Ueshiba, the Founder of Aikido—explains the philosophy and practice of the popular martial art, which emphasizes harmony and peaceful resolution of conflict. Over one thousand photographs illustrate the basic principles and techniques, including the use if the wooden sword, the wooden staff, and "empty hand" techniques. The reader is given guidance in the proper physical, mental, and spiritual attitudes with which to approach this practice and in ways to apply the wisdom of Aikido to everyday life. Also included are lectures by the founder himself.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #115538 in Books
• Published on: 1989-07-22
• Released on: 1989-07-22
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 223 pages

Review
"With the able assistance of editor Irene Wellington, Saotome has developed a series of clear and useful essays on how the traditional skills and habits of mind developed by the martial ways can be put to positive uses. . . . Saotome teases new meaning out of ossified terminology—or more to the point, restores original meaning to crusted-over concepts. And it is in such sections that the inherently fluid nature of thought rooted in the ideogram is most clearly conveyed."— In These Times

Language Notes
Text: English, Japanese (translation)

Inside Flap Copy
An illustrated explanation of the philosophy and practice of the popular martial art, which emphasizes harmony and peaceful resolution of conflict (what the world needs more than ever!). Over 1,000 photos illustrate the basic principles and techniques.

Customer Reviews

A look past most of the everyday Aikido info...
This book is rapidly becoming an iconic work in Aikido circles. Saotome Sensei puts much effort and reflection into his writing, and the completeness of this book bears witness to that. It's information that every Aikidoka should know.

Lots of technics
Its a book for ppl that likes Mitsugi Saotome work. Very good.

Above average
I really enjoy this book. It's very well written. Just be sure you know your Aikido terminology because you will find yourself going back to the glossary often. There are many photos, however, more photos would have been nice. Some of the important in-between movements are left to the imagination, which could cause some confusion. But, it is a BOOK after all. Maybe a video featuring the same moves would better exemplify the techniques. There is some unintended humor here too. The somewhat egotistical sensai/author who must ALWAYS be the nage (the one who uses the technique) and NEVER portrays the uke (the one who gets his butt kicked by the technique), even after he exhaustively explains how important it is to be a good uke, uses his daughter (as uke) in several of the photo examples. It seems ridiculous that he would be so macho as to toss his daughter around like that. You'd think he would have been able to swallow his huge pride and let his daughter look good. Despite it's glaring weaknesses, I really like this book and would not part with it. It has a permanent place in my martial arts reference library. If you buy it, I don't think you will be disappointed. It is overpriced though, as are all aikido books. But that's the way it is when something is popular.