Product Description

On Mastering Aikido takes the reader on a journey through the world of the martial art known as Aikido and the teachings of Daniel Linden Sensei and his master, Mitsugi Saotome. Written for advanced students of the art – those who are already conversant with the fundamental teachings – Linden Sensei crosses the line often between teaching and entertaining with humorous, touching stories of years of training in the world’s most difficult martial way.

On Mastering Aikido consists of nine dialogs, an Introduction and Afterward. The dialogs are each devoted to one of the main principles of Aikido knowledge, what Linden Sensei refers to as the Eight Pillars of Aikido Wisdom. We discover a ninth in the Afterward, but as Linden says "It is almost impossible to attain." These dialogs are pleasant to read and clearly explain each of the principles in conversation between teacher and student and sometimes teacher to teacher. Interspersed are stories and anecdotes that bridge the gaps between times, attitudes and enlightenment.

On Mastering Aikido applies as well to the study of Aikido as it does to yoga, karate, judo, basketball, tennis, tango or any activity that uses the human body as a tool. The book’s focus is on physical mastership and the rules which Linden Sensei lays down can be applied to any human endeavor. It was written to be read as a continuous effort, but each chapter can stand alone or it can be selected for specific interest. The overall effect is almost that of a novel as the reader is swept up in Shoshin Aikido Dojo while students are engaged in training, relaxing and work around the school. European journeys become travelogues as the dialog unfolds. The book is engaging, enjoyable, enlightening and humorous. In an age when most Martial Art books read like math textbooks, it is a rare find.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #572103 in Books
• Published on: 2004-04
• Binding: Hardcover
• 222 pages

From the Author
I tried to explain to my teacher, Saotome Sensei, what I was experiencing and thinking about after my moment of enlightenment. He said "Dan-san, write a book."

Okay, here it is.

These dialogs apply to everything in this world, not just Aikido. When I handle a fishing rod or a mandolin or a twenty pound lump of clay spinning on a potter’s wheel I am practicing the principles in this book. I used them recently on a rainy night by breaking a difficult lug nut free while changing a flat tire beside the road. I use them when I dance the tango with my wife.

For thirty-five years I’ve searched, struggled to discover, sought to uncover, wrestled with, fought over, thought about, shied away from, contemplated, worried, focused and worked to discover these principles. Here they are, as I understand them. I hope they can benefit all who seek to attain the infinite understanding of mastership in all things. Whatever that means.

As to the notion that I believe that Aikido is an art that can be completely mastered with no understanding at all of Japanese culture or its mysticism, I stand guilty as charged. I believe that O’Sensei would approve. He gave Aikido to the world and I gladly accept. Perhaps it's just the Viking in me.

Best Regards,
Linden

From the Inside Flap
This book is a new idea in Martial Art training, something that has been needed for many years. Aikido is a Martial Art that is finally ready to assume its place in the Western World with Western Masters teaching it to Western Students.

With the growth of the art there is finally a text that spells out the principles that have traditionally been hidden in the mysteries of Zen and the spiritual traditions of Japan and China.

Aikido is a difficult art to learn. Very few get beyond third dan (Sandan) level due to the rigors of training and the difficulty in learning the essential principles.

Sensei Linden has applied project management skills to the definitions and techniques needed to master these principles and make them less daunting to the advanced student. He has used the basic form of the dialog to render these definitions easy to understand.

The Aikido world is about to change. You can quote him on that.

About the Author
Daniel Linden Sensei recently celebrated 25 years as an Aikido teacher. His martial art career spans four decades. In 1962 when he first walked into the Chicago Boy's Club Golden Gloves Boxing program, he was already familiar with many aspects of self-defense. His father, David, taught Judo at the Chicago Police Academy and was a former wrestling champion. During his teen years he boxed, practiced Karate under Master Kim Lee, studied Judo under his father and wrestled for his high school. Martial training was never more than a few minutes away. After serving the United States in the jungles and rivers of South Viet Nam for the Navy, Linden Sensei returned home and began his study of Aikido in Chicago under Takahashi Sensei. Takahashi Sensei passed away that year and was replaced by Akira Tohei Sensei from Hombu. Linden Sensei has twice been to Japan. While he trained in Aikido he continued his study of Karate until he achieved black belt 1st.

In 1975 Saotome Sensei came to the U.S. and began teaching in Sarasota. Daniel Linden left Chicago and moved to Florida in order to train with Saotome Sensei. It was there that he opened his first Aikido dojo in Central Florida in Crescent City. Two years later, in 1977 he moved to Denver, Colorado and founded the Rocky Mountain Aikikai, which is still open and is still under Linden Sensei’s student – Godan Jack Ross. This year celebrates 25 years. Linden Sensei has studied under a profound list of teachers in his chosen art, Doshus: Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Moriteru Ueshiba, Shihans: Osawa, Yamaguchi, Saotome, Yamada, K. Tohei, A. Tohei, Chiba, and many more.

Linden Sensei moved back to Florida in 1982 and taught Aikido at the University of Central Florida before founding Shoshin Aikido Dojo, in Orlando. He received the rank of Godan in 1996 from Mitsugi Saotome with whom he continues to study. Over the years Daniel Linden has taken advantage of the freedom of style allowed by Saotome Shihan to develop a unique approach to Aikido that draws on his strong martial background. His personal style ranges from soft and delicate to hard driving hooks and jabs to the head followed by thunderous body kicks - all the while embodying the unique principles of Aikido taught to him by Saotome Shihan.

Linden Sensei continues to teach regular classes as well as seminars and special workshops. He is at the peak of his career - strong, gentle and good humored. He is an accomplished potter, songwriter and musician, gardener, hunter, fisherman, and loving husband. He considers all of his students as his own family.

Customer Reviews

Simply Excellent!
I study tai chi and had barely heard of Aikido until I was urged by a friend to read On Mastering Aikido by Daniel Linden. Now I want to see if everything that Mr. Linden says about mastering the body's movements is as applicable to tai chi as it is to Aikido.

It seemed at times that he was talking about the same things that my teachers have tried to express for years and I was finally hearing and understanding. It is a man's book and has a masculine lean, but without ever being too heavy. Mr. Linden says right up front that the book is for advanced Aikido students. While I have been doing tai chi for over ten years, I think more time will make more of his teachings evident for me.

I loved the dialog style, and I very much enjoyed when he would digress and tell stories to illustrate the principles he has uncovered. The story of his blind father left me nearly in tears, but with pride rather than sorrow. On Mastering Aikido is a complex book that reads very easily and I believe that I will read it again and again.

It is simply excellent.

A fresh, clear approach, amazingly practical & READABLE!
Finally, a book on Aikido that is, unlike so many other Aikido books, completely readable. But more importantly, Daniel Linden Sensei's fresh approach to mastering Aikido is loaded with "satori". It is simply a must for anyone interested in Aikido or any other marshal art for that matter.

As a shodan from Montreal, Canada, I have read pleanty of Aikido books and studied with several teachers and I have never come across an approach quite like this. It's not that the concepts are entirely new, they've just never been explained like this before.

Also, unlike so many other books which are either purely technical ("The Dynamic Sphere" comes to mind) or purely philosophical, Linden Sensei's book is a very readable balance between the two. Great stories from his life experience make this book very entertaining which is pretty much unheard of in marshal arts books. And as most people know, the best way to teach anything is to keep it entertaining. The result is that all of his principals become very understandable in a very real sense. As good a book as "The Dynamic Sphere" is (it seems to be the most popular), "On Mastering Aikido" blows it away, hands down.

So if you really want to learn Aikido without waiting 30 years to discover the real essence of the art, read this book - and enjoy the many instant satori as I have.

Aug.2, 2004 - Montreal Canada

Your Path to Enlightenment
This is not a beginners guide to Aikido. Not the History or Techniques of the art. This book is indended to lead the experienced Aikido practitionars to enlightenment.

Sensei Daniel Linden presents the advanced and sublte issues underlying the principles of Aikido, in western terms, terms that we can easily understand and relate to.

The book starts with the discussion of Ki, the mystical part of Aikido, and proceeds with other aspects of the principles, including Center, Nexus, Technics, Timing, Strategy etc. Over his 35 years of Aikido training, Sensei Linden has developed a great understanding of the principles that doesn't rely on Japanese terminology, culture or religion. He shows that the principles do not belong to any particular culture or religion, they are universal.

But what makes the book unique, is its presentation. Its not a book with dry philosophy and explanations. The book presents the principles in a Dialogue form. Conversations among the practitionars of Aikido, who actually exist. Although all the conversations may not have taken place in real life.

Very interesting. It has been a privilege to be able to read this book, and be a part of the lifelong journey of Sensei Linden towards enlightenment. It felt as if I trained with him and was present when those conversations took place.

The book is intended for black belts. I am not a black belt in Aikido, but it was a pleasure reading this book.

I will look forward for an opportunity to train under Sensei Daniel Linden.