Discovering Aikido: Principles for Practical Learning [Paperback]

I came to Aikido from Jujutsu about four years ago and lately have gotten into a rut. I just got the book and read it cover to cover straight out. From the reading, it is clear the author has spent a lot of time on the mat. This book was interesting to read and has given me some useful ideas to work on. It has made me more aware of what I need to do. He advises to search and find your own path and gives advice that enables it. In fact, it has motivated me a little - maybe it'll help me get out of my rut. I do wish he could have written more on some topics. Anyway, I recommend it.

This is an excellent general advice book about the art of Aikido. It should appeal to both beginners and senior students alike. The author includes the his own personal theories on how to approach training as well as practical exercises to do. It also includes many explanatory photographs, and it's written in clear simple language with some hidden gems of humour.
As a Aikido instructor myself I found this book a useful accompaniment to other more technical books.If you want to know more about Aikido, buy this book. If you then feel inspired, take up Aikido.

Discovering Aikido is definatley a book worth buying for any Aikidoka of any style or in fact for that matter, any martial artist. Littering endless peices of advice, the book focuses on the actual practice and analyisis of Aikido rather than the techniques by explaining throroughly Aiki. You'll certainly want a copy to flick through from time to time, when inspiration is low or even if you just want to notice that little bit more advice that the book seems to leek, which for some reason you never noticed before.
Not only does the book build a solid foundation for Aikido practice, it seems to radiate with progressive practice- the more advanced and the more knowledgable you become in Aikido, the more you see in the book and the greater insight you attain and ultimatley advantage in whatever reason you wished to read this book.
As I mentioned earlier, the book is not strictly for the Aikido practitioner- it is helpful for those adopting any Martial Art- Its principles and concise explination can easily be applied to another art.
Weather you're looking for an facinating read, a better technique, a more profound understanding and appreciation of the good Aikidoka's mindset, this book is for you- highly recomended. The book covers the basics in detail and as is wideley known amongst the greatest Aikidoka's- the basics begets the advanced and powerfull seemingly ingenious techniques the beginer Aikidoka craves. It also touches on power, balance, spacing, timing, philisophy and so much more. A farily detailed analysis and breakdown of the components of this sophisticated art is sure to find its way onto the dojo mat benefiting any reader who cherishes this book.
But, the four stars? Why not five? When I bought this book, I was in search of an explination of everything in Aikido, unfortunatley I cannot say that this book would be able of going iscolated as a guide to Aikido as it assumes previous knowledge of the actual techniques. DO NOT let this put you of the book, because the avoidance of this leaves room for something pretty much all other books including the techniques miss and therefore is perfectly valid in doing so. This book is absolutley essential reading and although if you wish to read the 'forms' of the techniques you may be searching in the wrong place- but the fact is you're searching for books on Aikido- and this book has earned it's position in your bookshelf because it streches beyond just the techniques. Fantastic. Read it.

Go on.. do it.