Written by Phong Thong Dang and Lynn Seiser
“Everything you need to get started in Aikido from basic footwork and throws to training.”
Hello, my friend and welcome back! My friends over at Tuttle publishing have sent me a couple of books and asked me to review them. Having worked with Tuttle before, I was happy to do so. I have found that they only produce top quality books, and I was not disappointed this time. Today, I’m reviewing the book on AIKIDO Basics. I must confess however that prior to reading this book, I knew nothing about this form of martial arts, but I wish I had. It is amazing. Now grab a cup of coffee my friend and have a seat while we visit.
While most martial arts concentrate primarily on fighting and attacking, this one is a lot appears different. If you are a bit of a passivist and are looking for a way to defend yourself while having the skills to stop an attack, then this is the martial arts for you. While it was developed in the early to mid-twentieth century and is fairly new as Martial Arts go, it still has a strong code of ethics associated with most martial arts. The difference for me is the way it blends mind, body and spirit together with personal transformation for a feeling of wellness and being centered in the world around you. I can’t help but feel like it’s as much a religious experience as it is a martial art.
While I have never been big on reading training books, I must admit that this one pulled me in, and I had problems putting it down. The authors have masterfully blended learning with understanding and wisdom to form a book which is both compelling and insightful.
If you are looking to learn martial arts, or are even just interested in
Well, that is it for today my friend and I thank you dropping by for coffee with me. Until next time, stay safe, stay strong and stay prepared. God Bless America!
-sarge-
You can buy it here: AIKIDO Basics and here www.tuttlepublishing.com
Akido is a great style to add to your toolbox. I’m not sure how much you can learn from the book though. I guess as long as it’s followed up by actually training it would be good.
Matt, You are 100% right. This book is just an introduction to AIKIDO. No one wants to fully commit to something until they know as much as they can about it. This book is a great place to start and get acquainted with this martial art form. There are so many different forms out there and they all can seem intimidating at first glance and these books are a great way to get to know them. They are intended as an introduction and not a full course from what I can tell. In any case, this book is well worth reading.
-Sarge-