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Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere: An Illustrated Introduction | 
 enlarge | Authors: Adele Westbrook, Oscar Ratti
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy Used: $7.94
You Save: $17.01 (68%)
New (33) Used (24) Collectible (1) from $7.94
Avg. Customer Rating:  81 reviews
Sales Rank: 145383
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 375
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.6
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6 x 1.1
ISBN: 0804832846
Dewey Decimal Number: 796
UPC: 676251832846
EAN: 9780804832847
ASIN: 0804832846
Publication Date: July 1, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Aikido neutralizes aggression and renders attackers harmless. By controlling body position and harmonizing their vital physical and mental powers, anyone (regardless of size, strength or weight) can fend off attacks using this sophisticated martial art. This classic text reveals the secrets which enable the stunning control practiced in Aikido.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 76 more reviews...
 Hands Down The Best Book I Have Ever Read On Aikido! October 7, 2008
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 October 4, 2008
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 July 1, 2008
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.
 Comprehensive Overview for the Beginner June 28, 2008
Although I do not actively practice aikido, I am an active, experienced martial artist. My current obsession is the Chinese internal martial arts. That being said, this was an interesting book for me.
I'd have to agree that this book is best for the beginner. It goes into significant detail about aikido history, traditions, etiquette, and concepts as well as philosophy. Very detailed!
It was interesting, because despite all that detail, once the techniques section started, it got very rudimentary. The explanations became somewhat superficial-- do this, switch to this, move this foot. Nothing about intention, energy, or key elements to the technique. The drawings were pleasing, and useful, again, for the generalized movement. No focus on key details like hand positioning, intention, etcetera. Which is something that drawings would be especially useful for, in lieu of photographs.
I guess my frustration is that coming at it from a different martial art style, I wanted more aikido concepts embedded in the explanation of the techniques. "As you are turning here you are joining centers, then projecting him this way off you back foot or whatever" was never in evidence. Which surprised me given the detail that went into defining the "aikido sphere" in the early parts of the book.
It's kind of an examination review manual, this book. The authors have a beautiful chart that list all the techniques, classifying them in all sorts of ways, and attributing them to all sorts of levels of advancement. If ever I have to take a written test on aikido, I'm set. Unfortunately...
Conceptually, I was disappointed in this book. But I was expecting something different. This is, ultimately, a techniques review book, not necessarily for an experienced practitioner looking for insights on refinement or internal development.
Excellent Over of Aiki Principles & Techniques May 19, 2008
I highly recommend this book for any person studying or contemplating the study of Aikido. It provides an excellent overview of the art's basic principles and techniques. The illustrations are outstanding and often show the flow of techniques better than photographs.
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