Best Aikido - The Fundamentals

Best Aikido: The Fundamentals
Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Moriteru Ueshiba
Kosansha International, 2002
ISBN 4770027621
192 pages

My Review

The book starts out with an FAQ about Aikido from the authors – the late Kisshomaru Ueshiba and the current Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba. Included in the FAQ is the purpose of furitama and torifune undo which I have always wanted to know about.

The next chapters are mainly step-by-step stills of a basic technique executed by Moriteru Ueshiba with a numbered description of each still. Techniques range from ikkyo to gokyo, omote and ura, from katatedori, ushiro ryotedori, yokomenuchi and tsuki. Most techniques include explanations from rippo and zaho (standing and sitting).

The stills are very clear, but most techniques have as many as six steps in the technique, but most have far fewer. The written step-by-step descriptions are simple and a teacher is needed to explain more, but the images by the leading authority well make up for this.

Book Description from Amazon.com

At last, the complete and authoritative introduction to all the fundamentals of Aikido, coauthored by the two direct successors to the Founder of the martial art, Morihei Ueshiba. Coauthors Kisshomaru Ueshiba and Moriteru Ueshiba, son and grandson of the Founder, seek to carry on his legacy and to share with the millions of men and women around the world practicing Aikido today the most important techniques and principles of the art.

This book is the quintessential training aid for all Aikido practitioners — whether beginning or advanced — who wish to further their understanding of the forms and spirit of Aikido.

Underlying the forms, or physical techniques, are the spiritual principles of Aikido, which are based on the notion of ki, or “life force.” Ki is the fundamental element to understanding Aikido. But as the authors explain, it cannot be learned merely by watching a demonstration or reading a book. Rather, one must come to experience it through practice, in unifying body and mind.

Best Aikido helps guide the practitioner to this goal. It offers step-by-step instruction that will complement knowledge learned in the dojo. The text is illustrated with a wealth of never-before-seen photographs that feature Aikido master Moriteru Ueshiba demonstrating the fundamental techniques of the art.

Best Aikido is authorized by the Aikikai Foundation, the central organization set up by Morihei Ueshiba.1

1. http://www.amazon.com/Best-Aikido-Fundamentals-Illustrated-Japanese/dp/4770027621 [↩]