On Mastering Aikido

Rating:
Summary: A fresh, clear approach, amazingly practical & READABLE!
Review: 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

Rating:
Summary: Simply Excellent!
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Your Path to Enlightenment
Review: 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.