Ultimate Aikido: Secrets of Self-Defense and Inner Power

Rating:
Summary: A great book to have in your Aikido book library!
Review: Sometimes, you just need a good book to refer to the techniques and clarify a couple of points. This book is it. While I understand that it is somewhat lacking in the spiritual aspects of Aikido, I won't fault it because I like the graphical illustration so much. The illustration gives adequate detail to movements so that I can clarify some of the movements which are not so obvious and easily remembered, especially after you get whipped around alot in class. I do wish that Yamada sensei would write another book focusing on Advanced techniques of Aikido and weapons training!

Rating:
Summary: vague
Review: This definitely needs more pictures. They show pictures but the camera angles change all the time in the sequences causing the whole book to become useless. This obviousely is not written by a logical person.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent instruction in traditional (Aikikai) Aikido
Review: This is a very useful teaching tool from a outstanding Shihan (teacher's teacher) in classical, traditional Aikikai Aikido. The terminology used is standard terminology, and a large number of basic techniques are very well explained and illustrated with clear action photos and some drawings. The book is a very useful teaching / learning tool to help with frequent practice for the Aikido student. An excellent book for beginner to advanced Aikido students. If you are going to pick one book on techniques in classical, traditional Aikido, this should be it.