Rating: 
Summary: Expands aikido outside the dojo
Review: C. M. Shifflett's newest book, "Aikido Exercises for Teaching and Training," (AET) expands her previous book, "Ki in Aikido, A Sampler of Ki Exercises" (KIE) (itself a limit -shattering book in its own right) in several directions. While KIA dealt only with Ki Society style aikido, AET expands its scope, drawing lessons from all styles of aikido and a global internet discussion list where all aikidoka ae welcome. Likewise, Shifflet's second book focuses attention on all stages of study in aikido, from the first day in the dojo beginner to the 20 year experienced sensei. Finally (and most importantly in my opinion), AET expands well beyond traditional "throw uke to the ground" aikido, to encompass such rarely discussed topics as dojo injuries, the physical basis behind many common techniques, the psychological and physiological process of learning and "verbal self-defense." It is this last section that truly creates the book's value, at least for this reader. In a chapter at the end entitled "Off the Mat, in Real Life," Shifflett (with a little help from linguistics expert Suzette Elgin) dismembers the traditional view of martial arts as a means to beat evildoers on the mean streets of your local city. instead, she shows how to apply principles of aikido to the sort of conflicts people are far more likely to encounter in their real, non-Steven Segalesque lives. I have read the final chapter, including Verbal Self-Defense, Life Etiquette, about five times. I have read the middle of the book, about techniques and exercises, twice. This is a disturbing underemphasis on my part of the end. The middle of the book will likely never save your life. The end likely will. This chapter alone compelled me to buy the book -- the rest (including the badly needed translation of Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere technique numbers into the actual names as they are used in real dojos) was merely a bonus. A wonderful, amazing bonus that makes this book one which, if you can only buy one aikido book, you should buy. But a bonus all the same. =) Like her previous book, this is also wonderful for a nearly constant laugh, with quotes from a wild variety of seemingly mad, yet inspired, aikido practitioners on and off the internet.
Rating:
Summary: Great !
Review: Carol Shifflett's second book covers the martial art of Aikido in a way I've never seen before. Most of the books I know deal with either the techniques or the philosophy, some try to cover both. Mostly, the technique books are lost on me because I'm not good at learning techniques from photographs - and the philosophy books are often very difficult to understand without guidance. But Carol's book talks of things I haven't found in any other place: Ever thought about the physics of Aikido? Ever seen a collection of answers to those "silly" beginner's questions? Ever thought about "verbal Aikido"? And - ever gotten advice from people of various Aikido styles from all over the world? This book contains all this and much, much more. It is like walking around a sculpture you already knew from pictures and finding out that it is three-dimensional and you can see it from angles you never thought of. Each topic, each question is not only presented in one way but with various approaches to help the reader gain a better understanding. Everyday experiences included in the book suddenly reveal a new sight on the principles of Aikido. But what I like most about this book is that it approaches the art I love with a lot of humor without making fun of it.
Rating:
Summary: practical and enthralling!
Review: I actually got in trouble because I neglected my work the first day I had this book, I simply could not put it down! I'm just getting back into aikido and this book is full of helpful insights into the art, both the techniques and the philosophy. Many of the stories and analogies help to clarify some of the more confusing aspects of life-application of aikido. Wonderful book, can't recommend it highly enough. Thank you, Ms. Shifflett!
Rating:
Summary: A Constant Companion
Review: I found this book quite by chance in a bookstore and I have never regretted the purchase. I'm finding it even more useful now that I have moved from the UK to New Zealand, because I have had to to change from Yoshinkan to Aikikai. The book details general Aikido exercises and tips, but it's main value for me is that when describing techniques, it provides references for each technique in several of the major texts, Total Aikidio for Yoshinkan and Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere for Aikikai, amongst others. It provides very useful explanations and metaphors for visualising technique that have done wonders for my understanding of the art.
Rating:
Summary: Unique Approach - and needed
Review: I've been training in Aikido since 1980, co-own Aikido of Diablo Valley, and have heard every one of the questions mentioned in "Aikido Excercises" a few times over. I remember asking them myself when I started training. Her answers are great. The discussion of physics, the excercises, and the diagrams are all clear and well presented. It's nice to find a book that approaches Aikido from so many angles.This book introduces the reader to levels of the art not usually presented, and fleshes the descriptions out with great quotes from quite a variety of both leaders and students of the Aikido world.
Rating:
Summary: A Paperback of Harmony.
Review: I've read quite a few books on martial arts now but "Aikido Exercises for Teaching and Training" has to be one of the most engaging and entertaining. There are no mystifying black and white photos of two angry looking guys throwing each other to the floor with a technique wich has a six word Japanese name. Instead there is a great deal of reassuring, level-headed honesty about what Aikido is and,equally impotant, what it is not,as well as some very workable training tips. There are quotes from master Aikidoists,as well as thoughts on training,attidude and spirit from many areas outside the Aikido world. And the secret of becoming a master Aikidoist? Schifflett quotes Garrison Keeler," 90% of life is just turning up." All in all this is a highly imaginative, beautifully put- together and very informative book about Aikido-the martial art, and Aikido-the approach to every day life. Wonderful!
Rating:
Summary: Proper Mindset
Review: Just the first chapter makes the whole book worth while. The Q&A is funny and at the same time very educational. It deals a lot with the proper mindset regarding the study of martial arts and the fact that aikido is more than self-defense. The section on basic exercises help a lot, as does the one on memorizing technique names, which can be difficult if a person does not speak Japanese. Much importance is placed on Ukemi (the art of falling), something which a lot of students ignore or dislike. Overall, I could not recommend a better book for all beginners (regardless of how many years they have been at it).
Rating:
Summary: Proper Mindset
Review: Just the first chapter makes the whole book worth while. The Q&A is funny and at the same time very educational. It deals a lot with the proper mindset regarding the study of martial arts and the fact that aikido is more than self-defense. The section on basic exercises help a lot, as does the one on memorizing technique names, which can be difficult if a person does not speak Japanese. Much importance is placed on Ukemi (the art of falling), something which a lot of students ignore or dislike. Overall, I could not recommend a better book for all beginners (regardless of how many years they have been at it).
Rating: 
Summary: An Eclectic Mix of Resources
Review: Some books you sit down and read cover to cover. Good, useful books. Some books you may never read all of them, but each time you open them up something new leaps out at you, always the perfect thing. This is one of the latter. I can't really imagine sitting down and reading this book. But I've used information from it, it's helped me to use other Aikido books more effectively and I've shared my copy with people at my dojo who've since purchased their own copies. There is a story in the book about a one-ounce lizard that has quickly become a favorite in the dojo. It illustrates the point it was meant to very well, but it also illustrates the perfect "Aikido Attitude" in way that would otherwise be difficult, at best. I have a particular fondness for books like these because you're never really done with them. My copy is nearly brand new and is already showing signs of wear - the mark of a really good book.
Rating: 
Summary: Identical to Ki in Aikido : A Sampler of Ki Exercises
Review: The book itself is good. I just think it was to similar to Ki in Aikido : A Sampler of Ki Exercises by the same people... The book was Identical word for word in some parts... I felt ripped off...
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