The Shambhala Guide to Aikido

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable read but factually untrue
Review: Bottom line....The Aikido that is being taught today is not the Aikido that O-Sensei taught. Todays Aikido is a watered down, softened version so we Americans can deal with it. O-Sensei original Aikido or Aiki-budo, was more like Aikijutsu were it at least had some martial art value. Today people enter into Aikido believeing they are going to study a Martial art. what they get is square dancing in a circluar fashsion. Alot of people will read this review and state "This and that" in defense of their Aikido, but bottom line is , If it isn't Aikijutsu, its not worth anything as a martial art. Sokaku Takeda was a true warrior. He taught O-Sensei Aikijutsu. Thats why O-Sensei was so amazing! Wake up!

Rating:
Summary: A Nice Overview
Review: This is an interesting book for anyone just getting started in aikido. I found it to be a good primer to share with other foreign students when I was studying aikido in Japan when our instructors' (who spoke mostly Japanese) teachings became difficult to understand and then explain to others. It's not a book to learn techniques and such, but it's good to give the new student a proper focus in the dojo.