Zen and Aikido

(from cover)

Zen-the Japanese philosophy rooted in ancient India and China adopted by the warrior cast to enable samurai to face death with a serene spirit. Aikido-the modern Japanese martial art which incorporates powerful tehniques applied on a spirit of harmony and reconciliation. Zen and Aikido

Show More

offers a lucid interpretation of aikido viewed through the window of Zen which places it squarely within the centuries-old martial traditions of Japan, long a subject of fascination to Westerners.

Shigeo Kamata is a professor of eastern Culture at Tokyo University. A renowned authority on Zen Buddhism, Professor Kamata has written numerous works dealing with the philosophies of China and Japan directed at both scholarly and popular audiences. An avid practitioner of aikido for more than twelve years, he is uniquely qualified to introduce to Western readers the essential concepts of both Zen and aikido with their relavance to daily life in a conflict-riddled world.

Kenji Shimizu, 8th degree aikido master, ws one of aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba's last and bestloved disciples. Shimizu Sensei currently operates the Tendokan School of aikido in Tokyo and makes yearly instructional trips to Europe. Combining a strong background in judo with his expertise in aikido, his smooth, powerful techniques embody the ideal of effectiveness and control. Shimizu Sensei offers clear insight into his training methods which will surely prove invaluable to both beginning and advanced practitioners of aikido and to martial arts enthusiasts in general.

Contents

Translators' Preface
Introduction
On Aikido
The Philosophy of Aikido
1: The Philosophy of Zen and Aikido
2: The Philosophy of the Circle
3: The Philosophy of Nothingness
4: The Philosophy of Harmony
5: The Philosophy of Ki
6: The Philosophy of Practice
Aikido Techniques
Afterword
Further Reading (bibliography)
Index

Show Less