Aikido The Peaceful Martial Art

by Stefan Stenudd

2008

Description

Aikido is the peaceful martial art. There are no attacks in aikido, only defense, and this defense should be so gentle that even the attacker is delighted by it. It is an art that takes a lifetime to learn, and it gets increasingly fascinating by each year. This book presents the principles and fundamental concepts of aikido - deeply rooted in Eastern philosophy and the refined ideals of the samurai. The first part of the book examines the aikido principles of how to find the peaceful solution, and how to enjoy aikido practice to the fullest. The second part explains the Japanese concepts used in aikido, such as ki, life energy, tanden, the center, and many more. There is also a chapter about kototama, the spiritual cosmology that was central to the founder of aikido. The third part includes an aikido glossary. A revised edition of this book is published with the title "Aikido Principles: Basic Concepts of the Peaceful Martial Art." Stefan Stenudd is a Swedish aikido instructor, 7 dan Aikikai shihan, member of the Swedish Grading Committee, President of the Swedish Budo & Martial Arts Federation, and former Vice Chairman of the International Aikido Federation. He has practiced aikido since 1972. He is also a writer of both fiction and non-fiction.… (more)

Library's review

Aikido is a marital art unlike any other. It contains no attacks, only defense, and this defense shouild be so gentle that even the attcker is delighted by it. There is no competition, since each participant should be w winner. It is an art that takes a lifetime to learn.

This book presents the
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principles and basic concepts of aikido-deeply rooted in Eastern philosophy and the refined ideals of the samurai. It is not a technical manual, but an exploration of the thoughts and theories at work in aikido practice.

Stefan Stenudd is a 6 dan Aikikai Swedish aikido instructor, member of the Swedish Aikikai Grading Committee, the Swedish Budo Federation Board, and the International Aikido Federation Directing Committee. He has practiced aikido since 1972. He is also a writer of both ficion and non-fiction.

Contents

1 Aikido is true
2 Aikido principles
The impossible marital art
No opponent, no battle
Moriei Ueshiba
Water, air, and vacuum
Sooner like the youth
Female advantage
Throw away
To know or to learn
Here and now
A shared journey
That self-defense thing
Delight
3 Aikido basics
Do-the way
Ki-life energy
Ai-harmony
Traingle, circle, and square
Tanden-the center
Aiki-rhythm and direction
Kiai-gathering power
Kamae-the perfect guard
Kokyu-belly breathing
Maai-the safe distance
Irimi, tenkan-inward, ouktward
Omote, ura-front, back
Gotai-static training
Jutai-soft training
Kinagare-flowing training
Zanshin-extended spirit
Uke-the one who is led
Keiko-practice, practice, practice
Takemusu-limitless improvisation
Nen-one with the moment
Kototama-the soul of words
4 Appendix
Osensei's rules for training aikido
Budo charter-the Japanese rules
Glossary of aikido terms
Aikido websites
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ISBN

1419658792

Publication

BookSurge Publishing North Charleston, South Carolina
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