Aikido, Iron Balls and Elbow Power-The Teachings of Alex Essani

'Those who are enlightened never stop forging themselves. The realisations of such masters cannot be expressed well in words or by theories'-Morihei Ueshiba

Alex Essani, the aikido teacher and practitioner, whose thoughts about the practice of aikido are expressed in this book does not actually

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exist-he is a fictitious character invented by the author as a means of exploring ideas.

However, the training philosophy and methods attributed to Alex Essani are definitely not fictitious: they are based on the author's personal experiences with real aikido instructors, in particlular his current sensei, and on many years of practising, studying and teaching aikido.

The conversations between the two main characters, Alex Essani and his student Ian, are inventions used to illustrate an important principle or concept. As the author's real aikido teacher would put it after telling a tall story, 'This is a true story; only the acts have been changed'; insofar as the author has fictionalised real incidents and conversations, this book is the same-it is fiction based on fact.

In this second edition of the book formerly entitled 'Iron Balls and Elbow Power', the author has revised or extended many of the original chapters, and added sixteen new chapters and a completely new Part 3 which describes a range of commonly practised aikido techniques.

Contents

The author
Acknowledgements
Note on the use of aikido terminology
Prefece
Second edition
Foreword
Prologue
Part 1: The system
Introduction
Inner harmony
Continuity of consciousness
Mindfullness
Etiquette and attention to detail
osture
Ki contact
Hara
Tori fune
Furitama
Higi-ki, elbow power
Non-judgemental observation
Soto gawa and uchi gawa
Junbi taiso
Suwari waza and hanmii-handachi waza
Heavy weapons
Practice
Make it look easy
Ukemi
Containment
Unbendable arm
Iron ball exercises-The happy buddha exercise; Tenkan; Centrifugal force
Push hands-One hand push; Hand and elbow push; Two hands push
Aikido and health
Part 2: Master class
Flying lessons
Unbendable arms and iron balls
Iron rings
Mind moves
Ego
More ego
Altered states
Old clothes
Healing
Holding
Spontaneity
Oyo henka waza
Testing
Distractions
The ancient art of Li Ning
If it moves, hit it
Aikido in dailiy life
Benefiting from loss
The attack
Hiding intent
Don't change
Posture again
Yubi waza
Jo waza
Training aids
Kashima-shinryu kenjutsu
Sword-taking
One movement
Other teachers
Dancing with strangers
The grading system
Suwari waza kokyu ho
Grabs and kicks
Russian dolls
Part 3: Practice
Recommendations for dojo practice
Kokyu ho/suwari waza/ryote dori
Kokyu nage/katate dori (gyaku-hanmi)
Ikkyo/katate-dori (ai-hanmi)
Ikkyo/katate-dori (gyaku hanmi)
Ikkyo/hanmi-handachi (shomen uchi)
Ikkyo (shomen uchi)
Nikyo/katate-dori (ai-hanmi)
Sankyo/katate-dori (gyaku-hanmi)
Sankyo/katate-dori (ai-hanmi)
Yonkyo/katate-dori (ai-hanmi)
Irimi nage/katate-dori (aii-hanmi)
Shiho nage/katate-dori (gyaku-hanmi)
Shiho nage (yokomen uchi)
Kote gaeshi/katate-dori (ai-hanmi)
Tenchi nage/katate-dorri (gyaku-hanmi)
Kaiten nage (soto)/katate-dori (gyaku-hanmi)
Kaiten nage (uchi)/katate-dori (gyaku-hanmi)
Sumi otoshi/katate-dori (gyaku-hanmi)
Koshi nage/katate-dori (ai-hanmi)
Glossary of terms

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