Aikido Exercises for Teaching and Training [Paperback]

C. M. Shifflett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 7, 2000

This book is augmented by testing techniques, class demonstrations, and the underlying basics of physics, anatomy, and psychology. Included are a general introduction for beginners, common questions and observations, relationships between exercises and throws, an approach for safe mastery of rolling and ukemi skills, an anatomy of wristlocks, verbal self-defense, as well as exercises for individual off mat practice.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I wish I'd had a book like this one available to me when I started teaching 25 years ago! A valuable resource for beginners, senior students, and teachers of the art."
—George Simcox, Virginia Ki Society

About the Author

C.M. Shifflett is the author of Ki in Aikido: A Sampler of Ki Exercises, and is a student of the late George Simcox.

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books; 1st edition (January 7, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155643314X
• ISBN-13: 978-1556433146
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,157,554 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Expands aikido outside the dojo, June 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Aikido Exercises for Teaching and Training (Paperback)

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.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great !, February 4, 2000

By 

Beate Kawelke (Stuttgart, Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aikido Exercises for Teaching and Training (Paperback)

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.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Paperback of Harmony., October 6, 2000

By 

DAREN L GADD (Tucson,AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aikido Exercises for Teaching and Training (Paperback)

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!