Combat Aikido (Paperback)

by Donald Lawson (Author)
Key Phrases: entering throw, head toss, wrist throw, Running the Mark, Arm Control, Four Directions Throw (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Combat Aikido is term used to describe a hybrid of traditional Aikido which breaks the art form down to its martial roots. It disregards some of the philosophy and many of the less effective techniques of traditional Aikido, concentrating instead on only on the martial application of the art form. Combat Aikido is a training manual for anyone seeking to learn a realistic form of the martial art of Aikido. Combat Aikido techniques are only those which will work in real fights where there are no rules and losing is not an option. Combat Aikido explains only practical Aikido techniques in an in depth and easy to learn and easy to understand format. This book is written and designed to be used by those with no prior martial arts training. Its down to earth, practical application of the art of Aikido will benefit those with years of formalized training as well.

Product Details

• Paperback: 92 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (April 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1438214073
• ISBN-13: 978-1438214078
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #481,754 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Does not deliver, December 21, 2008

By	Blue Grass Tom "Blue Grass Tom" (Blue Grass, Iowa USA) - See all my reviews

I hesitate to rain on anyone's parade when they are promoting aikido, but this is not really a very helpful book. The lack of pictures is a big drawback, especially if someone has little or no experience with aikido, and the verbal descriptions are not done well enough to make up for the lack of pictures. Secondly, I have no idea where the other reviewers and the author learned their aikido, but there is nothing, repeat nothing, in here that I would not consider to be standard aikido. I was intrigued by the advertising of a "hybrid" form of aikido and of a very "martial" version of the art, but there is not one thing here that's any different than what the Founder would do. The blurb misled me. I would certainly encourage a novice or experienced aikidoka to search the much better books by Moriteru and Kisshomaru Ueshiba and by Gozo Shioda - they have more detailed descriptions and the pictures are outstanding. I see the Dynamic Sphere is again available in stores, and is also a good read. These books will do light years more for you and are much more "combat" styled than this one. I have a huge aikido library, but this unfortunately doesn't add anything to it. I'm sure someone will ask, so here are my credentials: 15 years of training and nidan rank.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great information on REAL Aikido, May 20, 2008

By	Eric Mancini (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

Worth the price. This book has no pictures in it. It is all text. It has great chapters on Aikido and fighting concpets. The Aikido techniques it describes in detail are practical and applicable to real fights, not just in the dojo. I highly recommend this book to any Aikido fans and to other martial artists who are looking to expand their combat skills.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A different perspective, September 12, 2008

By	Tyler Forge "realist" (Sunnydale, CA) - See all my reviews

Firstly, this is not a book for a complete beginner, although 5th kyu should understand it. There are no pictures and some of the descriptions would be cryptic without some time in the dojo. A better begginer book is Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere: An Illustrated Introduction.

I enjoyed "Combat Aikido". Although it is very short, I've read some sections very many times. Not because they are unclear, but because I understand a little more each time. Most of all, it is yet another perspective. None of my other Aikido books share this perspective (although I train with people that do). We repeat these techniques thousands of times (never getting them right) because the nuances matter. This book helps explain some nuances as well as the punishing hows, whys, and whats of some of our techniques. There is also discussion of some of the things that we do that the author finds unrealistic.