Customer Reviews

The Hidden Roots of Aikido: Aiki Jujutsu Daitoryu - Secret Techniques of an Ancient Martial Art

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is one of the best books I've ever read in the martial arts field. It has helped me a great deal in my own development in the arts. I teach a self defense class in Florence,AL which is geared for practical defense on the street. I especially enjoyed the section on pins and their variations. In today's dojos I see so many instructors focusing on the sport aspects of the arts which don't always work on the street. I loved the fact that they showed the pins that you could do without using your hands and that they never assume that there is only one attacker on the street and that every move addresses these situations. I feel like this book will benefit people of all arts not just Aikido. Many modern style Jujitsu practitioners really need to see this book because I feel like they would learn alot. The only drawback I see is that if you don't already know how to do certain wrist locks you may be lost in some places. For those people I would recommend they read Dynamic Aikido by Gozo Shioda first before buying this book,but I would definately buy this book if I wanted to be a better martial artist

First and foremost, this was a good book. A clear connection between Aikido and Daitoryu Jujutsu is made, especially with the visual aid of the many photographs of the techniques. Their similarities are evident. However, not much is given to readers on the actual working relationship of Daitoryu and Aikido, and what exactly makes them different. I feel that this book was created for the Aikido practitioner who perhaps is looking for answers that he may be asking about where his or her PHYSICAL techniques originated from. Philosophy is barely touched upon. The author's treacher was a second generation disciple of the headmaster of Daitoryu, (who taught the founder of Aikido). I wonder how much of the book's content is synthesis and how much is authentic. All in all, it is a fascinating book, and does provide insight into the workings of both Daitoryu Jujutsu and Aikido technique.

I am an instructor of Goshin Ryu Aikijiu-jutsu and I really enjoyed this book. It is well organized and readable. The action sequence shown in the photographs is very clear. If you are familiar with the principles common to all styles of this art you will be fond of this work, particullarly with the references to counter-techniques, rarely seen. An excellent book.

This book is well done. There are many good pictures which didactically explain the techniques of daito ryu. However, after reading, the title results ambiguosly overstated. The changes which transformed daito ryu into aikido are not explained al all, and the overall idea behind the two form of combat goes completely neglected.

Omiya had created a masterful and balanced introduction to Daito Ryu that provides all martial artist who love the "Aiki" arts with a reference. Stanley Pranin and others have worked so hard to have aikido practioners accept and understand the technical basis of their art. This book is in the same vein - with very good illustrations and explanations of the different levels within Daito Ryu from the legendary battlefield intensity to the soft Aiki. Daito Ryu is finally going public in a major way. What many people do not understand is that Morihei Ueshiba was Takeda's favorite student and in Takeda's later years he adopted a philosophy similar to his illustrious student. Must reading for those who want to expand their understanding of aikido.

I did not rate this book with 5 stars because some techniques are poorly explained and you need to follow the pictures. Ah !!! the pictures, they are great, easy to follow and there are lots of them. You can grab so much good information and take it with you to the dojo for practicing. I wish I could have more time to practice everything on this book.

I was surprised by how similar daito ryu aiki-jujutsu techniques are to Aikido. This book is a good source of reference for me as I am curious about the relationship between Aikido and Aiki-jujutsu. It also provides a couple of different moves that I have not seen in the dojo.

This book should not be limited to practitioners of the Aiki arts. Karateka who study this book will find a great wealth of information on the application of techniques present in their katas. If you have always seen a certain technique or series of techniques as limited to a particular interpretation, this book will help you move forward in understanding your art more fully.

This book is not really my fav because it really doesn't detail the principals of the art to well. Total Aikido: The Master Course (Bushido--The Way of the Warrior) is a much better book if you want to learn aikido as this book is purely for advanced practioners and only useful for the advanced grappler.

This book is the ki for anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of aiki arts,and making their techniques more effective. No matter what art you happen to be studying dont pass this one up!!!