Progressive Aikido: The Essential Elements [Hardcover]

Moriteru Ueshiba (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 2005

A practical guide-written by the grandson of the founder of Aikido-for those seeking greater understanding of both the basic forms and advanced techniques.

Aikido was developed by Morihei Ueshiba, who drew on Japan's rich history of martial arts to develop an entirely new system that preserves the classical tradition within a contemporary context. In Progressive Aikido, Moriteru Ueshiba, the grandson of the founder and the third Doshu (living symbol and embodiment of the spirit of Aikido), focuses on the most fundamental principle of Aikido: proper movement. Using hundreds of photographs and readily accessible explanations, Ueshiba shows how this crucial technique is the basis for all training, whether as a beginner or as a senior instructor. The book is based on a systematic, step-by-step approach that emphasizes proper movement to train in a range of Aikido techniques, from basic to advanced.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The book is presented in much the same way that our dojo eventually ended up teaching our own beginners, and as such, is a very good book for instructors to own. ...the book will be most useful for those who are, or want to practice since it's about 90 percent text and photos presenting technique. There is very little in the way of any other writing for the idle browser. But as usual in books like this, for the long time student of Aikido the good stuff is in the introduction... and as usual I suspect most will simply skip to the pictures. Do yourself a favor and go down to the local bookstore, pick it up and read it. It's short, it's worth it." -EJMAS

"It's a very nice format, and brings the text closer to providing the pointers one might actually receive in the dojo from the instructor. ... the book is an easy read, and there is a lot of beneficial material, presented in an excellent format. This book would make a good addition to any Aikido library, regardless of your particular style." -AikiWeb

About the Author

MORITERU UESHIBA was born in 1951 in Tokyo, the grandson of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, and son of the late Kisshomaru Ueshiba, the second Doshu. He graduated from Meiji Gakuin University in 1976, became master of the Aikido World Headquarters in 1986, and in 1996 was named chairman of the Aikikai Foundation. In 1999 he became Aikido Doshu after his father's death, and the permanent chairman of the International Aikido Federation. He holds several important posts related to the martial arts and is a trustee of the Nippon Budokan, the "hall of martial arts" located in central Tokyo.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha USA (December 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4770021720
• ISBN-13: 978-4770021724
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #487,418 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful beginner's book on Aikido, July 13, 2006

By 

Rodney Molnar-Pohdap (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Progressive Aikido: The Essential Elements (Hardcover)

I bought this book after comparing it with other similar books, including "Best Aikido" by this book's author & his father. I decided to buy this one because the photography was far better, and much of the presentation struck me as more clear and detailed.

So, any criticism of this book as old wine in a new bottle should be taken with a grain of salt. For someone already experienced in Aikido and owning introductory books, this new one probably has little to offer. However, my sense is that it's not an attempt merely to grind out a new book to sell which is really just old material. Rather, it seeks to present its material in a clearer, more accessible format. That is why I chose it as my first book of basic Aikido technique.

True, what this book says about Aikido philosophy is very brief. But that is such a large and important topic that one would do best to buy separate books devoted to that topic (as I have already).

So, if you want a well-illustrated manual on the basic techniques of Aikido, I find this is an excellent choice.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars From fundamentals to basic techniques to applied skills, May 21, 2006

By 

Zack Davisson "japanreviewed" (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Progressive Aikido: The Essential Elements (Hardcover)

The Ueshibi family as continued the Aikido tradition founded by Morihei Ueshiba, handing down the lessons learned from O-sensei and presenting his art and philosophy to a greater world audience. This book, "Progressive Aikido," was written by his grandson Moriteru Ueshiba.

"Progressive Aikido" is essentially a workbook for those who are beginning their journey down the path of Aikido. There is very little of the Aikido philosophy, which can be found in other works such as ""The Art Of Aikido: Principles And Essential Techniques." Instead, it lays out techniques in a progressive, logical pattern starting with the fundamentals and going up to more advanced skills.

The emphasis on fundamentals and basic moves makes "Progressive Aikido" a solid reference for new students, enhancing the lessons learned in an Aikido class. No one is ever going to learn a martial art from a book, but it helps to check yourself against the pictures and get a glimpse into future techniques.

Those who have an extensive Aikido library will probably find "Progressive Aikido" redundant. The Ueshiba family has been very prolific in bringing Aikido to the world, and there is an impressive amount of books available. However, for those who are just beginning to practice the art, there is plenty of useful information and a solid framework around which to build their skills.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive work on mastering Aikido, January 18, 2006

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Progressive Aikido: The Essential Elements (Hardcover)

Moriteru Ueshiba is the grandson of Morihei Ueeshiba, the Japanese master who developed Aikido, one of the most renowned martial arts in the world. Moriteru Ueshiba is Aikido Doshu and chairman of the International Aikido Federation.

The most important and fundamental element in Aikido is proper movement based on the principle of circular motion where the center remains stable (as in a spinning top). This new volume has explicitly detailed explanations of the movements accompanied by hundreds of clearly illustrated photos.

In Aikido, self-defense is equated with presence of mind, and the practice of the art is a path to harmony based on the integration of the mind and the body. It is not a competitive sport.

This latest publication by Moriteru Ueshiba will be valuable not only for the novice but for the advanced practitioner as well.