Aikido (Illustrated Japanese Classics) (Paperback)

Reviewer: A reader

I found this book an excellent source and a good introduction for Akikdo. There are several techniques in the book, accompanied by very clear and concise verbal explanation. The only thing I don't like is the quality of the pictures. Most of them are too dark and too small. It is difficult to see the exact hands position in the picture. If you are an experience Aikido practitioner, you probably can guess what they are doing and how to place your hands in certain technique. If not, it's hard to see the subtle point of the technique.

Of course, even the best book is not a substitution of a real practice with a good teacher, but good books can help you a lot. I think this book is a good reference for a seasoned Aikidoka, but for a beginner or a general audience (like me) who needs more accurate description and illustration of teachniques, two books by Mr. Gozo Shioda are much easier to follow.

Reviewer: A reader
This is my very first book in Aikido (or any martial art for that matter). I wasn't a practitioner then and I didn't have a clue what was transpiring in between the pages. However, the book is a great reference for me when I started training because it helped me identify and remember the movements I had picked up during class. That came in really handy during grading. I like the footwork and handwork illustrations, although the translation and explanations lack detail. But a great book to have nonetheless.