Aikido Exercises for Teaching and Training: Revised Edition [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

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.

Even though it has a light style, the book is dense with information. Her approach isn't the standard "Grab-here-push-there" martial arts instructional text. Neither is it a fluffy, feel good, visualize the white light and pretend the world is made of cotton candy book.

What does come through is a direct, vivid view of Aikido, with an almost childlike clarity and sense of wonder. After a few years around dojos, there is a tendency to become jaded. To see only what you have seen before, and to instantly categorize whatever is presented to you. By whatever means, Carol has never become jaded. Reading her book, I was able to remember the first time I stepped into a dojo, the odd stiff feel of my first dogi, the smells and textures and body language of the dojo. Aspects that seem so commonplace now.

It has been said that all of the secrets of Aikido are presented to you in the first weeks of class. Is there anything that can be more important, and more elusive than the razor sharp and bright awareness that was present when all of this was new?

The underlying theme throughout the book isn't the techniques, or the rituals of the dojo. It is about the "Do" of Aikido. Aikido as a path... a way of perceiving the world. A practice that isn't compartmentalized, but pervades business, social, physical, emotional, and yes...even spiritual interactions.

The quotes used in the book mainly came from the Aikido-L mailing list. The choices were well made. They present a picture of an art and a community that's passionate about what they do but are not overly self-impressed and serious.

The exercises are presented in a logical, concise manner. Since it is nearly impossible to adequately describe complex physical skills in written language, Carol has taken an alternate approach for many of the exercises -- she sets them up as experiments. She offers a basic set of parameters and then instructs the reader to listen to their body and let their body teach the most efficient and effective motions. I believe that if more teachers taught by this method, it would eliminate many of the classic "sticking points" that that frustrate new students.

Carol has created informative and enjoyable book that would be useful to any student of Aikido, whether they are a beginner or a seasoned teacher. It has an alive and crunchy feel, with all the texture and flaws and flavor of a close and trusted friend.