AIKIDŌ-RELATED READING MATERIALS


Articles

A Way to Stop the Spear. The Economist, vol. 327, no. 7811, p. 114, May 15, 1993. (Commentary on aggression versus harmony in the martial arts.)

Blum, Haywood. Physics and the Art of Kicking and Punching. American Journal of Physics, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 61-64, January, 1977. (Extended mechanical analysis of the physics of punching.)

Cavanaugh, Peter R., and J. Landa. A Biomechanical Study of the Karate Chop. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, vol. 7, p. 77, 1975. (Very brief mechanical study of the physics of chopping.)

Dobson, Terry. A Kind Word Turneth Away Wrath. Reprinted in Aikido Today, vol. 6, no. 5, pp. 27-28, 1992. (The classic firsthand story of harmony versus conflict.)

Masler, Daniel. Classical Ju-Jutsu: Daito-ryu. Tokyo Journal, November, pp. 58-59, 1987. (Historical perspective on Aikido roots.)

Olson, Gregory, and Frank Seitz. An Anatomical Analysis of Aikido's Second Teaching: An Investigation of Nikyo. Perceptual and Motor Skills, vol. 77, pp. 123-131, 1993. (Medical study of nerves and connective tissues involved in nikyo.)

Olson, Gregory, and Frank Seitz. An Examination of Aikido's Fourth Teaching: An Anatomical Study of the Tissues of the Forearm. Perceptual and Motor Skills, vol. 71, pp. 1059-1066, 1990. (Medical study of nerves and connective tissues involved in yonkyo.)

Seitz, Frank, Gregory Olson, and Thomas Stenzel. A Martial Arts Exploration of Elbow Anatomy: Ikkyo (Aikido's First Teaching). Perceptual and Motor Skills, vol. 73, pp. 1227-1234, 1991. (Medical study of nerves and connective tissues involved in ikkyo.)

Soho, Takuan. Letter to the Shogun's Fencing Master. Reprinted in The Buddhist Tradition, pp. 376-380. Edited by W. T. De Bary. Random House: New York, 1969. (A great Zen monk advises the sword master.)

Travis, John. Thinking the way to stronger muscles. Science News, vol. 160, no. 23, p. 362, December 8, 2001. (Summary of medical study on the physical effects of mental exercises.)

Voss, J. A., and R. A. Binkhorst. Velocity and Force of Some Karate Arm-movements. Nature, vol. 211, no. 5044, pp. 89-90, July 2, 1966. (Very brief mechanical analysis of the physics of punching.)

Walker, Jearl. Karate Strikes. American Journal of Physics, vol. 43, no. 10, pp. 845-849, October, 1975. (Brief mechanical analysis of the physics of punching.)

Walker, Jearl. The Amateur Scientist: In Judo and Aikido Application of the Physics of Forces Makes the Weak Equal to the Strong. Scientific American, vol. 243, no. 1, pp. 150-161, July, 1980. (Illustrated commentary on the physics of torque and leverage.)

Wilk, S. R., R. E. McNair, and M. S. Field, The Physics of Karate. American Journal of Physics, vol. 51, no. 9, pp. 783-790, September, 1983. (Thorough analysis of dynamics and biomechanics of punching.)

Periodicals

Aiki News. Stanley A. Pranin, editor. ``Aikido and Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu''. Aiki News: Tokyo.

Aikido Today Magazine. Susan Perry, editor. ``A Non-partisan Journal of the Art of Aikido''. Arete Press: Claremont, CA.

Books

Heckler, Richard (editor). Aikido and the New Warrior. North Atlantic: Berkeley, CA, 1985. (Collection of various essays, illustrating broad spectrum of Aikido appeal and interpretation. Includes Terry Dobson's classic article ``A Kind Word Turneth Away Wrath''.)

Homma, Gaku. Aikido for Life. North Atlantic: Berkeley, CA, 1990. (Essays on Aikido training in the modern world, approaches to practice.)

Hyams, Joe. Zen in the Martial Arts. J. P. Tarcher: Los Angeles, CA, 1979. (Personal reflections.)

Gleason, William. The Spiritual Foundations of Aikido. Inner Traditions: 1995.

Kamata, Shigeo, and Kenji Shimizu. Zen and Aikido. Aiki News: Tokyo. (Explores the impact of Zen upon the development of Aikido.)

Klickstein, Bruce. Living Aikido. North Atlantic: Berkeley, CA, 1987. (Illustrated introduction to Aikido practice and technique.)

Pranin, Stanley (editor). Aikido Masters: Prewar Students of Morihei Ueshiba. Aiki News: Tokyo. (Collection of interviews with direct participants in early Aikido.)

Pranin, Stanley (editor). Encyclopedia of Aikido. Aiki News: Tokyo. (Extensive reference work.)

Reynosa, Larry, and Joseph Billingiere. A Beginner's Guide to Aikido. R & B Publ.: Venture, CA, 1988. (Discussion of Aikido fundamentals. Includes essays by Shihan Kanai, Shihan Saotome, and Shihan Seagal.)

Saito, Morihiro. Aikido: Its Heart and Appearance. Wehman Brothers: Cedar Knolls, NJ, 1976.

Saito, Morihiro. Traditional Aikido. 5 Volumes. Minato Research and Publishing: Tokyo, 1973, 1973, 1974, 1974, 1976. (Classic illustrated compendium of countless techniques, especially integration of weapons and body arts.)

Saotome, Mitsugi. Aikido and the Harmony of Nature. Shambhala: Boston, 1993. (Essays on Aikido and the natural order.)

Saotome, Mitsugi. The Principles of Aikido. Shambhala: Boston, 1989. (Essays about Aikido, illustrated explanations of techniques.)

Sosa, Bill, and Bryan Robbins. The Essence of Aikido. Unique Publ.: Burbank, CA, 1987. (Illustrated introduction to Aikido practice and technique.)

Shioda, Gozo. Dynamic Aikido. Kodansha: New York, 1977.

Siegel, Andrea. Women in Aikido. North Atlantic: Berkeley, CA, 1993. (Interviews with 12 female Aikido black belts in Aikido.)

Stevens, John. Abundant Peace. Shambhala: Boston, 1987. (Biography of Morihei Ueshiba.)

Stevens, John. Aikido: The Way of Harmony. Shambhala: Boston, 1985. (Illustrated introduction to Aikido practice and technique.)

Stevens, John. The Secrets of Aikido. Shambhala: Boston, 1997. (Essays on inner principles.)

Tohei, Koichi. Ki in Daily Life. Japan Publ.: Briarcliff Manor, NJ, 1978.

Ueshiba, Kisshomaru. Aikido. Hozansha Publications: Tokyo, 1985. (Illustrated introduction to Aikido practice and technique.)

Ueshiba, Kisshomaru. The Spirit of Aikido. Kodansha International: Tokyo, 1984. (Essays on the roots of Aikido and its mission.)

Ueshiba, Morihei. Budo. Translated by John Stevens. Kodansha International: Tokyo, 1996. (Illustrated introduction by Doshu explaining some Aikido history. Reproduction of an Aikido instruction manual written by the founder.)

Westbrook, Adele, and Ratti, Oscar. Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere. Charles E. Tuttle: Tokyo, 1970. (Beautiful line drawings explaining techniques. Considered a classic.)

Wiley, Carol. Women in the Martial Arts. North Atlantic: 1992. (23 essays by a variety of female martial artists.)

Yamada, Yoshimitsu. Aikido Complete. Lyle Stuart: New York, 1969. (Photographic illustration of basic technique.)

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