Bibliography Index

• Aiki-Doh!-Ka: An Aikido Lexicon

  Kevin Love & Jon Oaker / Lulu.com (2008)

  Aikido / Anecdotal

  Summary: Category: Humor

• Aikido Awakening: Learning How to Live

  "Aiki" Mike Moorehouse / lulu.com (2010)

  Anecdotal / Philosophical

  Summary: A journey of psychological development through the ranks from white belt to black belt. Practice of techniques and dojo life as a path for personal growth. So much to see and know about yourself and others through repetitions of technique, which reveal the psychological state and behavioral issues. Contemplation reveals many insights into philosophy and religion.

• Aikido Conversations, In Drawings and Words

  C. Crane & J. Cutler-Shaw / 1999

  Anecdotal / Philosophical

  Summary: A special boxed limited "art" edition (100 copies) of this book was also produced, one year prior to the release of the mainstream publication.

• Aikido in Three Easy Lessons (Aiki: The Power of Harmony)

  Richard Moon / Aiki Press (1997)

  Anecdotal / Philosophical

  Summary: This book, authored by a student of Robert Nadeau Sensei, describes the "Three Easy Lessons" practices as they relate to states of being, as opposed to techniques. It promotes a positive and constructive mental attitude.

• Aikido Insights

  Hoa Newens / lulu.com (2010)

  Aikido / Anecdotal / Historical / Philosophical

  Summary: In this collection of essays Hoa Newens Sensei shares his insights on various aspects of Aikido training. The content of the essays is drawn from his forty-four years of experience in this martial art that is also known as the Art of Peace. These 31 essays were written over a period of fifteen years and were meant to guide Aikido students in the intangible aspect of Aikido practice. Subjects discussed include, among other things, conflict resolution, ultimate self-defense, kata practice, teachings of Morihiro Saito Shihan, and the concept of Rei in martial arts. Readers from all styles of martial arts and at all levels will find gems that will enrich their own training.

• Aikido Shugyo: Harmony in Confrontation

  Gozo Shioda / Shindokan Books (2002)

  Aikido / Anecdotal / Biographical / Philosophical

  Summary: Aikido Shugyo, by Gozo Shioda, was originally released in Japanese in 1991. Throughout this important and insightful work, Shioda Sensei relates many stories about the time he spent training directly with the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba Sensei, about his war-time experiences and about his years as the Headmaster of the Yoshinkan. He also uses countless anecdotes to convey important insights into the functioning and application of Aikido techniques. Aikido Shugyo will inspire anyone interested in traditional martial arts with its lessons, its history, and its straight-forward approach to the application of Aikido techniques. Aikido Shugyo is a rare insight from one of the leading and most well-known martial artists of his time. Already a “classic” in Japanese, it is a required text for every martial arts library. This first ever English publication is a faithful and complete presentation of the original Japanese text and includes a Forward by Kyoichi Inoue Sensei, 9th Dan, Dojo-cho of the Yoshinkan Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. An early edition, in green leatherette with gilded corners, does exist.

• Aikido Sketch Diary

  Gaku Homma / Frog Ltd. (1994)

  Anecdotal

  Summary: This book is an unusual collection of anecdotes built around the drawings and sketches of the author. Humorous and entertaining.

• Aikido: Living by Design

  Mitsugi Saotome / Arete Press (2003)

  Aikido / Anecdotal / Philosophical

  Summary: In this book, Saotome Sensei shows how he takes Aikido philosophy "off the mat" into his painting, calligraphy, clothing design and cooking. It is a unique glimpse at a man who truly has lived an Aikido life.

• Aikido: One Month

  Stephen Kilmer / createspace.com (2008)

  Aikido / Anecdotal / Proverbial

  Summary: A photo-essay of the author's Aikido experiences, with photos paired with Aikido anecdotes.

• Angry White Pyjamas

  Robert Twigger / Indigo (1997), Quill (2000) (1997)

  Anecdotal / Biographical

  Summary: Angry White Pyjamas is an autobiography subtitled in numerous ways, including "A Scrawny Oxford Poet Takes Lessons from the Tokyo Riot Police." It details just over a year in the life of the author, Robert Twigger (who genuinely is a prize-winning poet educated at Oxford), as he takes the Yoshinkan Hombu Dojo's year-long senshusei course (which again, is genuinely the course taken by the Tokyo Riot Police). Told in the form of a linear narrative primarily involving the author, it presents more the "spirit" of the senshusei course as Twigger experienced it rather than details of the technical curriculum. Along the way it also provides anecdotes involving many major figures of the Yoshinkan Hombu Dojo in the early 1990s. Twigger also includes stories about his impressions of contemporary Japan outside of the Aikido context. The book is classified as Memoirs/Travel on the back cover.

• Art of Blending, The

  North Bay Aikido / Thomson-Shore (1993)

  Anecdotal

  Summary: This book is primarily a cookbook, with recipies mingled with aikido anecdotes.

• Art of Peace, The

  John Stevens & Morihei Ueshiba / 2004

  Anecdotal / Philosophical

  Summary: This is a special leather-bound hand printed one-off edition produced in Europe.

• Book of Ki: Coordinating Mind and Body in Daily Life

  Koichi Tohei / 1st edition, Japan Publications, Inc., Tokyo, Japan (1979)

  Anecdotal / Biographical / Technical

  Summary: Book of Ki: Co-ordinating Mind and Body in Daily Life, published in 1976, marks one of Koichi Tohei's Sensei's first post-Aikikai attempts to present his ideas about Ki, specifically in terms of an energy that can be useful outside the practice of Aikido itself. Although Aikido is mentioned frequently, the book includes no description of Aikido techniques per se, although many of the stretching and Ki development exercises are those found in the Ki Society curriculum. Ki development is represented through descriptions matched with either black and white photographs (some including Tohei himself, then just over 50 years old) or black and white line drawings in the style of simple manga.

• Dueling with O'Sensei

  Ellis Amdur / Edgework (2000)

  Anecdotal / Philosophical

  Summary: From the Publisher: In this volume, Ellis Amdur has radically reworked his iconoclastic essays first published on the website of Aikido Journal. Here, he attempts to establish the existence of something all but lost in Japanese martial arts -- a sophisticated type of training, encompassing mental imagery, breath-work, and a variety of physical techniques that offered the practitioner the potential to develop skills sometimes viewed as nearly superhuman. Commonly referred to as "internal training," and usually believed to be the provenance of Chinese martial arts, Amdur asserts that not only was it once common among many Japanese martial traditions, but elements of such training still remain, passed down in a few martial arts -- literally "hidden in plain sight." As always, Amdur reminds us that this is a human endeavor and he provides vivid, even heartbreaking portrayals of some of the great practitioners of these skills, men who devoted their lives to an obsessive pursuit of power.

• Fudebakudo: The Way of the Exploding Pen

  Beholder / Exploding Pen Ltd. (1993)

  Aikido / Anecdotal

  Summary: This book is an irreverent and extremely humorous collection of cartoons, poking fun at just about every martial art in existence, including Aikido. The description of a fractured 31-jo kata is hilarious.

• Going for a Walk in the World

  Ralph Pettman / 2003

  Aikido / Anecdotal / Philosophical

  Summary: This e-book is available to all at http://aki.org.nz/?page_id=4. It talks about aikido in terms of three analytic dimensions - the physical, the mental and the spiritual. It discusses each dimension in detail, the relationship between them, and what might lie beyond them.

• Hidden in Plain Sight: Tracing the Roots of Ueshiba Morihei's Power

  Ellis Amdur / edgework.info (2009)

  Aikido / Anecdotal / Biographical / Historical / Philosophical

  Summary: From the Author/Publisher's Website: Ellis Amdur's writing on martial arts has been groundbreaking. In this volume, Amdur has radically reworked his iconoclastic essays first published on the website of Aikido Journal. Here, he attempts to establish the existence of something all but lost in Japanese martial arts -- a sophisticated type of training, encompassing mental imagery, breath-work, and a variety of physical techniques that offered the practitioner the potential to develop skills sometimes viewed as nearly superhuman. Commonly referred to as "internal training," and usually believed to be the provenance of Chinese martial arts, Amdur asserts that not only was it once common among many Japanese martial traditions, but elements of such training still remain, passed down in a few martial arts -- literally "hidden in plain sight." As always, Amdur reminds us that this is a human endeavor and he provides vivid, even heartbreaking portrayals of some of the great practitioners of these skills, men who devoted their lives to an obsessive pursuit of power.

• How to Defend Yourself Without Even Trying

  Terry Chitwood / Polestar Publications (1981)

  Anecdotal / Philosophical

  Summary: Although the title might lead one to believe differently, this book is not technical in nature, but is a discussion of verbal, emotional and spiritual self-defense, using the aiki principles of harmony, perception and self-awareness. Minimally illustrated.

• In the Dojo

  Dave Lowry / Shambhala/Weatherhill (2006)

  Anecdotal / Philosophical

  Summary: This text is not specifically Aikido, but deals with commonalities of all Japanese martial arts. It is a collection of lively essays, that illuminates the history and significance of the rituals, training costumes, objects and relationships that have such profound significance in Japanese martial arts.

• Intuitive Body: Aikido as a Clairsentient Practice, The

  Wendy Palmer / 1st edition, North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, California (1994)

  Anecdotal / Philosophical

  Summary: Wendy Palmer's model of conscious embodiment builds on simple, deep techniques to bring awareness of our mental and physical reactions to pressure. The book draws on meditation and the principles of Aikido to present a unique method for cultivation awareness, attention and self-acceptance.

• It's a Lot Like Dancing: An Aikido Journey

  Terry Dobson / 1st edition, Frog, Ltd., Berkeley, California (1993)

  Anecdotal / Biographical / Philosophical

  Summary: It's a lot like dancing: An aikido journey is a collection of aikido anecdotes, short themes, and aphorisms--ranging from single lines to pages--told by Terry Dobson, a longtime aikido student at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in the 1960s and founder of the Bond Street dojo in New York, NY.

• Ki Points

  Minoru Oshima / Kodokai Aikido (1995)

  Anecdotal / Philosophical

  Summary: This book is a fascinating collection of anecdotes from Minoru Oshima Sensei, a ki-style aikido proponent who spent considerable time as uchideshi to Koichi Tohei Sensei. The book offers numerous good-natured hints and lessons from a ki-oriented perspective. Modestly illustrated, primarily with drawings.

• Ki Sayings

  Koichi Tohei / Ki No Kenkyukai (1995)

  Aikido / Anecdotal / Proverbial

  Summary: This is a pocket-sized bilingual (Japanese/English) booklet, with English reading front-to-middle, and Japaneese reading back-to-middle. It is a collection ot thoughts and anecdotes about Ki development. This is not a mainstream publication, but is meant instead for distribution within Ki Society groups.

• Letting Go: Talks on Aikido

  Christopher Curtis / MAKS Publishing (2007)

  Aikido / Anecdotal / Philosophical / Spiritual

  Summary: Most people pursue waking up in the way they go after a new car, or a mate, a college education, or becoming CEO, as if it's the same thing. But this is not the same. Those are temporary goals. There is nothing wrong with getting new cars or becoming CEO, or whatever else pleases you, but don't confuse the two. Achieving those things, we use skills that can be learned, whereas awakening does not result from education, a gathering of knowledge. This is the very highest art form: the art of letting go of 'doing' and dropping into resting in the awareness itself. This 'shift' is the perfect and complete unification of all aspects of life, of truly knowing and experiencing at the same time; suddenly, 'waaa!' It all comes together.

• Martial Arts Teachers on Teaching

  Carol Wiley / Frog, Ltd. (1995)

  Aikido / Anecdotal / Biographical / Philosophical

  Summary: Teaching is an art. Effective martial arts teachers must not only be competent practitioners but must also develop the communication and interpersonal skills of any good teacher. In this collection, twenty-six experienced martial arts teachers discuss the process of learning and teaching a martial art, from the 'nuts and bolts' of teaching technique to the philosophical underpinnings of training.

• Moving Toward Harmony

  Eric Oberg / Far Eastern Press (2000)

  Anecdotal

  Summary: This book presents a myriad of the author's anecdotes about Aikido training. Modestly illustrated.

• O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba: Presence and Message

  Andre Nocquet / English edition, Robert Cornman (1994)

  Aikido / Anecdotal / Biographical / Philosophical

  Summary: This early work by André Nocquet was translated from the 1975 French edition and published (limited edition of 150) by Robert Cornman. It recounts, including pictures, the author's experiences training with O-Sensei. There are chapters on "Master Ueshiba," his words, his calligraphy, and his technique. Three additional chapters cover more philosophy of Aikido and related matters.

• On Mastering Aikido

  Daniel Linden / Linden Tree Press (2004)

  Anecdotal / Philosophical

  Summary: On Mastering Aikido takes the reader on a journey through the world of the martial art known as Aikido and the teachings of Daniel Linden Sensei and his master, Mitsugi Saotome. Written for advanced students of the art – those who are already conversant with the fundamental teachings – Linden Sensei crosses the line often between teaching and entertaining with humorous, touching stories of years of training in the world’s most difficult martial way.

• Randori Principles, The

  David Baum / Dearborn Trade Publishing (2002)

  Anecdotal / Philosophical

  Summary: This book presents life lessons paralleling and taken from various aspects of Aikido training. Not illustrated.

• Tales of Jord's Storage Unit Aikido

  Rudy Higgens-Evenson / First Edition edition, Arete Press, Claremont, California (2000)

  Aikido / Anecdotal

  Summary: Originally serialized in Aikido Today Magazine, this saga recounts the experiences of an imaginary group of intrepid Aikidoka who have only a storage shed to practice in. Wall-to-wall in-jokes, if you have much Aikido experience, you'll find Jord's tales side-splittingly funny.

• The Aikido Guide to Success

  Joe Wokoro / CreateSpace (2010)

  Anecdotal / Philosophical

  Summary: Aikido is not only a martial art but incorporates philosophical and spiritual insights that can be applied in everyday life. This book use selected aikido concepts as a reflection on modern living, showing how these concepts can be effectively applied for meaningful, successful living.

• The Gift of Danger: Lessons from Aikido

  Mary Stein / Blue Snake Books (2009)

  Aikido / Anecdotal / Philosophical

  Summary: From the Publisher: Mary Stein took up aikido in her mid-fifties and quickly learned what it really means to face danger—both external and internal. In this powerful collection of short essays, she vividly describes learning an active and spirited defense on the mat, in the process uncovering a lifetime of habitual tensions and emotional reactions, of flight and ineffective fight. Stein’s thoughtful musings make clear how the practice of aikido can show what is really needed, right now. The Gift of Danger is aimed at men and women for whom the question of what is genuine in their lives has taken on fresh urgency.

• The Journey of Aikido; Reflections on the Path

  Lawrence Novick / Wintertime Press (2009)

  Aikido / Anecdotal / Philosophical / Proverbial / Spiritual

  Summary: Drawn from the past 26 years of training and teaching, this book is a collection of the author's thoughts about the deeper elements of Aikido and how it relates to life, not only martial arts. Inevitably, it is also reflective of his own personal and spiritual journey.

• Three Deep Breaths

  Thomas Crum / Bennett-Koehler (2006)

  Anecdotal / Philosophical / Spiritual

  Summary: Three Deep Breaths uses the popular parable format to illustrate an effective antidote to anger, stress, and overwhelming busyness. Through the story of a harried worker struggling to balance work, life, and family pressures, readers learn three different ways to use breathing to live in the present, think positive thoughts, and release negativity and judgment. By actively practicing the prescribed breathing exercises, readers maintain clarity and purpose even when confronted with the most chaotic and stressful environments. Straightforward and easy to learn, these simple centering techniques can be done in as little time as it takes to walk to the next meeting.

• Unlikely Teachers: Finding the Hidden Gifts in Daily Conflict

  Judy Ringer / OnePoint Press (2006)

  Aikido / Anecdotal

  Summary: Judy Ringer's newly published book on aikido and conflict is a practical tool to help you generate more power, presence, and flow in your relationships and your life.

• Zen Stories of the Samurai

  Neal Dunnigan / First edition, Lulu Enterprises, Inc. (2005)

  Anecdotal / Historical / Philosophical / Proverbial / Spiritual

  Summary: Intriguing encounters between Zen practitioners and samurai warriors are recaptured in this breviloquent collection of short stories drawn from the literature of feudal Japan. These encounters deal with the nature of immediacy and its role in understanding the essence of human existence. For the martial artist faced with a conflict, the Zen state of mind, without distractions and illusions, can determine the difference between life and death. The warrior experience, as revealed in these traditional stories, is retold in a style that is relevant and graspable to the contemporary American martial artist. No particular religious background is required to appreciate these stories, but rather a curiosity about what allows people to achieve extraordinary performance when faced with life and death circumstances. Zen ink paintings by John Hrabushi offer a meditative and intellectual “cross training” throughout the collection. Foreword by noted Aikido Shihan Lorraine DiAnne.