Aikido Books to Help Your Aikido Studies
On this page, I want to share books that dramatically and technically improved my Aikido. Whenever there was a debate about the technique in the dojo, we look at these books for answers.
Also if you doubt or feel like your Aikido doesn’t work, have a look at these books for answers.
One of the things I encourage my students and all Aikidokas around the world is to look at the Aikido outside your dojo or your style.
It is very interesting to see how Aikido styles have evolved and you might even pick up a technique or two.
I treasure these books, they are the most read and worn books in my library. I hope they help you as much as they have improved my Aikido technique.
What Aikido Books Are Used For?
These Aikido books can help your Aikido technique. Use these books as a textbook or as a reference, so you can remember your Aikido. Aikido Books (like YouTube videos) cannot replace a Sensei or an instructor. Learn Aikido on the mat and from a Good Aikido instructor. Aikido or any martial art has been passed from person to person for thousands of years because martial are techniques and martial art moves that can dangerous to learn on your own. Also one needs a good philosophy or mindset or (in modern terms) a good operating system to use martial arts. Otherwise martial arts uncheck can lead to thuggery. That’s why it is equally as important to choose your Sensei or instructor wisely, for you will also get (download) their operating system.
Traditional Aikido, Vol. 1: Basic Techniques
(v. 1) (Japanese and English Edition) (Japanese) Hardcover – July 1974
by The first time I read this book was when I was 17 years old back in the early 1990s.
I found it in Willoughby Library in Chatswood (One of Sydney’s suburbs). I don’t think that book is there anymore.
The five ‘Traditional Aikido’ books were written with the consideration that they will be used as a reference for actual practice. This series of books is the ‘Traditional Aikido’ or Iwama Ryu textbooks.
The Aikido student learns from his or her sensei at the dojo. The Aikido student then goes home and study these Aikido books to commit the lesson to your memory.
The Traditional Aikido Vol 1: Basic Techniques explains the fundamental relationship between the use of ken, jo and taijutsu.
Budo: Commentary on the 1938 Training Manual of Morihei Ueshiba
In 1938, Morihei Ueshiba wrote an actual instruction manual about Aikido.
This Aikido book is the mother of all Aikido books.
If you want to learn Aikido from Osensei himself, get this book. This is Osensei’s Aikido.
The original book measures 18 x 26.7 cm and has 50 pages divided into two parts.
This version of the book is translated into English from Japanese. In this book are photos of Osensei demonstrating and explaining his Aikido.
I cannot say this strong enough through this post. GET THIS BOOK, this is the most authentic Aikido book of all time. Learn from Osensei himself.
Some of the things you may learn from this Aikido book:
- Tai no henko
- Osae waza
- Kokyu Nage
- Kote gaeshi
- Irimi Nage
- Shiho Nage
- Jukendori
- Shumatsu Dosa
Total Aikido: The Master Course Hardcover – November 16, 2012
by
I’ve purchased several Aikido and Martial Arts books in the past three decades. Let me say this as an Aikidoka, this book is one of my favourite books of all time.
Sometimes, it is not easy to describe Aikido techniques in words or text. You need a proper illustration to follow photographic sequences to fundamentally appreciate the techniques. This book is a good photobook.
They have numbered the photos in the sequences. The accompanying description and explanation are quite well written.
It should be said that this book was written by Gozo Shioda Sensei, the founder of Yoshinkan Aikido. Yoshinkan is a style that your local dojo may or may not practice. However, I find myself continually coming back to this book to check out how Shioda Sensei would do Good Aikido. This book sits is one of my favourite Aikido Books.
Some of the Aikido Techniques in this book:
Traditional Aikido (Vol 2) Book Advanced Techniques
(Japanese and English Edition) (Japanese)Hardcover – July 1, 1974
by I have three Aikido books in my Aikido bag that I always carry. This is one of those books. The ‘Traditional Aikido’ Vol 2 explains the application and variations of the basic Kumi Tachi (partnered practice with swords) as developed by the founder of Aikido Morihei Ueshiba Osensei. In this Aikido book, the concept of ‘Riai’ is expanded to include Kumijo (partnered practice with the staff).
Some of the Aikido Techniques in this book:
Traditional Aikido: Applied Techniques, Sword, Stick, Body Arts (Vol. 3)
(Japanese and English Edition) (Japanese) Hardcover – July 1, 1974
by ‘Traditional Aikido’ Vol 3 is about Aikido Techniques involving the use of the body. Aikido body techniques are almost unlimited and cannot be put in one book. In this book, you will see the relationship between different Aikido techniques.
Some of the Aikido Techniques in this book:
- Body adaptations of the ‘principle of the sword’
- Variations of Kokyu Ho (Breathing or abdominal extensions)
- Variations of basic techniques
- Ki Flow and Awase (blending)
- Ushiro Waza
- Modes of variations (henka waza)
Traditional Aikido: Vital Techniques v. 4
(Japanese and English Edition) (Japanese) Hardcover – December 1974
by One of the best Aikido book covers I’ve ever seen. You can see Saito Sensei throwing my teacher Hitohira Saito Sensei over his shoulder. Volume 4 of the ‘Traditional Aikido’ series explores the vital Aikido techniques. In this book, Saito Sensei shared his memory of the essential Aikido techniques that was not included in Vol 3.
Some of the Aikido Techniques in this book:
- ‘Rigorous’ Aikido exercises
- The use of Atemi before applying Aikido techniques
- Kaeshi Waza or Counter Techniques
- Variations against Tsuki
- Variations against Shomen Uchi
- Variations against Yokomen Uchi
- Variations against Ushiro Dori
Traditional Aikido: Sword, Stick & Body Arts, Vol. 5
Training Works Wonders Hardcover – 1976
by Saito Sensei
The cover of the this was also impressive. Saito Sensei is surrounded by six people all armed with swords. In the 5th Volume of the ‘Traditional Aikido’ book series, Saito Sensei talks about the sequence and methodology of Aikido training.
The path to Aikido Mastery is Aikido training. Repetitive Aikido training. Saito Sensei wrote this book so the student that picks up this book won’t miss a step. Imagine this, if your train the same technique for three years you will inevitably learn it, it becomes second nature and a habit. What if you’ve been training the wrong technique. Then not only the three years was wasted, but also you have to deal with changing or correcting ingrained habits. Hence Saito Sensei felt like he owed Aikido this book to make sure the habit forming Aikido you will learn is correct and effective.
Imagine this, if your train the same technique for three years you will inevitably learn it, it becomes second nature and a habit. What if you’ve been training the wrong technique. Then not only the three years was wasted, but also you have to deal with changing or correcting ingrained habits. Hence Saito Sensei felt like he owed Aikido this book to make sure the habit forming Aikido you will learn is correct and effective.
Hence Saito Sensei felt like he owed Aikido this book to make sure the habit forming Aikido you will learn is correct and effective.
Some of the Aikido Techniques in this book:
- Identity of Aikido as a martial art
- Correct Aikido training methods
- Aikido Techniques (kihon, ki-no-nagare, ki tai)
- Dealing with Multiple Attackers
Atemi: The Thunder and Lightning of Aikido
The book revisits the source of the art by teaching the striking methods that made Ueshiba’s techniques so effective.
This is one of the most comprehensive textbooks on striking in Aikido. It begins with the notion that strikes should not be disregarded in the modern dojo. I totally agree. Atemi is part of Aikido and part of martial arts. Remove atemi and you are left with an ineffective martial art.
It explores the common notion of atemi as a secondary aspect of Aikido. The book’s message is Osensei’s Aikido has ‘striking’ at its very core.
The authors describe through brilliant and specific examples and clear photographs, how atemi is used in Aikido pins and throws while still keeping with the physical philosophy of the art. The journey continues as they then demonstrate how Ueshiba Morihei Osensei and some of his most important students viewed atemi and technique as one, instead of separate aspects of the art.
The text is divided into three sections: Shodan (beginner’s level), Chudan (intermediate level), and Jodan (advanced level).
The final chapters suggest ways that Osensei taught his students how to develop internal power, which can be channelled into Aikido’s powerful strikes.
This Aikido book is combat-oriented. I like it. It is one of my favourite Aikido books in my collection.
Iwama Shinshin Aikido BASIC TECHNIQUE Vol. 1
by Hitohira Saito Sensei
Hitohira Saito Sensei became my Sensei when I went to Iwama Japan as an Uchideshi. My Sensei here in Sydney Mic Marelli gave me this book. It is one of the three books I carry in my Aikido bag all the time.
The book was made in good detail. Something we can expect of Saito Sensei. Everything in life has aesthetic detail even bookmaking.
The book has 56 chapters. All the chapters are Aikido lessons. The last chapters are about bukiwaza. In this
In this book, Hitohira Saito Sensei laid the foundation for the ‘New Testament’ of Iwama Ryu Aikido.
Aikido Fundamental 1: tech base n.e
By Christian Tissier Sensei
This is one of my ‘non-English’ Aikido books. I can’t speak nor read French so I can’t really talk about the text. I was only guessing the messages and occasionally googling what they meant when I read this book. By the way, I also do that with Japanese and Spanish books, it works.
I do want to talk about the illustrations and photos. They were good and detailed. What I love about Tissier Sensei is his Good Aikido. Tissier Sensei’s Aikido is smooth, precise, the timing is amazing and very powerfully.
Tissier Sensei’s Aikido is smooth, precise, the timing is amazing and very powerfully.
Are There Anymore Aikido Books?
Yes, there are more Aikido Book out there. The ones I shared on this page are the good Aikido Books that helped me improve my Aikido and they are available to get or purchase from Amazon.
I have more books that I would love to share with you, but I don’t know where you are going to get them. So when I find an online source or a bookstore here in Sydney or when I travel abroad, I’ll add them to this page.
Written by Crom Salvatera