from cover

Aikido is a fully illustrated research guide for students of aikido-step by step explanations of the four major katas of aikido, and in-depth technical discussion of off balance and control principles utilized in both kata and randori, as well as a detailed discussion of the undrlying physical and strategic principles that form the core of aikido techniques.

Nick Lowry has been involved in martial arts training most of his life. As a teenager, he studied Musashi's Book of Five Rings and the Tao te Ching by Lao TzuWhile at teh same time traing in competitive stick fighting. Turning away from the competive arena, Nick betgan formal studyk of budo at Windsong Dojo in Oklahoma City at the age of 18, and he has since earned the ranks: rokkudan in Aikido, rokkudan in Shindo Muso ryu Jodo, and godan in Judo. Nick has had the good fortune to train directly under Shihan Karl Geis in aikido, judo and jodo and under Shihan Tsunako Miyake in the study of jodo, goshin jutsu no kata, and koshiki no kata. In addition, he has studied a variety of healing arts including chi gung and masso meridian balancing therapy. Nick has also studied Zen and trained in formal Rinzai zen and Kwan Um (Korean style) zen. Nick holds a M.A. in English, has taught English at the university level, has operated his own dojo, and maintains a variety of artistic interests including painting, stone carving, singing, and poetry. Mr. Lowry continues to train in budo on an almost dailiny basis and he serves as an assistant instructor to Shihan Charles Caldwell at Windsong Dojo.

About the illustrator:

Sean Ashby holds a Bachelor of Arts in graphic Design and Illustration form the university of Central Oklahoma, where he has ilved most of his life. He currenty holds a nidan rank in aikido, shodan in judo and jodo, and also pursues interests in languages and writing. He lives and works as a designer and illustrator in Oklahoma.

Contents

Foreword
Preface
Some notes on the use and abuse of Japanese terminology
What makes aikido, aikido?
Why a technical aikido book?
Use of this book
Etiquette
I. Helpful safety and etiquette guidelines and rules
Principles of aikido-Ri
I. Physicla principles
II. Conceptual principles
III. Application of conceptual principles
Preparing the body
I. Stretching
II. Ukemi: The art of receiving the attack
Kata
I. Tegatana no Kata (hand/arm sword form)-The walking kata
II. Hanasu no Kata (8 forms of release)
III. Ju Nana Hon Kata; Historical note on Ju Nana Hon Kata
IV. Owaza Ju Pon (the big ten)
V. A note on the Koryu Katas
Ideas of kata
I. Tori, Uke, and the meaning of kata
II. Large and small/slow and fast/soft and hard/right and wrong?
III. Teacher's variations and student's frustrations
Randori
I. Some thoughts on the practice of hand randori
II. Exercises and drills to develop randori
III. Tanto randori and shiai
IV. Forms of off balance-Kuzure no Jotai
Being a student and being a teacher
I. Positive attitudes in training for aikido
II. Teaching aikido
Aikido and spirituality
Conclusion
Recommended Reading and study
Appendix I: Aikido syllabus beginner to blackbelt
White belt to yonkyu (total: 40 hr.-3 months)
Yonkyu to sankyu (Total: 80 hr.-6 months)
Sankyu to nikyu (Total 120 hrs.-9 months)
Nikyu to Ikkyu (Total 150 hrs-12 months)
Ikkyu to shodan (Total 250 hrs.-18 months)
Appendix II: Higher kata
Koryu-Dai-San (a.k.a. San kata)
Koryu-Dai-Yon
Koryu-Dai-Go
Koryu-Dai-Roku
Appendix III: A short biography of Kenju Tomiki
Glossary