Aikido And Chinese Martial Arts

Aikido & Chinese Martial Arts V1 is a Japan Publications publication.

Aikido & Chinese Martial Arts V2 is a Japan Publications publication.

Ellis Amdur's writing on martial arts has been groundbreaking. In Dueling with O-sensei, he challenged practitioners that the moral dimension of martial arts is expressed in acts of integrity, not spiritual platitudes and the deification of fantasized warrior-sages. In Old School, he applied both academic rigor and keen observation towards some of the classical martial arts of Japan, leavening his writing with vivid descriptions of many of the actual practitioners of these wonderful traditions. His first edition of Hidden in Plain Sight was a discussion of esoteric training methods once common, but now all but lost within Japanese martial arts. These methodologies encompassed mental imagery, breath-work, and a variety of physical techniques, offering the potential to develop skills and power sometimes viewed as nearly superhuman. Usually believed to be the provenance of Chinese martial arts, Amdur asserted that elements of such training still remain within a few martial traditions: literally, 'hidden in plain sight.' Two-thirds larger, this second edition is so much more. Amdur digs deep into the past, showing the complexity of human strength, its adaptation to varying lifestyles, and the nature of physical culture pursued for martial ends. Amdur goes into detail concerning varieties of esoteric power training within martial arts, culminating in a specific methodology known as 'six connections' or 'internal strength.' With this discussion as a baseline, he then discusses the transfer of esoteric power training from China to various Japanese jujutsu systems as well as Japanese swordsman-ship emanating from the Kurama traditions. Finally, he delves into the innovative martial tradition of Daito-ryu and its most important offshoot, aikido, showing how the mercurial, complicated figures of Takeda Sokaku and Morihei Ueshiba were less the embodiment of something new, than a re-imagining of their past.

Get your aikido training off to a great start--from basic footwork and throws to training and demonstrations. This martial arts guide is a perfect introduction to aikido for beginners. Are you planning to learn Aikido, but don't know where to begin? Are you looking for a teacher? Are you taking a class but confused by the unfamiliar terms used to describe the techniques? This aikido book offers an easy, yet comprehensive introduction to everything you need to know to feel confident and be successful. You'll learn about: The origins of aikido--its philosophy, history and techniques How to find a teacher and a class that is right for you Getting ready--what happens in a typical Aikido class? The essentials--stances, strikes, grabs, throws, and pins How to complement your aikido training with ki exercises, multiple-person training, and freestyle exercises How to succeed in Aikido-- how to create an effective training program, test for belt promotion, and participate in competitions and tournaments Resources to help you further develop your Aikido skills

For the first time: an aikido book that focuses on the attack techniques! Although aikido is a purely defensive martial art, attack techniques need to be practiced to exercise the defense against them. This book presents all the attacks practiced in aikido - grips, strikes, punches, and kicks, also attacks with sword, stick, and knife.

Master Chinese internal boxing or Hsing-I with this illustrated martial arts guide. Unlike most martial arts, Chinese internal (soft-style) boxing does not depend on muscular strength. The secret behind its power lies in the cultivation and practical application of internal energy—ch'i, There are basically three soft-style martial arts: T'ai-chi, already well known worldwide, and Hsing-I and Pa-kua, relative newcomers to the West. Although they are not essentially fighting arts but living arts, they are devastating as systems of self-defense. This martial arts book outlines the history of Hsing-I—a style of boxing given form (Hsing) by the mind (i)—and gives a thorough account of the philosophy behind the techniques. It also presents to the West for the first time the orthodox style of the late Chinese Hsing-i master Ch'en P'an-ling. Described here in great detail and fully illustrated are the basic techniques, the five fists of Hsing-i, a linked form of the five fists, and the twelve animal styles.

Drawing from personally conducted interviews by the author, Antonio Aloia, as well as secondary sources, Aikido Comes to America places several early US practitioners in the context of the art's arrival and dissemination amidst American popular culture, spanning from the Beat Movement of the 1950s to the Japanese film craze of the 1980s and early 1990s. This book discusses aikido pioneers including Rodney Grantham, Thomas "Doc" Walker, Sam Combes, Steven Seagal, Lisa Tomoleoni, and George Kennedy among others. Aikido Comes to America also compares additional prominent American martial artists of the time, including Jujitsu's George Kirby, American Kenpo Karate founder Edmund Parker, Bruce Lee, and Robert Trias of Shuri-ryu Karate, giving a broader picture of how martial arts were developing during the time frame.

Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere: An Illustrated Introduction provides a complete foundation in the practice of one of the most distinctive and effective Japanese martial arts. Aikido was created in Japan in the 1920's by Morihei Ueshiba, also known as Osensei. To possess the skills, techniques and attitude of the true practitioner of aikido, one must achieve a very high level of integration of the powers of mind and body, the harmonious combination of physical means and ethical motives. By controlling body position and learning how to harmonize vital physical and mental powers, anyone (regardless of size, strength or weight) can fend off attacks using this sophisticated martial art. Written and illustrated by husband/wife team, Oscar Ratti and Adele Westbrook, Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere, with over 1,200 illustrations, includes many Aikido techniques in chapters such as: What is Aikido? The Foundations of Aikido The Practice of Aikido The Basic Techniques of Neutralization Advanced Practice And more!

The martial arts are various methods of armed and unarmed combat, originally used in warfare in the Far East and shaped by Oriental philosophical concepts. The history of martial arts is challenging to document precisely, because of the lack of historical records, secretive nature of the teacher-student relationships and political circumstances during much of its history. The martial arts are popular in many parts of the world today as forms of self-defense, law enforcement tactics, competitive sports, and exercises for physical fitness. Among them are KARATE , Kung fu, jujitsu, JUDO, aikido, Tai chi chuan, Sumo wrestling, and kendo. This informative book takes it's reader on a journey throughout time and across the globe for a close up look at the history of many martial arts styles .