Progressive Aikido: An Illustrated Handbook

Following the same pictorial format as its sister publication, ‘Essential Aikido’, ‘Aikido Advanced Practice’ presents a wide range of techniques and training methods to extend the Aikido practitioner’s repertoire. They are termed ‘advanced’ because in the main they are practised only after an Aikido student has gained a good level of proficiency in basics (as described in ‘Essential Aikido’). The techniques are shown as detailed sequences of photographs of key movements, each one annotated to improve the reader’s understanding of tori’s actions. The book is in seven parts: Part 1, extends the Aikido repertoire by describing tachi waza (techniques with both training partners standing) appropriate to most of the attack forms commonly practised in Aikido dojos. Part 2 covers a range of hanmi handachi waza (tori kneeling and uke standing) and Part 3 covers suwari waza (both partners kneeling). In Part 4, Kaeshi waza, or counter techniques, is presented in three forms, namely single counter techniques, multiple technique katas, and freeform, continuous counter techniques. They move progressively from relatively simple forms to advanced practice forms. Kanren waza, described in Part 5, addresses possible ways to adapt technique in response to uke’s actions, typically when uke attempts to prevent a technique from completing. In Part 6, Renzoku waza, combinations of techniques appropriate to certain training situations are examined. Finally, in Part 7 a number of Ni Nin Dori techniques (in which two attackers hold tori) are illustrated and described.