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This book was first published in the UK April 2005. In 2010, what with the recession and everything, the publisher decided not to continue with it. Accordingly, I have re-gained publishing rights and rather than go through all the hassle of getting it re-published elsewhere I thought I'd just upload it to the net, so here we go. Note - pics will be uploaded slowly - it takes a lot of time. [Update - I have now completed about half the pics.] |
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The title Discovering Aikido has been purposefully chosen to cause the reader to realise that we are here to discover. Confucius said that what the good student learns only 10% comes from the teacher, the rest comes from yourself. That sounds like common sense, perhaps, but in Asia many teachers still teach their students 100% of what they need to know for their rote-learning based systems so to them at least, it sounds like some impossible-to-fathom Zen koan. The second part of the title Principles for Practical Learning alludes to both the hidden principles of Aikido and to the Practical Learning of Confucius (just Google it).
For me, Aikido is not the Way of Harmony; it is the Way of Aiki. My aim in Aikido is not to become some mad self-defence ass-kicking MMA fighter. Rather, my aim is to search for and practice things that will improve my aiki. This is an important beginning point and it defines the way I see everything and the way I try to do everything.
This website was created when the book was first published and at that time I added some 'additional extra' information to support the book. That information is also included herein.
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