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Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere: An Illustrated Introduction (Tuttle Martial Arts) Paperback – July 1, 2001

by Adele Westbrook (Author), Oscar Ratti (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 573 ratings
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Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere: An Illustrated Introduction provides a complete foundation in the practice of one of the most distinctive and useful 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 faithful 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 important physical and mental abilities, 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!
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Previous page
  1. Part of series
    Tuttle Martial Arts
  2. Print length
    375 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Tuttle Publishing
  5. Publication date
    July 1, 2001
  6. Dimensions
    6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0804832846
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0804832847
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"…one of the best books on Aikido on the market. Not only for the beginner but for the advanced practitioner. It's well respected by most people in Aikido. If you're looking for a good, in-depth book, this is the one you'll want." --RyukyuBooks.com

"…an outstanding introduction to the art of Aikido. Anyone starting out in aikido would do well to buy this book, read the beginning chapters of it and then review it from time to time. Great book!" --AikidoJournal.com

"If you are a student of Aikido, this book should definitely be in your library. If you're not a student of Aikido, this book can still be a useful way to familiarize yourself with the art on a theoretical level. It's also an interesting resource for anyone who wants to do some serious thinking about their martial art. Anyone who has ambitions to write a book on their own martial art should read this one; this is how an art should be presented." --Examiner.com

"…this is a fine addition to any library. […]the book definitely is worth owning." --BestJudo.com

"It has been a most useful reference for me over the years, and I'd highly encourage any adult to make it a part of your personal Aikido library." --Teresa Mastison Sensei, Aikido of Phoenix

From the Back Cover

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tuttle Publishing; Original ed. edition (July 1, 2001)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 375 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0804832846
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0804832847
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 573 ratings

About the authors

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  1. O. Ratti

    O. Ratti

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  2. Oscar Ratti

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  3. Adele Westbrook

    Adele Westbrook

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    Adele Westbrook studied philosophy at Columbia University at the same time co-author Oscar Ratti was doing graduate work in the classical languages. They began to practice aikido together, and studied under a variety of instructors in the United States and Europe. They shared a longtime interest in the thought and rituals of ancient civilizations and were experts on Japanese warrior arts and ethos.

    They are the authors of the best-selling Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere, as well as three illustrated fiction books of their graphic novel series Tales of Hermit.

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
573 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

hulas100
5.0 out of 5 stars Giftee loved book!
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2024
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Want to brush up on Aikido? This is the perfect book for your! Beginner? Great place to start.
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5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Attempt Ever to Document Aikido Techniques
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2015
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This book represents the best attempt at documenting Aikido techniques and physical exercises short of training. I got my copy after reading  An Open Secret: A Student's Handbook for Learning Aikido Techniques of Self-Defense and the Aiki Way  (great book, I highly recommend it to accompany this book). I wanted to get a better understanding of Aikido movement and have a reference for the various techniques taught at class.
Westbrook and Ratti, the book's authors have done a tremendous job in compiling diagrams of Aikido technique, movement, exercise and principles. It is an illustrative guide that touches on nearly every aspect of physical Aikido training and attempts to quantify the mental - spiritual aspects that set Aikido apart in the martial arts. This is voluminous work that is nearly 400 pages long in print. When viewed in eBook format it's extremely big. The drawings are all original and illustrative of the author's understanding of Aikido. It's plain that this work was painstakingly created with great care and diligence.
There is a brief historic summary of the Japanese martial arts to give a reader some sense of grounded history. The requisite details of proper etiquette, clothing, standard grading and a discussion of "energy" principles are given. This book while prepared in the 1960's, still sets the "standard" for all books on Aikido technique.
Where the author's work fall short is in trying to quantify Aikido movement into charts, diagrams, flow charts, mathematical formula and physics. While the later certainly is a key element to initially learning techniques, to truly learn and understand the power of Aikido it must be felt. Like Life itself - Aikido is an experience.
On the plus side, Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere represent the most thorough catalog of movement and techniques available anywhere. It is important to keep in mind that names of practices and techniques have been modified within Aikido sub-style since this book's first publication. Subsequent update revisions have not caught these differences.
The information presented in this book can be confusing for beginning students. Advanced students will find that the information in this book can provide much insight and detail into the physics of Aikido technique.
16 people found this helpful
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M. Greenberg
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent martial arts book...
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2009
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I think this is the best book explaining a specific martial art that I've come across.

Why is it exceptional? Several reasons. First, the authors are unusually articulate, and at times almost scholarly. Second, the book addresses both the philosophy of aikido (its tenets, values, and meditative characteristics), as well as the technique of aikido (its movements and defensive tactics), and it explains the link between the philosophy and technique in an especially coherent way. Third, the book delves into details of aikido technique using an extensive set of figural drawings and diagrams, which are easier to understand than a series of photographs would be. Fourth, the book also provides brief background regarding the institutional side of aikido: i.e., how is the art typically taught, what does does a dojo look like, what is the etiquette of a typical class, how does ranking work, etc.

There's an almost anthropological quality to some of the material in this book -- again, quite scholarly. About the only aspect of aikido background that it doesn't cover in much detail is the history of the art, or of its founder, Morihei Uyeshiba. Notably, the book acknowledges up front that it provides only a limited introduction to the techniques (at ~370 pages): given its intent as an aikido handbook, rather than an aikido encyclopedia, I don't see that as a flaw.

By contrast, there are many other martial arts books that basically consist of lists of techniques, with illustrative photographs that are very difficult for a non-practitioner to follow. Such books are often poorly written or poorly translated, and don't really convey the essence of what a particular martial art is, with regard to technique, philosophy, or pedagogy. This book stands out because it does convey that essence, and because the style of the writing itself actually *feels* a bit like aikido.

If you are interested in either aikido or martial arts generally, this book is worth picking up. You won't be disappointed.
7 people found this helpful
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KFM
4.0 out of 5 stars This is a fantastic book, overall
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2016
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This is a fantastic book, overall, though I am probably not experienced enough yet to fully utilize it. The techniques are fully illustrated, and there is text to back it up where it's less clear. Foundational techniques like the kote gaeshi are illustrated in great detail, then other techniques that are built off of it are less descriptive, but still show what's going on. This book illustrates the flow of the techniques well, and while I'm sure it would be easier for a more experienced practitioner to follow, it helps me as a beginner to get a better grasp on the techniques that I've learned.
10 people found this helpful
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D. Bocker
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book ever written
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2023
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Great read!
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Valdis
5.0 out of 5 stars This has practical use of leverage and great for understand fight dynamics for artist!
Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2023
Verified Purchase
I find most of Aikido to be useful if you realize first it is for fighting unarmed against sword wielding samurai. To use this against a boxer or muay Thia fighter is situational application.

For art it is great for dynamic fight sequences, armor, and weapons design.
One person found this helpful
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Dave
5.0 out of 5 stars A classic
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2023
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I needed a new copy so that I could spare my original the abuse of new students. Still a great reference.
3 people found this helpful
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Michael Francisco
5.0 out of 5 stars Knowledge
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2023
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Great Book for those who train in the Aikido style.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Kyle Novak
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
Reviewed in Canada on February 23, 2023
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Better than I had thought. Very well written and accessible.
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Arctic Fox
5.0 out of 5 stars Best
Reviewed in Sweden on September 22, 2023
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This is simply the best book ever written about Aikido.
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Tony
5.0 out of 5 stars 10/10
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 27, 2022
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It explores quite a lot of history and facts about Aikido
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Ryan Collings
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in Australia on August 11, 2022
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I’m very pleased with this book as a whole it details Aikido and it’s practice very well. I myself come from a Japanese Ju Jutsu background and was wanting to expand my knowledge of it’s descendent arts, such as Aikido and Judo. I’ve taken a couple of Aikido classes and personally come to the conclusion that it is not effective as a style of self defense but with the help of this book and my Ju Jutsu knowledge I have concluded that it is in fact a good practice in theory but the techniques while displaying some kind of resemblance to that of Ju Jutsu wrist locks, joint locks, etc. But they are too far from an effective Martial Art. During a class I once asked a Aikido black belt about specific attacks and how he would use Aikido to defend against them, he then showed me what he thought was the effective defense, I went further and asked him why exactly he would chose to do that or what principles he was using, he replied “I’m not quite sure, my master showed it to me like this, and it worked for him, so it will work for me.” I was very confused by this response as in Ju Jutsu we learn that you can’t teach the same thing to everyone, because everyone moves differently and not one person is the same, we are different heights, weights, strengths, etc. This is another reason why Aikido doesn’t work as self defense because it’s founder isn’t the same size as half of the people I’ve trained with. Im very happy with this book because of the detailed philosophy and practice of Aikido and I find it interesting to look at other Martial arts and see where they fail as self defense. Another book I got by the same authors is “secrets of the samurai”, I recommend that book as-well if your interested in martial arts.
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KnightToGo
5.0 out of 5 stars 達人の動きが生き生きと描かれている
Reviewed in Japan on June 3, 2019
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イラストの風合いがいいです。
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