Product Description

Aikido is a defensive martial art that uses throws and joint locks. Tomiki Kenji, the founder of Shodokan Aikido, introduced randori, or freestyle format into Aikido practice. This book sets out to explain the need for the scope of randori in Aikido practice. The book explains the historical and philosophical principles behind randori, and the physiological principles of Aikido. It illustrates fundamental training and practice methods, describes the role of kata and randori in Aikido practice and guides the player through the shodokan system and the grading syllabus.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #213869 in Books
• Published on: 2002-05-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Review
'This book is a combined history book and training manual, an essential guide to anyone practising or wanting to take up Aikido regardless of style.' Philip Newcome, Technical Director of Shodokan UK

About the Author
Scott Allbright is a fourth dan in Shodokan Aikido. He has an MA in Japanese and has trained extensively in Japan. He won the world championships in Ohio, USA in 1995 and is currently the national coach for the UK shodokan team.

Customer Reviews

An Ambassador for Shodokan
Scott Allbright's Aikido and Randori is a well researched and incisively argued work that demonstrates both the author's extensive aikido experience and intellect. The text is excellently supported by some 300 high quality illustrations, and cleverly draws on material from sources outside of aikido. The book is not, whether intentionally or not, entirely suitable for beginners of Shodokan (a.k.a Tomiki) Aikido or other schools of aikido, as the technicality and, at times, complexity of the text requires some aikido experience.

The central argument of the book concerns the-for some contentious-issue of randori (competitive free-style "fighting") which distinguishes the Shodokan system from most other schools of aikido. The text trenchantly examines both the history and the reasons behind Prof. Tomiki's decision to introduce randori into aikido practice.

Following the central argument is an extensive documentation and explanation (making good use of the illustrations) of the central principles and practices that form the Shodokan system. Particularly useful is the extensive use and explanation of Japanese terminology, and an invaluable list of kaeshi waza (counter-techniques used in randori). The book also provides a large glossary.

Aikido and Randori should provide invaluable instruction and become an important reference source for those who practice Shodokan Aikido. For those who practice one of the other forms of aikido the book present the best advocacy to date for the Shodokan system.

An Ambassador for Shodokan
Scott Allbright's Aikido and Randori is a well researched and incisively argued work that demonstrates both the author's extensive aikido experience and intellect. The text is excellently supported by some 300 high quality illustrations, and cleverly draws on material from sources outside of aikido. The book is not, whether intentionally or not, entirely suitable for beginners of Shodokan (a.k.a Tomiki) Aikido or other schools of aikido, as the technicality and, at times, complexity of the text requires some aikido experience.

The central argument of the book concerns the-for some contentious-issue of randori (competitive free-style "fighting") which distinguishes the Shodokan system from most other schools of aikido. The text trenchantly examines both the history and the reasons behind Prof. Tomiki's decision to introduce randori into aikido practice.

Following the central argument is an extensive documentation and explanation (making good use of the illustrations) of the central principles and practices that form the Shodokan system. Particularly useful is the extensive use and explanation of Japanese terminology, and an invaluable list of kaeshi waza (counter-techniques used in randori). The book also provides a large glossary.

Aikido and Randori shall offer invaluable instruction and become an important reference source for those who practice Shodokan Aikido. For those who practice one of the other forms of aikido the book present the best English language advocacy for the Shodokan system to date.