The Best Books to learn Aikido

Due to the complex and detailed nature of Aikido, you may be yearning to learn more about the subject. Of course, you may be able to find information from a dojo or through videos. However, arguably the best place to start is through books…and it turns out there are a lot of books written about Aikido. Whether you’re wanting to learn basic techniques or look at the history and philosophy of Aikido, it is all here.

From weapon training to the mental aspects of Morihei Ueshiba, it seems that Aikido has a book for every topic. Knowledge is power, so you would be foolish to avoid some of the literature that is on this list below. For anyone wanting to increase their Aikido knowhow, or whether you just find it interesting, there should be something for you. Here are The 10 Best Aikido Books for learning and training.

Aikido And The Dynamic Sphere by Westbrook & Ratti

Widely regarded as one of the best books in Aikido, this is a fantastic place to learn both the practical elements of Aikido as well as the history. Not only this but The Dynamic Sphere has over 1,200 illustrations. Sometimes when learning by reading, it’s tough to visualize what is actually being written. This obviously isn’t the case with the sheer volume of drawings in The Dynamic Sphere. However, this book isn’t just for newcomers or Aikido history buffs. It also has an advanced section for more serious practitioners.

Total Aikido The Master Course by Shioda

Gozo Shioda was a direct student under the Aikido founder, Morihei Ueshiba. This means it’s about as close to the original source in terms of learning from the originator. To add to the old-school feel, the book was also released in the 90s and is even a hardback. Unlike The Dynamic Sphere, this book is more about techniques and focuses mostly on the techniques and spirituality of Aikido rather than an overall summary, so don’t expect as much history with this one. Shioda was also the brains behind Yoshinkan Aikido so you expect to find his stamp on things in Total Aikido The Master Course.

Aikido And The Harmony Of Nature by Saotome

Another student of Ueshiba, this book was also released in the ’90s. Like The Dynamic Sphere, it isn’t just text and has a number of illustrations and diagrams. Interestingly, this book is mostly based on the spiritual and philosophical teachings of Aikido. Of course, most forms of martial arts have a background in philosophy but Aikido is arguably the richest in this sense. If Shioda’s Total Aikido is good to learn the techniques and movements of Aikido, then The Harmony Of Nature is good for the spiritual parts of the art. With this said, Aikido moves are taught in this book, but it is probably more suited for those who enjoy learning about the mental side of Aikido.

Budo The Teachings Of The Founder Of Aikido by Morihei Ueshiba

Taken directly from the founder of Aikido, Budo focuses on Ueshiba’s teachings and goes way back to the original source. This book is compiled of his writings from the 1930s and shows an insight into the creator of Aikido. As much as anything, this is a guide on the history of the art and shows Ueshiba’s earlier life and his thoughts on when he began forming Aikido.

Due to Ueshiba’s love for philosophy, you can expect a lot of that in Budo, as well as historical photos from his era. Although this book does offer technique breakdowns, the majority of people read it as a historical offering more than anything else. The historical accounts were collected and put together by his son, Kisshomaru. For any Aikido-buffs out there, Budo is a must-purchase and is great to delve into the past details of the art.

Aikido Weapons Techniques by Thong Dang

Throughout its history, Aikido has always been associated with weapons and how to use or defend against them. Whilst there are specific weapon books out there such as those that specialize around the Jo for instance, this is more of a general overview. This means that this book finds a focus on the three main weapons, the Jo, Ken, and Tanto.

This covers most shapes and sizes for using weapons so it’s a solid place to start. Complete with illustrations and a section about the philosophy, this is a good guide, to begin with. As mentioned, if you’re after a more detailed read then there are other books out there. However, this should keep you going for a while and is ideal for those who are interested in Aikido and weapons training.

From Conflict To Conversation by Archer

One of the lesser-known qualities of an Aikido practitioner is the art of de-escalation through words. Ideally, this would be your first port of call to diffuse a dangerous situation. As the saying goes, “the art of war is to not start a war” and this rings true. With this in mind, the point of the book is to educate readers on how to use ‘verbal Aikido’.

As much as anything, this book is based on how to talk to people and maneuver conversations in your own way. Not just meant for physical confrontations, this book is also applicable to general life scenarios such as the workplace. Please note, that this book is not based on the physical aspects of Aikido, nor is it historical. Instead, it is used to teach people how to communicate properly. This tactic features heavily in Ninjutsu.

A Book Of Five Rings by Musashi

This book looks at Aikido from a historical aspect and teaches warrior-like behavior and habits on how to ‘win’ in life. In short, A Book Of Five Rings is as much a self-help book as much as anything and uses the core themes of Aikido to communicate this. Imagine the book ‘The Art Of War’ with an Aikido setting. Effectively, this is what The Five Rings is about. It should also be noted that self-development is arguably the core theme that runs throughout Aikido. Of course, there is a physical aspect of Aikido but it was also designed to help the mentality of its practitioners. Arguably, A Book Of Five Rings is the best book out there in terms of portraying the mental aspects of Aikido.

Aikido Ground Fighting: Grappling and Submission Techniques by von Krenner

This book details the ground fighting aspect of Aikido that is often overlooked. Usually, Aikido focuses on the standing positions which are where most of the learning is taught. Nonetheless, grappling from the ground is also a good skill to learn. Here, von Krenner shows specific moves that are ground-based such as kneeling positions and submissions. For instance, what happens if you are attacked whilst on the ground? This book is designed for students who are already well-versed in Aikido, but want to improve in other aspects of their game. In brief, there are a number of Judo and BJJ moves in this book that can be applied to Aikidoka.

Best Aikido: The Fundamentals by Ueshiba

Again, this is another book by the Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba and his son Kisshomaru. Here, the pair go through the basics of Aikido and lay out a clear and concise gameplan that aids in teaching the fundamentals of the art. All too often in martial arts, people favor flashy techniques and advanced moves, yet forget about the fundamentals. These moves are tried and tested and will literally work at any level, so they are worth learning. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned veteran, you can still learn from this book. The book also heavily focuses on ‘Ki’ (life force) which was a big part of the teachings of Ueshiba. So, you can expect some of his philosophy as well as detailed explanations throughout.

The Language Of Aikido by Hacker

For those new to the art, the terminology and words in Aikido can be overwhelming at times. That is why it’s important to learn these words in able to obtain a better grasp of what is being taught. Here, Hacker breaks down practically every Aikido terminology going and shows what everything means. For what it’s worth, Hacker also lived in Japan for over 10 years, so you know he is well versed in Japanese and that it’s coming from an authentic place. If you ever want to impress your Aikido friends or sensei, or just gain more knowledge on the subject, then this book may make for a suitable purchase.