Aikido: My Spiritual Journey

I practice and love aikido, but I have been always puzzled by its unique approach to techniques, and the spirituality surrounding the martial art. This book has cleared all the confusion that I've had for decades. Although the subtitle of the book has spirituality in it, the book has nothing to do with religion - turns out Master Shioda is actually an atheist. Instead, this book tells stories about his street fights, his and Ueshiba's challenges by other martial artists, and self defense scenarios. It also discusses the principles of aikido and down-to-earth philosophy of the art. It's a very enjoyable and enlightening book without any nonsense.

It is a huge honor that i don't deserve to write the 1st review for this book, so forgive me for sounding like i know something.I do mostly Tai Ji, but I have parellely sincerely researched Aikido and Aikijujutsu, so sometime ago I read some of the chapters from this book published in Aikido Journal, although at the time no one really thought that this would amount to a book. I was actually surprised that some of the stuff wasn't included here, like Shioda Sensei's travels in the South Pacific, but that's okay. The book talks A LOT about actual Aikido and that I guess would be expected. Aikido of Ueshiba Sensei and Gozo Shioda is not that much different from the Tai Ji of Cheng Man Ching that I practice - at least spiritually.What I especially like about this grand spirit of Gozo Shioda projected through this book is that his devotion to his practice and his one and only teacher is not blind, but absolutely rational: he knew what he wanted out of his practice all along. With that his reverenace only grew stronger with years. Ueshiba Sensei was somewhat of a legendary figure even during his earlier Pre-War years, and so it must ve been pretty pretty hard for a young man such as Shioda Sensei to adhere to that austere lifestyle, hellishly intense practice, and the media surrounding that whole thing.... that said Gozo Shioda has a sense of humor like no one else, which i guess is only natural when you are an aikidoka of his caliber,so he relates to the more violent encounters of his youth with the gist of that, and that is always a pleasure to read!Aikido of Ueshiba in his perspective is very different from what he himself learned in his earlier years with his teacher. Although very conscious of the fierce martial approach that Aikijujutsu taught, Shioda-Sama also realized that Aikido is something entierly different - it doesn't make sense to strike a person in a forehead with a punch, than throw them, wrap up their joints while making them cry "mommy" and on top of that - strike them on top of their heads to be sure that they are completely gone... In Aikido you make believe that you r about to strike them than follow their line of resistance and help them to land on the floor all in one piece. You may do the wrap for a nice crisp conclusion. All the "fancy" throws are completely up to you depending on your preferences, ethics and aesthetics, etc.With all that in mind, Shioda Sensei had some problems with the more religious aspects of his teachers' art, mainly because he is more connected to the industrial society perhaps, or did not think that the religious involvement with the Omoto is all that necessary. Being that, Shioda Sensei is a deeply religious practitioner, just not in the way that we think of "religious". He is an embodiment of Aikido. Hope you enjoy this lovely book from the Grandmaster himself.

What can I say written by the man himself. His son has a few clarifications. I am huge fan of Shioda Sensei, wish he was still alive I would have gone to honbu dojo to be is padwan. Great read for any aikido or Martial arts enthusiast.

This is not a method or technique book. It is about the author's lifetime journey learning and teaching Aikido.

In a fact it is a re-publishing of a book "Aikido Shugyo: Garmony in Confrontation" by Gozo Shioda with some added articles by his son Yasuhisa Shioda and good photos.IMHO this book is a must reading for every Yoshinkan Aikido Practicioner.

The best book ever written on the techniques of Aikido, full stop.

Anyone interested in the early days of aikido, the inner workings of a master's mind, or solid philosophical/mental frameworks for your martial art...will find this simply fascinating.

Give more meaning to my training

I have studied and trained in Aikido for a few years now, no matter how much I also teach I will always remain a student, and this book provides some refreshing and reassuring reminders and even insight into the principles and ethics of Traditional Aikido.There may be a few statements that may seem a bit contrary to the book and its ethos but you should bear in mind it is the writings of a person trained in and of another era. Well recommended.

At last this book is translated. Gozo Shioda Shihan was a remarkable man. And one of the pupils of O-Sensei. His down to earth view on matters, the impact of aikido on his life and his view on budo make an interesting and inspirational read for every modern aikidoka, even if not Yoshinkan -style. ;-)

Very interesting, rather inspiring, somewhat different perspective than usual in this sort of book. I believe the book is informative regardless of style.

Excellent book by one of the AiKIDo masters.