Recommended reading on Aikido for beginners

The collection includes the following works:

• Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Aikido.
• Tetsutaki Sugawara, Shin Lutszyan, Aikido And Chinese Martial Arts.
• Koichi Tohei, The Book Of Ki: Coordinating Mind And Body In Everyday Life.
• Morihei Ueshiba, The Art Of Peace.
• Morihei Ueshiba, Aikido Is A True Budo.
• Louis Frederick, Basic Concepts Of Aikido.

This book is the first attempt to fill the gap in good, serious literature on Aikido - not only with description of techniques, but also of spiritual, power, and psychological aspects of aiki. Here are collected beautiful, inspirational sayings and poems of the Founder of Aikido Morihei Ueshiba (plus his unique portraits). Here you can read the biography of Master, the story of the movement he created and introduction into Aikido as a system of integral human development (all of it - from the book of Kisshomaru Ueshiba, the son of the Founder).
Perspectives for the development of Aikido are discussed in the books of Tetsutaki Sugawara, Koichi Tohei, who were personal students of Ueshiba. Sugawara develops martial aspects of Aikido and tries to expand its range of techniques owing to techniques from Chinese martial arts (notably tai chi chuan). Tohei created a non-combat, health-improving (or, more precisely, generally developing) direction of Aikido, which is simply called Ki (Chi). In his book he describes many simple energy tests and exercises that can be practiced even by individuals who are very far from martial arts.
Basic exercises of "pure" Aikido from Ueshiba's book Kisshomaru are not less fascinating, and are also useful not only for novice fighters.
In applications the reader will find articles on key terms of Aikido from highly respected in the West "Dictionary Of Martial Arts" by Louis Frederick.

Strategies of victory have been studied for thousands of years, but only with the arrival of Japanese samurai the strategy has evolved into an exact science. "The Path And The Strength" reveals the two sides of Japanese strategy (physical and psychological), it cosiders in detail many aspects of this science, including in-e, michi, ki, aiki, maai, hesi, minar and sutemi, as well as their use in combat and in business. Instructor of kenjutsu and aikijujitsu, Frederick Lovret included into his book a pronunciation guide for Japanese terms used in the text, and besides he analysed some famous battles in the light of Eastern strategy. Learn the strategies that worked perfectly for generations of winners. Entering battle with an opponent or a competitor in business or with a master of kenjutsu, think only of winning.

Morihei Ueshiba - the great martial arts master, the creator of Aikido. "Budo Renshu", the first of two books, by O-Sensei, which appeared in 1933 and was used as a guide for teachers of martial arts. The book consists of three sections: instructions in poetic form, outline of bujutsu principles and the systematic description of techniques provided with illustrations. The contents of the book covers a wide range of issues: from religious and philosophical aspects of budo and the foundations of martial strategy to the nuances of individual techniques. At the end of the edition a glossary is added including Japanese terms used in the text.
The book will be useful for everybody practicing Aikido and in particular for those who wishes to touch its roots experience the ultimate of Aikido.

"Aikido And The Harmony Of Nature" reveals the profound philosophical and ethical principles embodied in the art of Aikido and relates those principles to nature laws. It is one of the most clear, deep and inspiring books ever written about Aikido and even - in regard to these matters - about any other type of martial arts. It is a unique approach to the teaching of the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, outlined by his immediate disciple who had been practicing under his guidance for fifteen years. Mitsugi Saotome examines the spiritual philosophy of the Founder, the warrior ideals of feudal Japan as the basis of his martial arts philosophy. The author shows that the physical movement in Aikido is the embodiment of principles of the spirit. A negative force is not met with aggression, instead it is controlled and redirected by means of force and balance of movement of spirit. Aikido movements can only be understood as movements based on universal laws and processes of nature. Sincere practice and studying of Aikido deepens our appreciation of nature's perfection in its balance and returns to us the harmony with everything that surrounds us, with other people and with ourselves.