A Discipline of Harmony

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32589, 24 April 1971, Page 10

A Discipline of Harmony

Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere. An Illustrated Introduction. By A. Westbrook and O. Ratti. A. H. and A. W. Reed. 363 pp.; glossary, bibliography and index.

For the foreigner, the Japanese art of Aikido must at once be distinguished from judo. Judo is described as a discipline of development devised from the ancient ju-jitsu technique; Aikido is a method of self-defence derived from the Japanese warrior arts the emphasis is on selfdefence there is no attack in aikado, its goal is merely to neutralise an aggressor and render the attacker harmless, without causing him any serious injury if at all possible. In addition, it claims to be a “Discipline of Co-ordination,” a way of strengthening the mind and the body, of fusing the individual’s physical and mental powers so that he or she will emerge as a more fully integrated human being.

As may be imagined, an exercise embracing and indeed founded upon such high principles involves a good deal of ceremonial as the learner proceeds from the basics to the advanced practice. Dozens of responses to attacks are described in the book and each attack and the appropriate immobilisation is illustrated step by step. Advanced practice of Aikido includes stave exercises which have been developed from the many spear cuts and thrusts perfected by the samurai during Japan’s feudal period.

The harmonious combination of physical powers necessary for the successful practice of Aikido is made apparent in the letterpress, but especially in the line drawings in the book, which takes the reader deep into the mysteries of Aikido, but which is intended to be no more than an illustrated introduction to an 'exercise having deep meaning for both body and mind.