..Aikido Books

AIKIDO BOOKS ~ `POSITIVE AIKIDO` the BOOK

2011-02-12T04:26:00.001-08:00

Positive Aikido - Read the in-depth review of this true Taditional Aikido story.

Techniques - History - Lineage - Anecdotes covering 55 years of Traditional Aikido.

Henry Ellis & Derek Eastman 6th dan AikiKai-diplomas signed by: Osensei Ueshiba - Kenshiro Abbe - Masahilo Nakazono - TK Chiba - The Doshu Moriterue Ueshiba.

Front and back covers.
About the Authors:
Henry Ellis & Derek Eastman 6th dan AikiKai Hombu..Diplomas signed by Osensei Ueshiba - Kenshiro Abbe - Mikoto Nakazono - TK Chiba Shihan - Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba.. They are the last two pioneers of Kenshiro Abbe from the inception of British Aikido 1955..To purchase the book `Positive Aikido`. Order direct - please contact Dave Rogers Sensei (USA) the books main author. Please email Dave Rogers Email For price and postage.
Book also available on Amazon UK £10-95 free p&p & Amazon USA. $18.

Read the in-depth review below of the book "POSITIVE AIKIDO"

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H Ellis 6th dan Int BiranKai-AikiKai Hombu ~ D Eastman 6th dan Int BiranKai -AikiKai Hombu. Diplomas signed by O Sensei Morihei Ueshiba cert number 349 ~ K Abbe ~ M Nakazono ~ M Noro ~ TK Chiba ~ Doshu M Ueshiba.

The logo of the "Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido". ``Grace ~ Power ~ Tradition ``

Positive Aikido the Book ~ written by Dave Rogers of Albuquerque New Mexico USA in co-operation with his UK teachers Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman who are two of the last three British Aikido pioneers from the inception of Aikido to the UK by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei in 1955. Ellis and Eastman were both direct students of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.

More about the Authors.

Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman are two of the last three pioneers of British Aikido from the 1950s. They were direct students of the legendary Budo Master Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. They were the first teachers of Aikido to introduce Aikido to the UK Further Education System in 1963. They have studied with many great names of Aikido, such as, Kenshiro Abbe ~Tadashi Abe ~ Masahilo Nakazono ~ M Noro ~ TK Chiba.
They studied at the famous Hut Dojo, the birthplace of Aikido in the UK. Dave Rogers a USAF service man, began his Aikido at the ESTA dojo in Basingstoke UK in 1985. Rogers Sensei is the USA ESTA rep in the USA. He is a retired service veteran ~ News paper editor ~ reporter.

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POSITIVE AIKIDO

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Published by

Trafford Publishing Limited

To Order this book from any other country including the USA and Canada: Trafford Publishing order desk
2333 Government Street, Suite 6E, Victoria, BC
Canada V8T 4P4
toll-free 1-888-232-4444, fax 250-383-6804
Email orders@trafford.com

This book, an in-depth look at Ellis Schools of Tradtional Aikido's special brand of technique, strategy, philosophy as well as unique history, has taken about 15 years to compile, is now offered in print by the world's leading publisher of martial arts material.

Trafford Holdings Ltd; is a privately-held corporation, registered in British Columbia, Canada. There are over 120 shareholders, including many authors and all the permanent employees. It was incorporated in 1991. In late 1995, Trafford opened it's doors and website. They are the first company in the world to offer an "on-demand publishing service," and they are the best.

The production of Positive Aikido has gone through numerous stages. The hand-drawings describing each of the positive techniques in traditional Aikido were begun in 1987 with the intention of providing new students with a reference guide - at the time to be photocopied for students in the USA and later possibly for the UK students as well. That plan however, never took hold as more and more drawings were produced. The drawings of the first four groupings were finished in 1991 and in 1993, the second four groupings were added, along with some transcripts from a recorded conversation between Sensei Ellis and Rogers on a long roadtrip between Dallas, Texas and Alamogordo, New Mexico. Rogers made his 1st Dan during that trip, and Positive Aikido picked up a lot of its histories and background information. Still, it was no more than a bunch of papers cobbled together from various sources.

In 1999 however, with the advent of digital photography, Sensei Rogers decided to augment the drawings with some digital photos and possibly put together a proper booklet for students in all the Ellis Schools. The photos however, required some supporting text - and there was a lot of other material which needed to be conveyed as well. The transcripts were re-written and cleaned up and the photos were digitally processed for the first four forms. During another visit to New Mexico, Sensei and his assistant Anita Wilson along with Sensei's son performed the demonstrations needed for the last four forms. Later, the first four forms were re-shot with Sensei Rogers and one of his first USA students, Jeff Glaze of New Mexico. By this time, Positive Aikido was being developed as a book.

The agent and publishers we first contacted agreed, but the material was still fairly rough. More photos were shot and extensive digital work was done on them to clarify technique. Additional sections were added to describe combat strategy and the philosophy behind "Positive Aikido". Sections on ethics and morals within the arts were developed along with material dealing with the selection of a martial art for beginners, and of course, the history section was strengthened and sharpened.

Lastly, a complete re-organisation of the material was accomplished with an addition of a section on pins and control and weapons (jo and sword). The finished work is comprised of more than 1000 photos, 600 hand-drawings and complex explanations and tips to make the techniques of Aikido work properly. It includes detailed writing on the "Positive" mindset as well as complete sections geared to beginners, intermediate students and advanced practitioners.

Although several traditional publishers expressed interest in printing the book, and initial negotiations were entered into with one California-based company, the advent of "print-on-demand" technology and the resulting new publishing market, made for a better alternative.

Of this book as it stands now, the authors say this - "There are a lot of books on Martial Arts out there, and this one fits into the crowd well - but it also stands alone in the sheer comprehensiveness of the work. It is a nearly complete representation of a single school's technique - it is a historical marker - a book of strategy - an ethical guide - a technical manual - and it is a chart, graph and manifest of all the things which make martial artists as a whole stand together as sisters and brothers with the same warrior spirit."

This letter of recommendation is from William (Bill) Woods Sensei. Sensei Woods was in the 1950's and 60's Aide and personal secretary to Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. At that time Sensei Woods was considered the most influential and powerful figure in British Martial Arts. In 1955 he was the British Judo Champion. He was the first person to be graded by Abbe Sensei to 1st dan in Kendo, holding certificate No 1, he was a key figure in the creation of the British Judo Council ( BJC ) and the International Budo Council ( IBC ). There are too many credits to the name of Sensei Woods to be listed here. I am very proud to have known Sensei Woods for almost 50 years. signed: Henry Ellis.

The new book is published by Trafford Publishing and avaIlable from all good book shops and online with Amazon, priced around $18.95 or £10.00. 156 pages : ISBN number 1-4120-4668-8.

There are price differences between Amazon UK and Amazon USA..Due to international economics Trafford have closed their UK office. It is our intention to also make the book available in the near fiture direct from the authors. date will be advised ASAP.

Henry Ellis Aikido - Life and Times - Click here > Ellis Aikido

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Visit My Aikido & Judo Video Site ~ Click -> Henry Ellis Aikido & Judo Videos A growing collection of early and modern Aikido and Judo videos..H Ellis - D Eastman - H Foster - K Chiba - M Nakazono - K Abbe - T Abe.

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British Aikido Origins from 1955 - Narration & Movie Slide-Show by Henry Ellis ~ Arrival of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei in 1955 to the UK ~ Development of British Budo.

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Amazon Positive Aikido Book Reviews

2011-02-12T04:12:00.000-08:00

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5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Look at Aikido...,, June 6, 2005
By Al (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviewsThis review is from: Positive Aikido: A True Story of Traditional Teachings (Paperback)
Positive Aikido gives you a look at the early history of Aikido in the UK. A history seen from two early students of Kenshiro Abbe, the Budo Sensei who introduced Aikido to the United Kingdom. I found the writing insightful, straightforward and free of any spiritual balderdash that inhabit too many Aikido books today. The style of Aikido these early students practiced was incredibly effective and positive with the training at times being poignant. I recommend this book for any Aikido student or martial artist regardless of rank.

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By Jody Trammell (Roswell, NM, US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME) Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Positive Aikido: A True Story of Traditional Teachings (Paperback)
This is a well written piece that gives enough explanation, and a good historical background of the school. Great Job.

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By H. Roder "Msc of life- martial arts and acupu... (holland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME) Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Positive Aikido: A True Story of Traditional Teachings (Paperback)
this is really a very good direct way to talk about aikido
its no nonsense stuff and to the point
i like it very much and tell you one off the best books about aikido you can buy

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5.0 out of 5 stars
Visit the past to know the new, 25 Jan 2006

By Mr. Nigel Jones (Pontypool. South Wales (UK)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME) This review is from: Positive Aikido: A True Story of Traditional Teachings (Paperback)
Aikido in the United Kingdom has a very colourful past. Positive Aikido is the first publication to move to the forefront and give an insight to the humble beginnings for what we see today. Although most people in the UK know that Kenshiro Abbe Sensei arrived in 1955, most other facts are normally passed on verbally. This book is the first to preserve the facts and events.
Positive Aikido took the authors nearly 15 years to finally get on the bookshelf. The idea initially was to produce literature to give to new students who were interested in practicing Aikido. As the amount of information began to increase, the idea of collating a book was conceived. This book is littered with old historic pictures and first hand experience of what the Aikido practitioners had to go through in the early years. It is wise to point out; this is no ordinary Aikido publication. Abbe Sensei learned Aikido from O'Sensei during the transition stage from pre to post war. This is the style of Aikido introduced to the UK. Sensei Ellis, who is one of the co-authors of this book, still practises the true way of Aikido. This is reflected in the books contents.

This book in my opinion is unique in the way the content is portrayed. The subject matter is offered in a simple and straightforward way. If the reader is looking for a more spiritual or deeper meaning of Aikido, this will not be found in this edition. Sensei Rogers is pictured in the middle section, on a majority of the Aikido technical section. Contributions from Sensei's Ellis and Eastman's vast Aikido careers fill the book with interesting accounts of events, visiting Japanese Sensei, and the early attempts to spread Aikido to the British public. A must read for anyone who is interested in Aikido history, and early development of British Aikido.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Aikido Book, 15 Jun 2005

By Mr. M. Brown
(REAL NAME) This review is from: Positive Aikido: A True Story of Traditional Teachings (Paperback)
As a beginner starting out in Aikido I bought quite a few aikido books that were mostly filled with photo's of techniques rather than what I wanted which was a description of someone's experiences of aikido. This book provides both descriptions of technique and more importantly to me the accounts of 2 aikidoka who have both been practising for 40+ years and who studied under one of O'Sensei's most famous students, the legendary Kenshiro Abbe. If you want a book which will give you a taste of what it is like to study aikido for a lifetime and encourage you to do the same I would recommend this book to you. This book will be of particular interest to anyone interested in the history of British aikido as Kenshiro Abbe was the first person to teach aikido in the UK. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
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