Aikido and Kuzushi: The Effective Use of Kuzushi in Aikido Paperback – February 28, 2017

I have recently purchased this book and I'm thoroughly enjoying it! I have several books on the topic of Aikido and I've found them rather difficult to understand in some areas where concepts are not well-delivered in the text or photos. Nick Waites Sensei has written this book in a manner that is easy to understand and includes loads of photos that well-demonstrate the concepts that are covered. What I have found particularly appealing is that he has taken the time to thoroughly explain kuzushi. This is an often over-looked and inadequately covered topic in most texts of any martial arts system. It is a hugely important concept to develop and understand for the proper application of Aikido techniques. This book is a valuable supplement for the student of any discipline. I highly recommend Mr. Waites' Aikido and Kuzushi.David Osborne

Too often, Aikido is conveyed in vague quasi-spiritual terms such as "extend your ki" which does nothing to really explain the mechanics of the art. Nick Waites has provided a valuable reference that discusses the use of kuzushi or "balance breaking" as it applies to Aikido. Overall, "Aikido and Kuzushi" is a valuable text but suffers a bit in terms of pictures that aren't always clear. Things that could have made a good book great would have been more diagrams (perhaps "Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere" style) and pictures from an overhead perspective to convey more movement. I also think accompanying video demonstrations would go a long way towards allowing the student to see things in action. I'd like to see Mr. Waites release a new edition and expand upon the material but I am happy to have this in my library.

very insightful concerning the secret of Aikido

Please consider these comments are by a kyu-level aikidoka; and kuzushi is often treated as an advanced, or at least not a first-level, concept in Aikido as Mr. Waites points out.The book is careful and thorough, but for those of us at a lower level I suggest Waites' "Essential Aikido" and its section on tai-sabaki (body positioning.) Learn that section of that book, then come back to this book; chapter 4 of "Aikido and Kuzushi" explicitly makes the link between tai-sabaki and kuzushi.Tai-sabaki movements are easily drilled at home, outside of class. Then you'll know how to "get off the line" when you're in class.Judo kuzushi is characterized by a strong pulling or pushing action, and it's not quite the same in Aikido!

must have for any martial artist

Waites Sensei books are great!

It is great

This book contains a wealth of photographs to accompany the text. Which is a good idea, right? We want to be able to visualize the techniques which are described. Only one problem. Some genius decided that instead of using clearly focused photos, it would be better to photoshop them so that they were ALL blurred and out of focus. That individual probably thought that since the book is about aikdo and "ki" means energy then why not make the people demonstrating the techniques have auras around them, and make their bodies like fuzzy astral bodies, Looking at the photos gives you a headache. Trying to decipher what the actual hands, arms, etc. are doing is nearly impossible because they are, as I mentioned, blurred. The practitioners are amorphous blobs apparently grabbing each other and struggling in some nebulous way. I think there are probably a lot of good ideas in this book. Unfortunately I will never know because the volume is going directly into the wastebasket with other items I have no use for.