Atemi - The Forgotten Art: Understanding of Grappling & Grippling
by Walther von Krenner, Ken Jerimiah
Category: Sports & Recreation

Atemi: The Thunder and Lightning of Aikido is the most comprehensive text on striking in Aikido, and it begins with the notion that strikes should not be disregarded in modern dojo; the founder himself said that Aikido is 75-percent strikes. The book explores the mistaken yet common notion of atemi as a secondary aspect of Aikido, and argues that such an idea is incorrect, since O-Sensei's own teachings reveal that striking is the very core of the art.The text is divided into three sections: Shodan (beginner's level), Chudan (intermediate level), and Jodan (advanced level). From initial chapters, which explore how to strike appropriately within all Aikido techniques, to intermediate level chapters that explore the real purpose of irimi-nage (entering throws) and their connection to striking, it provides information that students of any proficiency level would enjoy. The final chapters, in the Jodan section, suggest ways that O-Sensei taught his students how to develop internal power, which can be channeled into Aikido's powerful strikes. Atemi: The Thunder and Lightning of Aikido presents a thorough explanation of O-Sensei's teachings and suggests that many practitioners have only scratched the surface of the art's true nature.