At the suggestion of my sensei I read Aikido Shugyo.  What a great book. 

This text was written by Gozo Shioda and was left in the kitchen of his dojo as a sort of unofficial manual to the life and way of Aikido for his Uchideshi.  It is a definate must read for all.

Aikido Shugyo, by Gozo Shioda, was originally released in Japanese in 1991. Throughout this important and insightful work, Shioda Sensei relates many stories about the time he spent training directly with the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba Sensei, about his war-time experiences and about his years as the Headmaster of the Yoshinkan. He also uses countless anecdotes to convey important insights into the functioning and application of Aikido techniques. Aikido Shugyo will inspire anyone interested in traditional martial arts with its lessons, its history, and its straight-forward approach to the application of Aikido techniques.

Aikido Shugyo is a rare insight from one of the leading and most well-known martial artists of his time. Already a “classic” in Japanese, it is a required text for every martial arts library. This first ever English publication is a faithful and complete presentation of the original Japanese text and includes a Forward by Kyoichi Inoue Sensei, 9th Dan, Dojo-cho of the Yoshinkan Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.

Gozo Shioda was one of the most prominent Aikido Masters of the latter half of the 20th Century. He began his study of Aikido at the age of 17 directly under the supervision of the Founder, Morihei Ueshiba Sensei. For some 8 years, he undertook severe training as an uchideshi – a live-in student.

After the war, Shioda Sensei spent a brief period in Iwama where he resumed his formal training under Ueshiba Sensei. It was during this time, in 1951, that Ueshiba Sensei awarded him the rank of 9th dan. Shortly after this Shioda Sensei returned to Tokyo where, in 1954, after the lifting of the ban on martial arts training imposed by General MacArthur, the Nippon Sogo Budo Yaitai (Life Extension Association) sponsored the first post-war martial arts demonstration. Shioda Sensei participated in front of some 15,000 on-lookers and was awarded the Grand Prize for best performance. Shortly thereafter, in 1955, he established his own independent school – the Yoshinkan.

The translators, Jacques Payet and Christopher Johnston, have worked closely with the Yoshinkan Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, to present the definitive English translation of Shioda Sensei’s exciting and thought provoking book.