The Way of Aikido: Life Lessons from an American Sensei

by George Leonard

“This book is a warmhearted handshake, a graceful and practical invitation to enter and blend with the ahhh of the world. It is as natural and wise an introduction to the spirit of the martial arts as you can find on paper.”— Jack Kornfield, bestselling author of A Path with Heart
 
In his bestselling Mastery , renowned spiritual and martial arts teacher George Leonard taught hundreds of thousands of people how to use Zen philosophy to reach mastery in any field. Now, he brings together his extraordinary knowledge and experience into a book that translates the principles of aikido directly into our everyday lives.
 
Aikido is more philosophy and meditation than a technique or a series of purely physical maneuvers. Leonard shares the secrets of this remarkable Eastern philosophy, which is the basis for the most radical and demanding of all martial arts. Through mind-body exercises inspired by aikido yet designed for non-practitioners, he demonstrates the fundamental understanding behind aikido and shows how it can be applied to help set us on the path to composure, self-sufficiency, and spiritual centeredness.
 
Combining illuminating personal anecdotes with practical advice, this award-winning author describes the ways in which aikido can help turn life’s unanticipated blows into gifts and transform discord into harmony, anxiety and pain into vital energy. Exhilarating, enlightening, and filled with unique wisdom, The Way of Aikido is an inspiring lesson in balance, confidence, and power.
 
“ The Way of Aikido does no less than open the door to the universe and invite you through to become one with it, to become balanced, powerful, energetic, alert, and present.”— Susan Trott, author of The Holy Man and Crane Spreads Wings

Genres: Martial Arts, Philosophy, Self Help, Nonfiction, Sports, Spirituality, Memoir

224 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1999

About the author

George Burr Leonard (b. 1923) was an American writer, editor, and educator who wrote extensively about education and human potential. He was President Emeritus of the Esalen Institute, past-president of the Association for Humanistic Psychology, President of ITP International, and a former editor of Look Magazine. He was also a former United States Army Air Corps pilot, and held a fifth degree black belt in aikido.


Leonard was a co-founder of the Aikido of Tamalpais dojo in Corte Madera, California. He also developed the Leonard Energy Training (LET) practice for centering the mind, body, and spirit. Leonard died at his home in Mill Valley, California on January 6, 2010 after a long illness. He was 86 years old.

Reviews

[William Schram · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Way of Aikido is a study of philosophy combined with a memoir. The author, George Leonard, discusses how he has utilized the tenets of aikido in his everyday life. These methods have done a great deal to make him more understanding and a better human being in general.

The book is relatively short. The idea of aikido is to go with the flow, so to speak. Rather than countering an attempted strike or blocking a hit, the idea of aikido is to absorb the hit or use its own energy against it. It discusses the ideas of Ki energy and other stuff, which does make it somewhat interesting. It is more about balance and finding your center than anything else.

I am not a martial artist, I will say that directly. The closest I came to it is taking a Taekwondo class when I was eight. I could not afford any more lessons and I did not have a good mindset for martial arts. I will also be honest with another aspect of the book, Ki energy sounds hokey to me. Whenever the author mentioned it, my eyes glazed over a bit. That does not mean that this book is bad by any means, it just means that I need to be more open-minded I suppose.

All in all, the book was entertaining and informative. Once again, Morihei Ueshiba sounds like a man I would have liked to meet. Unfortunately, barring time travel that is not possible.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aikido is a particularly beautiful and gentle martial art, as odd as that grouping of words might seem. Unlike, say, Karate, which is all kicks and punches, Aikido is all about blending your opponent's energy with your own and using it to control both of you. These martial art insights translate well into life lessons, and that's what Leonard has done. This book won't replace work in a dojo, but it will allow you some insight into how Aikido masters think.

[Deb Richards · Rating 2 out of 5]

For years I have been reciting nearly daily, "Help me be so clear on who I am that I can generously afford to let other people be who they are, too. Help me to set aside my defensive behavior, and teach me to blend with other people and see their point of view while not relinquishing my own." Deciding to dig deeper into the meaning and practice of this idea led me to George Leonard's book.

I like and appreciate the notion of seeing situations from the point of view of others involved. That has helped me incorporate the consequent notion that everyone has their own reality.

And yet, it took me on and off reading for 15 weeks to get through the 194 pages. Perhaps because my interest was not Aikido, per se. Perhaps because, though published in 1999, Leonard himself was born in 1923 and therefore writing on a style not engaging to me. Or perhaps, just the last part: an unengaging style.

Glad to have read it. Glad to be done.

[Adam Arsenault · Rating 5 out of 5]

"... This isn't by any means meant to glorify armed conflict. There's very little or nothing that can justify the destruction and suffering of even one day of all-out war. Nor am I saying we should necessarily play warrior games. I'm just raising the possibility that the absence of engagement, the hours spent in one form or another of channel-surfing, is actually the chief cause of our anxiety and mental exhaustion, the sleep of the spirit the chief cause of our despair. It's an ancient message that comes down to us from every great wisdom tradition: We are asleep. To know God, to live a good life, we must wake up.

To do so, we don't need war or warrior games or anything special. Just look into the eyes of and truly see a loved one or any young child, and juxtapose this seeing against the brevity of life and the eternity that stretches before and after it. Just take a walk and open your inner eyes to the aliveness of everything around you. Every moment of existence, if only we could see it true and clear, is incredibly vivid, even on a drowsy summer afternoon. Zanshin ("continuing awareness") isn't merely a condition of preparedness for martial artists. It's a wake-up call to life for all of us."

[Edward Rand · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book sixteen years ago, before I began my own Aikido journey, and although of course I now have a deeper understanding of the concepts Mr. Leonard expounds upon, I still found myself learning new things about the wonderful art of Aikido, and being reminded of things I never should have forgotten.

[Alex Fürstenau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written. Entertaining since it's containing stories and also derived principals from these stories.

All in all a good read.

I am inclined to start Aikido, just for the mindset behind it.

[Sara Casalino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! This is one of those books I could read again and again. It taught me so much and I intend to use these lessons in my everyday life.

[Tim Ewing · Rating 2 out of 5]

Main themes are interesting but too much detail on Aikido and Leonard's training ...

[Caron Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Just read it.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring, well-written intro to Aikido, especially as it applies to life outside the dojo.

[Brent Brockerville · Rating 4 out of 5]

Subtle book, but a good read. Martial arts is definitely a journey.

[Elaina Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much here about moving *with* energy rather than fighting it. That concept was huge for me in difficult conversations. Instead of bracing against the problem, Leonard taught me to find my center—a beautiful, physical perspective on handling conflict.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slightly mystical for my taste in a few places - especially on the subject of ki. But overall, I really liked it; good thoughts on personal growth and way-of-being, suggesting new and interesting areas to explore.

[JP · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a concise and interesting overview. Leonard provides a perfect blend of history, concept, example, and application. Often my comments point out where particular political perspectives differ from mine, but Leonard positions his in the spirit of the art and so I understand.

[afloatingpoint · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/27/2015: A really good, easy read so far. It's certainly great to verify that what I'm learning is not solely my sensei's opinion of the art.

9/2/2015: I have learned a lot by reading this book. (More review to come later)

[Alan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The "glow in the dark" was over the top. He has some good lessons to teach, but it seemed self indulgent.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good eye opening teachings that made sense to me. This is one I'll have to read again just to be sure I get all of what the author is trying to say.

[Michael Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really sorry to hear he died this January. He blackbelted at age 55.

[Kathy Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read if your open to understanding how struggle is both ineffective and counterproductive.

[Robert]

Very good, better than the average aikido book.