Aikido Jinsei is the life story of Gozo Shioda, the founder of Yoshinkan Aikido. It is the sister volume to Aikido Shugyo. In it, Gozo Shioda provides the background story to his development as one of the premier martial artists of the modern age. Each episode he recounts is full of detail that brings depth the and insight into the legacy he left us. Aikido Jinsei is required reading for anyone interested in the history of Aikido. The original Japanese text was translated into English by Chris Johnston Sensei and Jacques Payet Sensei (of Aikido Mugenjuku in Kyoto, Japan).
From the Shindokan Books website:
Aikido Jinsei is the autobiography of Shioda Gozo, the founder of Yoshinkan Aikido. First published in Japan in 1985, Shioda Sensei uses this book to share his experiences, his aikido and his way of life with his readers. Aikido Jinsei is remarkable for the author’s extremely candid approach. Throughout the book, Shioda Sensei openly shares his most personal experiences from his childhood, his time during the war and his training with the founder of Aikido, Ueshiba Morihei Sensei. He shares key insights about Aikido which he learned from Ueshiba Sensei and he clearly documents the events after the war which led to the establishment of the Yoshinkan and his own unique brand of Aikido.
Contents include a detailed discussion of Yoshinkan Aikido basics, a complete autobiography including accounts of his years at the Ueshiba Dojo as well as a technical compendium.
Visit the Shindokan Books website for more information.