Progressive Aikido: The Essential Elements    by Moriteru Ueshiba Order:  USA  Can Kodansha International, 2005 (2005) Hardcover      Reviewed by John Kalaidopoulos Traditionally, all martial arts were passed down from father to son through generations, and rarely to anyone outside the family. This way, the art always stayed consistent and true to the original teaching. Since the 1940s, Japanese martial arts in particular have been opened up for the world to see and learn from. Many practitioners start to develop their own interpretations of these arts and so do their students. What makes this author and his book different is that Moriteru Ueshiba is the grandson of Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba. This is rare nowadays, to find a definitive book that can be traced to the original style as it was developed by the founder. The Essential Elements cover the philosophy, history, basic techniques and principles of Aikido. The philosophy is one of true budo, of non-violence, and the book offers the basic teachings of Morihei Ueshiba. What is great about this book is that anyone with a penchant for martial arts can benefit from it. As a karate practitioner, I found it very enlightening, with techniques that are easy to comprehend because of simple explanations and many clear photographs that are easy to follow. Progressive Aikido is a must have for all Aikido practitioners and an excellent guide to augment any type of serious martial art training. The book will take any reader back to the fundamentals of Japanese martial arts. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more NonFiction books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews