I applied the discipline of project management to this effort. Mind mapping, priority stacking, and other techniques can cross disciplines and allow an easier approach toward understanding concepts that are very difficult to comprehend.

I have enjoyed using the dialog form. It should be understood that although the method allows easy comprehension, mere understanding is not enough to achieve mastership. To quote Saotome Sensei, “Train harder!” Each principle must be understood in context with the others and each must be practiced until it is understood in the deepest part of your soul.

The world of Aikido is changing. The art of peace originally founded by M. Ueshiba, (O’Sensei) was never meant to be static, never meant to be frozen in the mid twentieth century. It was meant to evolve. Aikido is as dynamic as the people who train and teach it.

With the publication of The Harmony of Nature Saotome Sensei presented the world with his view of O’Sensei’s vision of Aikido. As his direct student I felt that I was privileged with a unique perspective and felt obligated by my commitment to him to present my own view.

In On Mastering Aikido, I have taken my vision of the ascendant principles of mastership and interpreted them in my own unique American way. I have done something original in the mysterious Eastern world of the martial arts, interpreting the principles of Aikido into Western terminology and making them more accessible to the advanced student.

This is proper. This is the way it should be. As teachers and times age, students become teachers and grow into their roles. They interpret and discover new truths. They build bridges across gulfs of knowledge. They find new ways to discuss and teach old concepts; they find ways that enhance and make these concepts more beautiful and complete. There is a harmony to this evolution that is perfect in the nature of God and the universe. We grow old and die. Our children become the parents and then they become old. This is normal.
Wisdom is not knowledge; it is interpretation of information. So, in Aikido, the wisdom is in how we interpret the principles. I have broken the principles into eight categories. Ki, technique, timing, break points, triangulation, strategy, center and nexus. Each concept is discussed in a dialog with students. I feel that I have offered a new perspective for all those who have struggled with these concepts for many years.

Are these perspectives different? Yes, certainly. Are they the best interpretation for some? Yes, again. Are they the only interpretation? No, of course, not. They are my interpretation. I have worked with students using my method and the results are simply wonderful. The way is very effective and should be studied and discussed by everyone. The method will not work for everyone, however. That is why we have so many teachers. Each brings his perspective and wisdom to the classroom and each gives us this wisdom in a different way.

The beauty of the written word is that everyone can read and study a teacher’s system and decide for himself if that way is the right way for him. On Mastering Aikido is the most original work to come out for many long years. Too often people buck the system and disrupt the ‘norm’ just for the sake of doing it. Until now, no one in the world of Aikido has ever done any thinking ‘outside the box’. The time has come and the world of Aikido is ready. On Mastering Aikido is the result. It validates my teaching.

I have not attempted to teach Aikido in this book. That is for your Sensei. I have organized the principles that are required for mastering Aikido. By organizing and cataloging in English terms, I have attempted to make them more accessible and easier to incorporate into daily training.

It is well known that we train hard here at Shoshin Aikido Dojo, both in principles and in technique. We train from every conceivable attack. Using all of the standard Aikido attacks, boxing, karate, wrestling and anything else I can think of, we try to apply the principles to the techniques of defense. I have told students to go hit the heavy bag a thousand times a day for the next one hundred days because they needed to gain confidence and build strength. Students have been instructed to take a lawn chair and go sit and watch a daylily bloom. They needed to embrace patience.

Although this dojo is famous for the rigors of training, we have always been most focused on the principles and their application to self-defense technique. In short, the ferocious tenacity displayed here every day is the lifeblood of training for mastership. I hope these dialogs will inspire all those who read them to train fearlessly; with open minds and hearts, and to understand and apply these principles to everything they embrace, both on the mat and off. Aikido is for real life. You can quote me.

Daniel Linden

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