Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere

“…one of the best books on Aikido on the market. Not only for the beginner but for the advanced practitioner. It’s well respected by most people in Aikido. If you’re looking for a good, in-depth book, this is the one you’ll want.” –RyukyuBooks.com“…an outstanding introduction to the art of Aikido. Anyone starting out in aikido would do well to buy this book, read the beginning chapters of it and then review it from time to time. Great book!” –AikidoJournal.com“If you are a student of Aikido, this book should definitely be in your library. If you’re not a student of Aikido, this book can still be a useful way to familiarize yourself with the art on a theoretical level. It’s also an interesting resource for anyone who wants to do some serious thinking about their martial art. Anyone who has ambitions to write a book on their own martial art should read this one; this is how an art should be presented.” –Examiner.com

Oscar Ratti received his degree in classical studies and law from the University of Naples where he was intercollegiate Greek-Roman wrestling champion and a member of the championship judo team. He later came to the United States and began to study aikido with Yasuo Ohara, one of the first instructors to teach in New York.

Adele Westbrook studied philosophy at Columbia University at the same time co-author Oscar Ratti was doing graduate work in the classical languages. They began to practice aikido together, and while studying under a variety of instructors in the United States and Europe, started the collection of notes and sketches which finally developed into this illustrated introduction to the art of aikido.

They also authored Secrets of the Samurai, and Mr. Ratti, now deceased, also provided the illustrations for Code of the Samurai.