Customer Rating: 
Summary: A practical, user-friendly book
Comment: Many books have been written about the mysteries of aikido. This book unravels them into reality in the most digestible, practical, and readable form I have yet seen. As a somewhat experienced aikidoka, I refer to my copy when asked to teach, or explain a concept to a beginner. Very solid, engaging, grounded and even just a darn good read.
Customer Rating:
Summary: An outstanding guide to Ki development
Comment: The concepts of "Ki" as taught in Ki Society Aikido schools is not easy for westerners to comprehend. I first started practicing it in 1990. Since then, outside of the writings of the founder, Koichi Tohei Sensei, I have not found a readily available and readable book that expliains Ki to westerners. Then came "Ki in Aikido: A Sampler of Ki Exercises" by C. M. Shifflett. In this easily manageable (size wise) book, Ms Shifflett gives a breif discription of Aikido and Ki then gets into the "meat of the matter". She explains Ki very clearly and gives lots of examples of how to incorporate it into your Aikido and your life. The art work is excellent and very aptly displays what is discribed. For my money, there is no better book for anyone: from the seasoned high ranking instructor to the novice to the curious onlooker. Anyone can get something from this book.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: The Force is strong with this one
Comment: I earned my shodan during three years training in Japan (my instructors were wonderful people), and have taught for three years also (receiving permission from World Aikido headquarters).
This is an excellent little book. It is pleasant both to look at and read, and covers a lot of information in a well-paced and thoughtful manner. The elegant presentation reminds me of books on Japanese flower arrranging.
It is also concise, delivering not only what I understand to be a near-complete rendition of the various ki techniques and their applications in a straightforward manner, but also including brief notes on the various influences of aikido on cinema (The Seven Samurai, Star Wars), apocryphal tales about the founder Ueshiba Morihei, etc.
I enjoyed reading this book and consider it, unlike several other books on the subject, both well worth the expense and a useful addition to one's aikido library.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Easy to follow Primer
Comment: I am a Matsubayashi Ryu practitioner. And have been studing KI. This books covers all of the basic excercises I feel one needs to practice KI. It is easy to read and follow.With this book, not only can you devlop good Metods of KI excercises; but a positive outlook on life in general.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Marvelous, beautiful primer.
Comment: Most books on aikido suffer from some common flaws. They usually have a whole lot of small blurry photographs of techniques and a set of platitudes, with no way to relate them to either aikido practice or real life. This book has neither of those flaws.As a beginner in ki-aikido, now forced to be in a town without a ki society dojo, I use Ki in Aikido as a regular reference to when I want to practice the ki exercises, which are clearly and comprehensively explained.
More importantly, she discusses the positive outlook necessary for success in aikido and in life. In a sense, it's both a primer on ki exercises and a self-help book for maintaining a "plus" attitude in life.
Also extremely witty and enjoyable to read. If nothing else, get it for the beautiful drawings of real live aikido practitioners.
The only danger with this book is that you may love it and become an evangelist and enthusiastically loan it to a friend, who will love it and never give it back. That would be bad.
