Review: An Open Secret by Tony Blomert

I recently read An Open Secret: A Student's Handbook for Learning Aikido Techniques of Self-Defense and the Aiki Way
 and then posted a review on Amazon, which can be found either through the "Customer Reviews" on the above page, or more simply, via this link: Customer Reviews of An Open Secret 

Today, February 19, 2015, the book remains available at a deep discount of US$0.99, but before long, it will be at full price. I wrote that review several days ago now, and won't repeat it here, but I will expand on my thoughts, especially since the more I think about it, the greater value I see in Blomert Sensei's book.

It is not a book on the techniques of Aikido - there are many of those, and they are all valuable (unless there are some fraudulent ones that I don't know about!), but Tony Blomert here is doing something quite different, and probably unique: teaching about, well, pretty much everything else that happens in the dojo. To put it another way, he explains the roots and whys and wherefores of all aspects of Aikido dojo culture. Notably, not claiming any "one true way", instead acknowledging the real variety among dojos and lineages, and usually providing and explaining a number of the possible variations that might be encountered.

In a way, the nature of the book reminds me of one of my favorite books about the Japanese language: Nihongo: A Japanese Approach to Japanese by Makoto Sugawara. What these two books share is that explore the reasons - cultural and in a sense psychological - behind why each of their subjects works the way they do. It might seem strange at first glance, but actually there is a connection, since both Nihongo (the Japanese language) and Aikido are expressions of Yamato Damashii... the spirit of Japan.

For Aikidoka who do not come from Japanese backgrounds, many of the rituals and habits in the dojo, that is, the dojo culture, may seem alien, exotic, or even empty rituals. It is possible that some Westerners and other non-Japanese might not ever fully feel those things that way that Japanese people do, but even in such a worst-case scenario, the more we know about them, the more we can respect them with sincerity, even with a limit to understanding.

Somebody who is new to Aikido, perhaps even just thinking about going to a dojo, will find valuable orientation in the book, and who knows? It could prevent a faux pas, and help make a better impression. For people with dojo experience, perhaps Blomert Sensei can shed light on details that you might have always wondered about; or maybe discover that some aspect of dojo culture is more significant than you realized. And instructors might find new perspectives with which help students to understand, respect and carry out things expected of them in practice and otherwise in the dojo community. In short, I believe that it is quite possible that most Aikidoka of any level will find something, maybe many things, of value therein.

For that matter, non-Aikidoka who are simply interested in Japanese culture would likely gain something from An Open Secret too, since it provides insight into quite a few different aspects of the culture, simply expressed in a particular martial art.