Book excerpt: Aikibatto is a system of sword and staff exercises for aikido students, as well as for anyone interested in the Japanese martial arts. This book presents the basics and principles of the sophisticated sword arts developed by the Japanese warrior aristocracy, the samurai. Although the aikibatto exercises are primarily developed for aikido students, they contain much of the normal curriculum of traditional iaido and kenjutsu. Anyone interested in the arts of the katana, the formidable Japanese sword, will find much of value in this book. Stefan Stenudd is a 7 dan Aikikai Shihan aikido instructor, former Vice Chairman of the International Aikido Federation and President of the Swedish Budo & Martial Arts Federation, who has practiced aikido and iaido since 1972. He is also a writer of both fiction and non-fiction.