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Morihei Ueshiba is rightly known as one of the world's greatest martial artists for his creation of aikido, the synthesis of his superb technique and his profound spiritual insight into the nature of the universe. Aikido is much more than just another fighting style, it is a holistic approach to life that Morihei described as "a divine path inspired by the gods that leads to truth, goodness, and beauty." Sadly, Morihei left few writings to explain his martial arts philosophy, preferring to teach his disciples by direct example.
Aikido students will be familiar with photographs and film footage of Morihei as an old man, effortlessly defeating his much younger opponents, but very little has been published about Morihei's prewar years, when he was perfecting aiki-budo, as aikido was then known. In 1938 Morihei wrote Budo (Martial Way) as an instruction manual and a statement of the aims and spirit of his martial arts philosophy. Budo, however, was never made available to the general public, and it even contains the injunction that "these techniques ... should not be disclosed indiscriminately to the public."
Now with the worldwide popularity of aikido rivaling that of judo and karate-do, the Aikikai Foundation and the Ueshiba family have decided that it is time for this historic treatise of the martial arts to be translated into English, and made available to general readers and students of aikido all over the world. Reproduced faithfully from the original, this seminal work contains one of the founder's few personal statements of his basic principles, expressed both in prose and mystical poetry. The text is accompanied by photographs of Morihei illustrating the aikido techniques he describes.
This martial arts classic is preceded by an introductory biographical essay on Morihei by his son Kisshomaru Ueshiba, the present chairman of the Aikikai Foundation. This enlightening work recounts the founder's early life, his inspirational 'encounter with the religious mystic Onisaburo Deguchi, and the spiritual revelations that led him to develop the art of aikido.
The volume concludes with a series of action photographs of the founder demonstrating aikido techniques, taken at a private dojo in Tokyo in 1936. This section also includes selected photographs of Morihei in action in 1951. The more than 400 historic photographs shown here provide an unequalled opportunity to observe the lifelong devotion to aikido and the continuity of performance that characterized Morihei's approach to his art.
Aikido students will be familiar with photographs and film footage of Morihei as an old man, effortlessly defeating his much younger opponents, but very little has been published about Morihei's prewar years, when he was perfecting aiki-budo, as aikido was then known. In 1938 Morihei wrote Budo (Martial Way) as an instruction manual and a statement of the aims and spirit of his martial arts philosophy. Budo, however, was never made available to the general public, and it even contains the injunction that "these techniques ... should not be disclosed indiscriminately to the public."
Now with the worldwide popularity of aikido rivaling that of judo and karate-do, the Aikikai Foundation and the Ueshiba family have decided that it is time for this historic treatise of the martial arts to be translated into English, and made available to general readers and students of aikido all over the world. Reproduced faithfully from the original, this seminal work contains one of the founder's few personal statements of his basic principles, expressed both in prose and mystical poetry. The text is accompanied by photographs of Morihei illustrating the aikido techniques he describes.
This martial arts classic is preceded by an introductory biographical essay on Morihei by his son Kisshomaru Ueshiba, the present chairman of the Aikikai Foundation. This enlightening work recounts the founder's early life, his inspirational 'encounter with the religious mystic Onisaburo Deguchi, and the spiritual revelations that led him to develop the art of aikido.
The volume concludes with a series of action photographs of the founder demonstrating aikido techniques, taken at a private dojo in Tokyo in 1936. This section also includes selected photographs of Morihei in action in 1951. The more than 400 historic photographs shown here provide an unequalled opportunity to observe the lifelong devotion to aikido and the continuity of performance that characterized Morihei's approach to his art.
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Morihei Ueshiba was born on December 14, 1883, in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Morihei Ueshiba was born on December 14, 1883, in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
hard to rate,
By A Customer
This review is from: Budo: Teachings of the Founder of Aikido (Paperback)
Aikido has moved on from the day when this was written. Even when you see Ueshiba move in his 50's you can see he has developed far more fluidity than this text book of his suggests. It is a useful reference to understand how aikido developed from aikijitsu, which I feel this book is closer to. It covers a moderate amount of techniques with phrases like 'and then down your opponent' and 'srike him in the face'. The photos of Ueshiba later in the book are excellent, though it is always a joy to see him in real action.Don't buy this book if you are a beginner looking to improve technique; not because it is complicated but because it is too brief to be of much help and is unlikely to help directly with your training. However do buy this if you are interested in what Ueshiba was likely taught and for historical interest (the brief historical chapter is concise but extremely well written).
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Aikido's Founder in his own words and pictures!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Budo: Teachings of the Founder of Aikido (Paperback)
Another important book for anyone interested in understanding O-Sensei's Aikido. Often we find people who express deeply held opinions on what the Founder said or believed based entirely on second and third hand information. This book contains the words of O-Sensei himself along with copious pictures of the founder doing technique. Dating from the 1930's these words and pictures come from a time in which O-Sensei's Enlightenment experience had reshaped his vision of Budo. At the same time at the age of around fifty years old he was still at the peak of his physical powers so the Aikido of this time illustrates the balance between the martial and the spiritual elements of Aikido more than at any other time in its history.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting,
By Ally Bally G "aikidoka" (Italy) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Budo: Teachings of the Founder of Aikido (Paperback)
The founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba preferred teaching his students directly and left few writings regarding his martial arts philosophy. Budo is an interesting book which in the introduction describes the life of Morihei Ueshiba-written by his son-that led him to develop the art of aikido. The rest of the book is the reproduction of Budo, written in 1938 by Morihei Ueshiba,which contains an istruction manual and personal statements of his basic principles.
The book is also packed with photographs of the founder illustrating different tecniques. This book is NOT an instruction manual of aikido and if that is what sought it is better to look elsewhere.
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