Description
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'
Library's review
(from flyleaf)
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 that just another fighting style, it is a holistic
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 world wide popularity of aikido rivaling that of judo and karate-do, the Aikikai Fokoundation and the Ueshibe 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 statments 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 ot 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 characteried Morihei's approach to his art.
Morihei Ueshiba was born in Western Japan in 1883. After mastering classical styles of judo, kendo, and jujutsu, he created aikido, an entirely original martial art, based on the spiritual teachings of the Omoto-kyo religion. Agter the Second World War, Morihei established the Aikikai Foundation in Tokyo to promote the dissemination of aikido throughout the world. Morihei died in 1969.
Kisshomaru Ueshiba is chairman of the Aikikai Foundation, the largest aikido organization in the world. He has written several books on aikido in Japanese and English, including the classic Spirit of Aikido.
Translator, John Stevens, is a professor of Buddhist studies and aikido instructor at the Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai, Japan. He is a prolific writer on aikido and Buddhism, and has written a biography of Morihei Ueshiba entitled Abundant Peace.
Contents
Introduction
Budo
Noma Dojo Techniques
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 that just another fighting style, it is a holistic
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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 world wide popularity of aikido rivaling that of judo and karate-do, the Aikikai Fokoundation and the Ueshibe 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 statments 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 ot 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 characteried Morihei's approach to his art.
Morihei Ueshiba was born in Western Japan in 1883. After mastering classical styles of judo, kendo, and jujutsu, he created aikido, an entirely original martial art, based on the spiritual teachings of the Omoto-kyo religion. Agter the Second World War, Morihei established the Aikikai Foundation in Tokyo to promote the dissemination of aikido throughout the world. Morihei died in 1969.
Kisshomaru Ueshiba is chairman of the Aikikai Foundation, the largest aikido organization in the world. He has written several books on aikido in Japanese and English, including the classic Spirit of Aikido.
Translator, John Stevens, is a professor of Buddhist studies and aikido instructor at the Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai, Japan. He is a prolific writer on aikido and Buddhism, and has written a biography of Morihei Ueshiba entitled Abundant Peace.
Contents
Introduction
Budo
Noma Dojo Techniques
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User reviews
LibraryThing member JSKupperman
Ueshiba Morihei: Budo. Good book. Interesting book. The introduction is by one of his sons and gives a bit of a life history. The content is in three parts, the first is largely philosophical (and likely the most important part), the second two are techniques. The first set of techniques are
If you were one of my kempo students the philosophical sections will seem familiar to you if you’ve done any of the reading I’ve suggested (Takuan,Yagyu, Musashi, etc.) and compliment it nicely. You’ll notice, however, that the ideology is Shinto rather than Buddhist. Because, you know, O’Sensei was Shinto, even if he had a Shingon-shu background as well. The book isn’t necessarily necessary for you, but it is worth the read if you happen to come across it.
If you’re an aikido practitioner, you should probably get this book. It shows a transitional period where O’Sensei is still heavily influenced by Daito ryu aikijujutsu and Yagyu ryu jujutsu. As such it is of important historical value for understanding the development of what would eventually be known as aikido (short for aiki budo).
The described techniques are a little difficult to follow without an convenient uke, but that is pretty normal for such things. There is a lot of hitting involved and a number of photos show O’Sensei pulling his uke’s face into an awaiting fist. Many such techniques were performed by a rather elderly Ueshiba, as well, not just his younger self. That, in itself, is suggestive of the history of the art’s development. Overall, if you’re interested in the development of martial arts and the spirituality/philosophy associated with them, Budo: Teachings of the Founder of Aikido, is well worth the $15.00 asking price.
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described with some pictures from the 1930s (no, the man did not always look like Master Splinter). The second set of techniques are from a range of times and are without description.If you were one of my kempo students the philosophical sections will seem familiar to you if you’ve done any of the reading I’ve suggested (Takuan,Yagyu, Musashi, etc.) and compliment it nicely. You’ll notice, however, that the ideology is Shinto rather than Buddhist. Because, you know, O’Sensei was Shinto, even if he had a Shingon-shu background as well. The book isn’t necessarily necessary for you, but it is worth the read if you happen to come across it.
If you’re an aikido practitioner, you should probably get this book. It shows a transitional period where O’Sensei is still heavily influenced by Daito ryu aikijujutsu and Yagyu ryu jujutsu. As such it is of important historical value for understanding the development of what would eventually be known as aikido (short for aiki budo).
The described techniques are a little difficult to follow without an convenient uke, but that is pretty normal for such things. There is a lot of hitting involved and a number of photos show O’Sensei pulling his uke’s face into an awaiting fist. Many such techniques were performed by a rather elderly Ueshiba, as well, not just his younger self. That, in itself, is suggestive of the history of the art’s development. Overall, if you’re interested in the development of martial arts and the spirituality/philosophy associated with them, Budo: Teachings of the Founder of Aikido, is well worth the $15.00 asking price.
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Subjects
ISBN
4770020708 / 9784770020703
Publication
Kodansha International Tokyo, New York, London