Budo: Teachings of the Founder of Aikido

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. After 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. The 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.