Abundant Peace

by John Stevens

Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969), the founder of Aikido—whose name means "abundant peace"—was "undoubtedly the greatest martial artist who ever lived," according to his biographer, John Stevens. "Even if we accept every exploit of all the legendary warriors, East and West, as being literally true, none of those accomplishments can be compared to Morihei's documented ability to disarm any attacker, throw a dozen men simultaneously, and down and pin opponents without touching them, recorded scores of times in photographs, on film, and by personal testimony." How did the diminutive master—barely five feet tall—attain this uncanny power? In Abundant Peace, John Stevens tells the real story behind Morihei's achievement, illuminating the man and his message in a way that will delight and stimulate the reader. Focusing on the how and why of Morihei's career, Stevens describes the people, events, and ideas that influenced his lifelong spiritual quest, which culminated in the unique teachings of Aikido. Illustrated with photographs of Morihei in action and filled with revealing anecdotes about his life and times, the book also offers a valuable discussion of the Founder's conception of Aikido as a path of harmony and love, unifying mind and body, self and others, man and the universe.

Genres: Spirituality, Martial Arts

129 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 1987

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

John Stevens (1947- ) is a Buddhist priest and Aikido teacher.

Reviews

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful biography of Morihei Ueshiba, which feels like a Martial Arts story, containing important insights.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in Eastern Martial Arts, Culture, and Philosophy.

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Penso sia uno dei migliori libri sull'Aikido.
John Steven racconta la vita dell'uomo Morihei Ueshiba e la vita dell'artista marziale, O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba, spiegando la filosofia e il percorso fatto da questo incredibile essere umano.