Rating: 
Summary: Good guidance for Westerners
Review: The auther, Stevens is the top shihan(sensei) taught by Morihei,
the founder's best student Shirata from pre-war era.
So handy, easy to make out concise philosophy of the profound
thought of Aikido,mysterious, Oriental magical martial arts.
In the viewpoint of me, native Japanese, really can I recommend
buying, for oversea friends.
Rating:
Summary: The Wizdom of O'Sensi
Review: Theese words, spoken by O'Sensi, or Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido are truely profound. i take aikido, and my teacchers teacher is John Steven Sensi, the compiler of this book. It truely portrayes the escence of Aikido, and Buhdism, and spiritual values.
Rating:
Summary: A great book for all Aikidoka
Review: This book is filled with many things upon which to reflect. I would not recomend it to people not familiar with Aikido because much of the book is about the art. If you are an Aikidoka read this book it will help you a great deal with the nonphysical aspects of the martial art.
Rating:
Summary: A work of art
Review: This book reminds me of a wonderful description of the Tao Te Ching..."take an afternoon to read, a lifetime to understand."No previous reading in martial arts or philosophy is necessary. This work stands on its own. It is understated and elegant. You will revisit it many times and take away something different each time. A delight.
Rating:
Summary: A work of art
Review: This book reminds me of a wonderful description of the Tao Te Ching..."take an afternoon to read, a lifetime to understand." No previous reading in martial arts or philosophy is necessary. This work stands on its own. It is understated and elegant. You will revisit it many times and take away something different each time. A delight.
Rating:
Summary: The Way of Peace, some call it Aikido, all call it Good
Review: This is a gem of a book (it will fit in the palm of your hand) which contains the core teachings of Morihei Ueshiba, the enlightened founder of Aikido. Before Ueshiba experienced his three enlightening visions he was already one of the greatest martial artists in history, after the visions he became a force of nature.... Central to these deceptively simple teachings is the principle of becoming one with heaven and earth. Where heaven and earth meet is the center of the cosmos. When your center also corresponds with this place, then you are undefeatable. While Aikado is truly the way of the warrior, the definition of warrior has been restored to its cosmic meaning. A warrior strives to restore harmony and balance to the world. A warrior puts things right in accordance with the Way of Heaven. You will not find a great deal of specific techniques in this book. As the master states, one should not depend too much on the mastery of specific techniques. Nor should one focus too much on any specific aspect of an opponent, neither his eyes, his sword, his tricks. Instead one should reach out and encompass the entire opponent within the sphere of your being. You should flow with him, engulf him. Meet fire with water. On the other hand, there is no substitute for practice, practice, practice. This is what attunes our body with the Ki. This is what forges a body like iron is forged into steel. Unlike classic martial texts such as _The Art of War_, this book will be of limited appeal to the materialist. Ueshiba makes it clear that he rejects materialism. He rejects bondage to things. You are to forget your little self and detact from objects. He rejects unnatural imbalances in the world of any kind. This book speaks of learning from nature, from sages, from looking deep into your own heart. It makes it clear that all true spiritual paths are naturally compatible with the Way of Peace. This Way can transcend time and space itself. Ultimately the Way of the Warrior, like the Art of Politics, is to stop trouble before it starts. You spiritually defeat those who see themselves as adversariies by making them realise that their actions are contrary to the Way, to the balance of Heaven and Earth.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book
Review: This is a good book with small but deep thoughts from O'Sensei Ueshiba. I feel that all thoughts can be applied to daily life, and not only for Aikido practice. Perhaps a good philosophical complement for other technical books.
Rating:
Summary: A profound peice of literature
Review: This is probably one of the most amazing books I've ever read. But don'e be fooled by the editorial review, it has nothing to do with the art of war. Written by someone completely different for a completely different reason, anyone who buys it looking for another Art of War will be sorely disappointed, as the person from Mass. was. If you are looking for a book about harmony, this is it. If you practice Aikido, this book is essential. Not only does it describe the way one should preform Aikido, it also shares deep insight into how to live in harmony with everything around you.
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