Budo Training in Akido

By Morihei Ueshiba

TRANSLATOR' S INTRODUCTION

We would like to begin by thanking Doshu Ueshiba Kisshomaru and the Aikikai Foundation for making this family treasure available for publication. We also wish to express our appreciation to those teachers who gave their invaluable help in explaining difficult passages.

Due to the historical nature of this work certain difficulties arose, especially in deciding to what degree we should try to produce clear and precise English. Any precise translation could easily become a personal translation, limiting the contents and range of the translator's individual understanding at this particular point in his or her training. Therefore, after consulting some of the highest Sensei in Aikido and other arts it was decided to strive for a translation that would both preserve the simplicity of the original expression and at the same time leave open to the reader at least the possibility of coming up with the broad set of ideas and associations indicated in the Japanese.

This book appeared in 1933 and is the first published account of O-Sensei's art. Although not actually written down by him, it is a transcription of lectures and explanations which was later reviewed by the founder and approved as a teacher's manual. The political and historical context of the times should be kept in mind. No attempt has been made to edit the text.

The original copy has O-Sensei's title which was simply "Budo Renshu", i.e. "Budo Training". Later the second Doshu annotated this with the word "Aikido". The Dojo decided on using the original name here despite the fact that most Japanese copies are entitled Aikijujutsu Ogi", or "The Secrets of Aikijujutsu". The latter is actually an interpretive heading used by the copyists.

The original was hand-written and illustrated. Later this was copied out several times, using tracing paper to reproduce the illustrations. During this process errors easily crept in. By comparing various copies, most of the poems could be deciphered despite their flowerly writing style. However only a few of the tracing mistakes have been corrected here. In other cases the terms 'left' and 'right' had been reversed. This seems to be the result of confusing Nage's point of view Uke's. In this edition these obvious errors have been corrected to match the illustrations.

The poems presented the biggest problems. Much effort was spent to offer the reader a translation which presents as closely as possible the same degree of lee- ay for interpretation, insight and error, as appears in the original. Two versions are offered. One reflects the 5-7-5-7-7 syllabic structure of five line, Japanese Waka poetry. Each line in English contains the same groups of words found in the corresponding line of Japanese. The second attempt is to put the poem into a somewhat clearer English syntax. Another interesting point about the poems is that not all of them are original compositions of O-Sensei. At least a few can be traced to other martial traditions.

Please note that the parentheses indicate the insertion, for your reference, of a Japanese word used in the text for the preceding English word (except for a few cases in the technique section where O-Sensei used parentheses in the original). Square brackets are the translator's insertions for the sake of the English. By simply deleting the sections enclosed by them, they allow readers to refer to O-Sensei's exact words, if they choose to do so.

Although not for the beginner, it is hoped that access to this historically important text will be useful in understanding Aikido and its origins for those who have taken Budo as their 'Way'.

Larry E. Bieri
Seiko Mabuchi

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 4889960791
• ISBN13: 9784889960792
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Japan Publications Trading
• Length: 212 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.9" x 10.7"

Customer Reviews

authentic

heh you aikidoka's. nothing like true own words of the japanse founder / master and / or his son. his lies inspiration. forget the english word texts. this is the one for me.

an intelligent man

Aikido was invented during the early 20th century by Morihei Ueshiba. His art can be called the art of peace and simplicity. It's probabily the only Japanese martial art that can defend against Chinese martial artists.Ueshiba learned all sorts of Chinese martial arts and remodeled it into a simplified version of self-defending. He is a really open-minded artist -- he does not refuse absorbing anything that is good for his purpose. He removed the ingredient of attacking, and created Aikido.He is a very intelligent man. The intelligence transformed into the way of Aikido. His idea is to make you collapse yourself if you attack him!I read the Japanese edition of this book, and I would recommend this book to all people who love Chinese and Japanese martial arts.If you are learning some sort of martial art, this book is a really nice reference as well.But don't forget Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do!! They have something very similar -- the simplicity.

Valuable Pre-WWII View of Ueshiba Morihei's Aikido!

This is the English translation of the volume by Aikido Founder Ueshiba Morihei called "Budo Renshu" ("Budo Training"). Ueshiba Sensei's first book, this volume was originally published in 1933. Techniques are illustrated with drawings and accompanied by brief narrative instructions. The techniques are MUCH closer (in fact, nearly identical) to Daito Ryu Jujutsu than the flowing post-World War II Aikido, as Ueshiba Sensei was still associated with his D.R.J. teacher, Takeda Sogaku. You will also get a taste of the original philosophy of Ueshiba's martial art, as a section called "Secret Teachings of Bu-do", composed of 38 poems he wrote, even includes one poem which alludes to the martial strength of Imperial Japan;" 'Bu' received from the Gods at the beginning of the world,Is ours for protecting the nation:The Emperor's exhalted voice!" [....]As most works on Aikido present the philosophy of Aikido developed by Ueshiba Morihei in the aftermath of WWII, this book offers a unique look at the art BEFORE it had reached its final stage of development. It was written during a period of time when combat was still necessary to survival, and a practical art was more likely to have a "-jutsu" attatched to the end of its name than a "-do". This was Aikido in the days before deep philosophical theories and teachings based on love and flow. Ueshiba sensei was 50 years old at the time this volume was published. It is a lot of fun to go through this book and compare the techniques with those used in modern forms of Aikido, as well as related schools like Hapkido. If you're interested in the development of grappling arts or in considering the development of Aikido as an art, this book will be useful for you.

A good overview of Aikido

This book is the perfect "study at home" manual for the Aikido student. It's hard to remember all the Aikido techniques, and this book is exactly what the student needs for that purpose. I would recommend it to anyone studying Aikido.

Correction

The reviewer from Sacremento, CA stated that John Stephens was the author of "Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere." This is NOT correct. The Authors of this book, which is the first entry in your section of Aikido books, are Adele Westbrooke and Oscar Ratti.