Friday, June 10, 2011

Life in Aikido, The Biography of Founder Morihei Ueshiba

The name of this book is 
Life in Aikido, The Biography of Founder Morihei Ueshiba
Written by his son Kisshamora Ueshiba


It is a biography about a man named Morihei Ueshiba who founded a martial art form called aikido. Born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan on December 14, 1883. He is the son of Yoroku and Yuki Ueshiba. He was a weak frail child and was into studies than anything else. He did not get into martial arts until he seen his father being attacked by political adversaries. He went ahead and studied many martial arts but really did not give involved with aikido as he is the founder of it until the mid 1920's-1930 as he learned the teachings from Takeda Sokoku and was involved with a martial art called Daito-ryu which is a form of aikido.


His technique with aikido was to promote peace and harmony by redirecting energy either by moving out of the way of it or redirecting that energy back at his opponent. He became more and more involved in this art as he drifted away from striking an opponent to doing such redirection of energy.




He made an attempt to join the military but because of height requirements they refused him. So he went in his attempt to seek a military life decided to hang from trees stretching his body to achieve height requirements to get in. In 1903 he was enlisted into the army as an infantryman but was recommended that he become an officer and he declined and left the military there after.


He had three Spiritual Awakenings and one is quoted here;


"I felt the universe suddenly quake, and that a golden spirit sprang up from the ground, veiled my body, and changed my body into a golden one. At the same time my body became light. I was able to understand the whispering of the birds, and was clearly aware of the mind of God, the creator of the universe.
At that moment I was enlightened: the source of budo is God's love - the spirit of loving protection for all beings... Budo is not the felling of an opponent by force; nor is it a tool to lead the world to destruction with arms. True Budo is to accept the spirit of the universe, keep the peace of the world, correctly produce, protect and cultivate all beings in nature"


In early Spring 1969, he was fallen ill and told his son Kisshomaru that "God is calling me...." He returned home at his request to be near his dojo. April 15th, his condition became critical. He gave his final instructions to his students and said. "Aikido is for the entire world. Train not for selfish reasons, but for all people everywhere."


He ws married to Hatsu Ueshiba and had a son named Kisshamora and died on 26April1969.


Dom*Colucci 2011



4 comments:

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

a lovely book review, Dom*,

I was born on the year after he died.
Thanks for sharing.

Indie said...

I cant believe he hung from trees attempting to make himself taller!


His whole life seems to have been one of quiet determination though.

Really enjoyed reading this Dom/

Indie

ZENDOM said...

WOW!!!!!!....did I pick this one or what my Dearest Jingle...as we all are in alignment as there are no deviations in the Universe....as this is aikido as well...central and focused with the energy being aligned as well....thanks for liking the review....enjoy as well(+)
soulbro*;)xoxoxo---{--@

ZENDOM said...

yes my Dearest indie.....one who wishes is the one who desires but in desires we find suffering that we cannot have such desire...so because of our suffering we become enlightened as something else comes along and shows us something different nearly the total opposite of what we desired....in ZEN the four Chinese characters mean: Suffer-Joy-Love-Forget...determination becomes of us when we let go....because of this as to pardon the pun, I would say Morihei let go, of the tree that is...enjoy as well(+)
Dom*;)