The counterpoint to the famed Art of War, Aikido’s founding master Morihei Ueshiba offers timeless teachings on fearlessness, compassion, love of nature, and victory over conflict through the practice of peace.

The inspirational teachings in this collection show that the real way of the warrior is based on compassion, wisdom, fearlessness, and love of nature. The teachings are drawn from the talks and writings of Morihei Ueshiba, founder of the popular Japanese martial art of Aikido—a mind-body discipline he called the “Art of Peace,”—which offers a nonviolent way to victory in the face of conflict. Ueshiba believed that Aikido principles could be applied to all the challenges we face in life—in personal and business relationships and in our interactions with society.

This is an expanded version of the original miniature edition that appeared in the Shambhala Pocket Classics series. It features a new introduction by John Stevens, translated doka (didactic “poems of the Way”), and Ueshiba’s own calligraphy.

The "counterpoint" to The Art of War--an inspiring collection of sayings and teachings on the peaceful resolution of conflict. Unlike other popular Eastern philosophies which accept the inevitability of violence as a means to victory--such as Musashi's Book of Five Rings--Aikido fosters fearlessness, wisdom, and compassion and is based on the universal principles of harmony and love of life.