Morihei Ueshiba

Morihei Ueshiba

Japanese martial artist and founder of Aikido, "the way of harmonizing energy." Born to a samurai family in 1883, he trained in jujutsu, kenjutsu, and sojutsu, and was deeply influenced by the Omoto-kyo Shinto sect of Onisaburo Deguchi. After a profound spiritual experience in 1925, he formulated an art whose purpose was not victory over an enemy but the cultivation of love and the reconciliation of the practitioner with the universe. Known to his students as O-Sensei (Great Teacher), he is the source of one of the twentieth century's most distinctive contemplative-martial traditions.

106

quotes in library

Quotes by Morihei Ueshiba

106 quotes
“To injure an opponent is to injure yourself.”
unityThe Art of Peace
“The Art of Peace is medicine for a sick world.”
medicineThe Art of Peace
“Failure is the key to success. Each mistake teaches us something.”
failureThe Art of Peace
“Your spirit is the true shield.”
spiritBudo
“True victory is victory over oneself.”
victoryThe Art of Peace
“Aikido is non-resistance. As it is non-resistant, it is always victorious.”
non-resistanceThe Heart of Aikido
“The body is the bridge to the spirit.”
bodyBudo
“To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace.”
non-violenceThe Art of Peace
“In the universe there is one harmonious flow. We must align with it.”
harmonyThe Art of Peace
“The way of a warrior is based on humanity, love, and sincerity.”
warriorBudo
“Iron is full of impurities that weaken it. Through forging, it becomes steel.”
refinementThe Art of Peace
“Be grateful even for hardship, setbacks, and bad people.”
gratitudeThe Art of Peace
“As soon as you concern yourself with the 'good' and 'bad' of your fellow students, you create an opening in your heart for maliciousness to enter.”
opennessThe Art of Peace
“Iron tests, gold tests, and now the heart is tested. Take heart.”
testingBudo
“Learn to harmonize with the universe.”
harmonyThe Heart of Aikido
“There are no contests in Aikido. A true warrior is invincible because he contests with nothing.”
warriorThe Art of Peace
“Aikido is the realization of love.”
loveThe Heart of Aikido
“The Art of Peace is the principle of non-resistance. The Art of Peace is invincible because it contends with nothing.”
non-resistanceThe Art of Peace
“Aikido is the art of peace.”
peaceThe Art of Peace (trans. John Stevens)
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