What do you think?
Rate this book
Budo Secrets: Teachings of the Martial Arts Masters
In budo—which can be translated as "the way of brave and enlightened activity"—martial arts and spirituality merge at the highest level of skill. Budo Secrets contains the essential teachings of budo's greatest masters of Kendo, Karate, Judo, Aikido, and other disciplines. Timely and instructive, these writings are not just for martial artists—they're for anyone who wants to live life more courageously, with a greater sense of personal confidence and self-control, and with a deeper understanding of others.
John Stevens has gathered an eclectic and historically rich collection of teachings that include principles and practice guidelines from training manuals and transmission scrolls, excerpts of texts on budo philosophy, and instructional tales gathered from a number of sources. Since many of the martial arts masters were also fine painters and calligraphers and used brush and ink as a teaching medium, Stevens has included their artwork throughout with explanation and commentary.
John Stevens has gathered an eclectic and historically rich collection of teachings that include principles and practice guidelines from training manuals and transmission scrolls, excerpts of texts on budo philosophy, and instructional tales gathered from a number of sources. Since many of the martial arts masters were also fine painters and calligraphers and used brush and ink as a teaching medium, Stevens has included their artwork throughout with explanation and commentary.
115 pages, Paperback
First published August 21, 2001
6 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
John Stevens
85 books30 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
John Stevens (1947- ) is a Buddhist priest and Aikido teacher.
John Stevens (1947- ) is a Buddhist priest and Aikido teacher.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 26, 2020
Surprisingly well condensed, all relevant
April 3, 2017
An interesting collection of rules, advice, and calligraphy from various historical Japanese styles.
The 'ninja guide to food' was funny: it had to be light, not bulky, not perishable, fill you up with a few bites, very tasty, hugely nutritious, locally sourced and available everywhere....after thinking for a while, I came to the conclusion that Tolkein's lembas wafers would work. Assuming that the ninja were always out on missions to Lothlorien. That must be it.
Most were things I found much more credible. Judo guidelines (and a funky poem). Aikido philosophy. Quotes from Yamaoka Tesshu, and some of his calligraphy to go with it.
The last third of this slim little book are small stories -- most of which I'd heard elsewhere, but that's okay -- of various martial artists.
The 'ninja guide to food' was funny: it had to be light, not bulky, not perishable, fill you up with a few bites, very tasty, hugely nutritious, locally sourced and available everywhere....after thinking for a while, I came to the conclusion that Tolkein's lembas wafers would work. Assuming that the ninja were always out on missions to Lothlorien. That must be it.
Most were things I found much more credible. Judo guidelines (and a funky poem). Aikido philosophy. Quotes from Yamaoka Tesshu, and some of his calligraphy to go with it.
The last third of this slim little book are small stories -- most of which I'd heard elsewhere, but that's okay -- of various martial artists.
January 5, 2019
Good musings
Very nice to read, I only wish it had more of the same content.a relaxing book to read, rather than staunchly technical stuff.
Very nice to read, I only wish it had more of the same content.a relaxing book to read, rather than staunchly technical stuff.
July 27, 2022
John Stevens' name is imprinted on the cover and spine of 'Budo Secrets' as though authoring the book, but then inside on the title page it says, "Edited by John Stevens". Crediting him as "editor" feels more honest, as this is a book which reprints an assemblage of Japanese martial arts snippets from mostly other contemporary books which are listed in the bibliography. The majority of the quotes are from existing Kodansha books on the featured subject.
Though the book is pulling quotes by iconic martial artists of the last 400 years of Japanese history, it ends up rather light on substance. The first half of the book makes sparse use of its pages: large font with double spacing, a number of chapters which start and end with blank half-used pages, various bullet point lists even further spaced out to take up page real estate, etc. The budo secret of padding out your book about budo secrets! To be fair, I did read like the entirety of 'Great Expectations' on my e-reader with this kind of large font and overly expanded text spacing settings. But that's not relevant to this discussion at all, because I would never have read a physical copy of 'Great Expectations' had it been thusly formatted.
Ignoring its shortcomings momentarily, one aspect I've always admired about this book is its genuinely gorgeous cover graphic design and artwork. It's just a softcover, but it's done right, with Yamaoka Tesshu's calligraphy and cover text using a reflective metallic dark gold color over a reflective metallic dark almost royal blue (with a subtle suggestion of violet) background.
In closing, a musing: I was hoping this was the John Stevens martial arts book I had read where he says matter-of-factly during a chapter introduction that "Morihei Ueshiba was [...] perhaps the greatest martial artist of all time". This is not that book, unfortunately. But I recommend watching for John Stevens books in the world around you for that brand of, um...scholarship. He's rather subtle, I guess is my point.
Though the book is pulling quotes by iconic martial artists of the last 400 years of Japanese history, it ends up rather light on substance. The first half of the book makes sparse use of its pages: large font with double spacing, a number of chapters which start and end with blank half-used pages, various bullet point lists even further spaced out to take up page real estate, etc. The budo secret of padding out your book about budo secrets! To be fair, I did read like the entirety of 'Great Expectations' on my e-reader with this kind of large font and overly expanded text spacing settings. But that's not relevant to this discussion at all, because I would never have read a physical copy of 'Great Expectations' had it been thusly formatted.
Ignoring its shortcomings momentarily, one aspect I've always admired about this book is its genuinely gorgeous cover graphic design and artwork. It's just a softcover, but it's done right, with Yamaoka Tesshu's calligraphy and cover text using a reflective metallic dark gold color over a reflective metallic dark almost royal blue (with a subtle suggestion of violet) background.
In closing, a musing: I was hoping this was the John Stevens martial arts book I had read where he says matter-of-factly during a chapter introduction that "Morihei Ueshiba was [...] perhaps the greatest martial artist of all time". This is not that book, unfortunately. But I recommend watching for John Stevens books in the world around you for that brand of, um...scholarship. He's rather subtle, I guess is my point.
June 2, 2011
I loved this book!
The straight forward no nonsense lessons are brilliant in the sense that there really is no mystery. It is like as you read this you think to yourself "I know that" or "That makes perfect sense".
This book plainly outlines a clear path to becoming a better person in life which will ultimately prepare you for death.
I believe this book transcends the way for a martial artist and any persons who perhaps have been diagnosed with a terminal illness, or are plagued by depression will find inspiration in this book.
Yet another book that I feel I will refer back to again and again..
The straight forward no nonsense lessons are brilliant in the sense that there really is no mystery. It is like as you read this you think to yourself "I know that" or "That makes perfect sense".
This book plainly outlines a clear path to becoming a better person in life which will ultimately prepare you for death.
I believe this book transcends the way for a martial artist and any persons who perhaps have been diagnosed with a terminal illness, or are plagued by depression will find inspiration in this book.
Yet another book that I feel I will refer back to again and again..
November 5, 2016
Budo Secrets: Teaching of the Martial Arts Masters was a solid read and does an excellent job of presenting some of the more esoteric elements of marital arts philosophy and the more pragmatic views of certain martial arts masters into a nicely woven book. If you have read other books on martial arts philosophy you will certainly see a few repeats in this particular book. But Budo Secrets is still an excellent collection of martial arts gems that is certainly worth the read.
May 19, 2016
A concise little collection of wisdom gleaned from the Japanese martial traditions. A nice mix of philosophical, ethical, mystical and pragmatic teachings. Martial artists and meditators in particular will find much to dwell on.
July 21, 2008
It's pepto-bismol for apple eaters.
July 25, 2015
This is a collection of budo-kun (warrior precepts), vignettes, and lists. It's a quick read, but there is a lot of interesting material packed into this one thin volume.
I recommend it.
I recommend it.
June 7, 2013
Awesome.
November 24, 2013
a great collection of short stories.
October 27, 2014
Ideal morning meditation book for Martial Artists! I keep this book by my bedside. Think understandable Tao Te Ching.
November 24, 2015
Book 2 of my Lessons in Mindfulness (Lesson 1)
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews