John Stevens book: Three Budo Masters: Morihei Ueshiba, Jigoro Kano, Gichin Funakoshi

Neil Ohlenkamp, owner of www.judoinfo.com

"This is an excellent historical work comparing the three great masters and founders of Judo, Karate, and Aikido."

Opinion of an unknown reader

A good little read with history and variety

For an overview of three major arts, a little history, or just an enjoyable read, Stevens does an admirable job. Although he does have some slight bias toward Ueshiba and Aikido, the book is largely unbiased and provides a good, quick overview of Judo, Shotokan Karate, and Aikido. If you're looking for some basic understanding and that quick bit of history, this little book is a good choice.

Opinion of a reader from Tokyo

Fascinating subject material disappointingly presented

This book provides an interesting overview of three men who were instrumental in guiding their disciplines into the modern age. Each of these men appear to have been fascinating characters, but they do not receive adequate coverage because of space limitations - some important details seem to have been glossed over or omitted entirely. The writing style is a little irritating in parts and there is a annoying lack of proofreading. However, it is still worth a read.

Excerpted from Three Budo masters: Morihei Ueshiba, Jigoro Kano, Gichin Funakoshi by John Stevens. Copyright © 1995.