The Founder of Aikido Morihei Ueshiba (1883 - 1969)
The roots of Aikido date back to feudal Japan. Present day Aikido was created by Morihei Ueshiba, called O'Sensei, great teacher.
O'Sensei's lifetime spanned a time of profound evolution for the Japanese people, it began in the late stages of feudalism and ended in a modern technological world. O'sensei was born on December 14, 1883 in Tanabe a small fishing village near Osaka.
O'Sensei studied a variety of traditional martial arts including jujitsu, unarmed combat, kenjutsu, sword fighting and sojitsu, spear fighting. He became one of the most renowned martial artists of his day. Through his many arduous years of training in Budo, Japanese martial arts. He became very strong and was considered unbeatable.
Along with budo O'Sensei was a serious student of religion and a man of high spiritual understanding. His gift of Aikido merged these two seemingly diametrically opposed concepts into one. He came to the realization that fighting was a futile means of resolving conflicts. Even the most accomplished warriors must succumb to time and ageing, in the end defeat is inevitable. By using the principles of all religions, love and compassion, he changed what is possible when confronted with a violent attack. Instead of destroying an attacker with superior strength and skill, he taught you could transform the attacker with your energy and actions. He felt that winning at someone else's expense was nor really winning. As long as there was a winner and a loser there was no victory, he came to realize that true victory is not winning over others, but winning over the conflict within ourselves.
In 1915 Ueshiba met Sokaku Takeda, the grandmaster of Aikijutsu, Daito Ryu they formed a close relationship traveling and teaching together. There can be no doubt that Takeda had a very strong influence on O'Sensei's early style.
In 1920 Ueshiba met a man who helped shape his religious beliefs, Wanisburo Deguchi, a teacher and a mystic. In 1925 O'Sensei experienced a 'satori', enlightenment, which is considered to be one of the most important events in the birth of Aikido. It happened while walking in his garden. In O'Sensei's words, he felt the ground shake and a golden light washed over him, at that moment he understood that the source of all budo is God's love.
In April 1931, the original Hombu dojo was opened, known as the hell dojo because of the severe training. During 1942 he moved to Iwama where he set up a dojo and an aiki shrine. He continued to teach, but spent much of his time farming, more teaching was turned over to his son, Kisshomaru Ueshiba. It was during this time period that Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, met Ueshiba and remarked after having seen Ueshiba that "this is my ideal budo", and began sending his best students to study with O'Sensei.
In 1954 the headquarters of Aikido moved back to Tokyo and took the title Aikikai Foundation. On December 15, 1967, that dojo was replaced by a modern three story dojo that continues to be used today.
O'Sensei's aikido was believed by many to be at its strongest in his seventies. In the years before his death O'Sensei was still reportedly able to perform amazing feats of strength and speed.
O'Sensei's aikido went through many changes throughout his life, there being a definite change between his pre-war and post-war styles. In 1964 emperor Hirohito, recognizing his contribution to the martial arts. Morihei Ueshiba continued his practice and teaching until his death. He gave his final demonstration on January 15, 1969. He was diagnosed as having liver cancer and died on April 26, 1969, at age 86. Posthumously the Japanese government bestowed its highest honor, declaring Morihei Ueshiba to be a Sacred National Treasure of Japan.
For information about Morihei Ueshiba's quotes and thoughts about; KI, Non-resistance and Aikido practice