- About the Founder of Aikido
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- Professor Morihei Ueshiba 1883 – 1969.
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Professor Morihei Ueshiba was born in Wakayama Prefecture in Japan on 14th December 1883. As a boy Ueshiba was rather sick and weakly who preferred to read rather than play outside. His father was beaten up at this time by local thugs hired by a local politician, which resolved Ueshiba to become stronger in order to study martial arts and seek revenge.
After he left school Ueshiba had a brief stint as a merchant, and finally realised he had an affinity for martial arts. He greatly enjoyed his study of Jujitsu at the Kito-ryu dojo and Swordsmanship at the Shinkage Ryu training centre.
- Russo-Japanese War
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During the Russo-Japanese War period, Ueshiba decided to enlist in the army. Standing at just under five feet tall, he failed to meet the minimum height requirements. He was so upset that he went immediately to the forests and swung on trees in the hope of stretching out his body. On his next attempt to enlist, he passed his examination and became an infantryman in 1903. During this time he impressed his superiors so much that his commanding officer recommended him for the National Military Academy, but he declined the position and resigned from active duty.
Ueshiba then returned home and continued his practise of martial arts. His father built him a dojo (training hall) and Ueshiba invited the Jujutsu instructor Takaki Kiyoichi to teach there.
- 1912
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At the age of 29 Ueshiba moved his family to the island of Hokkaido, which is where he met Sokaku Takeda - grandmaster of Daito-ryu Aiki Jutsu. Ueshiba, an exceptionally powerful man, challenged Takeda to a fight and was defeated. He then became a student of Takeda, and threw himself into studying this art.
- Sokaku Takeda Sensei
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- Morihei Ueshiba Sensei
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- 1927
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Ueshiba moved to Tokyo. His following had grown to the point that he decided to build a formal dojo in the Ushigome district of the city (the present site of the Aikido World Headquarters). While the dojo was being constructed, many high-ranking instructors of other arts, such as Jigoro Kano (the founder of Judo), came to visit. They were so impressed that they would send their own students to study under Ueshiba.
- 1931
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In 1931, the Kobukan was finished. A Budo Enhancement Society was founded in 1932 with Ueshiba as Chief Instructor. Up to the outbreak of World War II, Ueshiba was extremely busy teaching at the Kobukan, as well as holding special classes for the major military and police academies. For the next 10 years, Ueshiba became more and more famous and many stories began to appear in writing.
- 1942
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In 1942, supposedly because of a divine command, he longed to return to the farmlands. He had often said Budo and farming are one. The war had emptied the Kobukan, and he was tired of city life. Leaving the Kobukan in the hands of his son Kisshomaru, he moved to the Ibaraki Prefecture and the village of Iwama, where he built an outdoor dojo.
- Iwama
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Iwama is considered by many to be the birth place of modern-day Aikido. Prior to this move, his system had been called Aikijutsu, then Aiki-Budo. From 1942 (when the name Aikido was first formally used) to 1952, Ueshiba consolidated the techniques and perfected the principles of Aikido.
Ueshiba trained extensively in Japanese fighting arts, which included Jojutsu, Kenjutsu and various styles of Jujitsu. After many years of dedicated training he incorporated the principles of these arts into a new one which he called Aikido. Aikido can be used effectively for self-defence against a singular attacker, or from multiple aggressors.
