History of Aikido

Aikido is a martial discipline developed and created in Japan during the 1920s by Ueshiba Morihei (1883-1969) or O-sensei, meaning great teacher.

O-sensei was a man dedicated to the study of classical Japanese martial arts, learning the sword, spear, staff, and various types of unarmed combat. O-sensei synthesised what he had learnt from his lifelong study of these martial traditions, to develop Aikido.

O-sensei was not satisfied merely with another effective form of self defence or combat, he sought something much more. He sought true victory over himself. Through years of vigorous and dedicated physical and spiritual training, he brought aikido to the world. In Japanese it means "way of harmony with the fundamental force of the universe". Like many other martial arts, aikido is Budo; a martial way of life, meant to forge and polish the spirit as well as the body. The purpose of training, O-sensei said "is to tighten up the slack, toughen the body , and polish the spirit."