I created this part of the site so that newcomers get a glimpse of how the Founder grew up, his influences, his lifestyle, in the hopes that they may better understand the Art of Peace.

The story of the Founder is a long one, and the first thing that one must understand is that he grew up in a different time, a different age.  He was a deeply religious man, and very spiritual.  What readers and students must keep in mind is that O Sensei's dream was that of a world united.  He was not attempting to convert his students to the way of his religion, he was enlightening them by showing them the Way of Peace.  His dream, his ideal was to have everyone be able to look at someone and not see race, color, or religion, just another human being, an equal.

On December 14, 1883, Morihei Ueshiba was born, in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.  He was the fourth child in his family.  His early life was filled with illness, and he was very sensitive. At a young age, he began studying in a private school of Buddhism. It is said that he studied very passionately for someone as young as he was, and he concentrated his studies on meditation, incantations, and prayer.  His father wanted for his studies to be balanced, mind as well as body, so he enlisted him in the classes that taught the art of Sumo and swimming.

In High School he took courses to learn how to use an abacus, and advanced so quickly that he became an assistant to the teacher.  In 1901 he moved to Tokyo and opened a small stationary store, called The Ueshiba Company.  It was at this time that he became very interested in Budo, and he began training in the arts of Koryu JuJutsu (a style of unarmed combat), and Kenjutsu (a style of the sword).  He was to fall ill again, and after giving his business to his employees, he returned to his home at Wakayama Prefecture.  When he was recovered, he married Hatsu Itokawa, someone he had known from his childhood.

He was very interested in the society around him, and he participated in many help programs, and he did much to express his opinions.  When he was twenty, he joined the military, and was quickly recognized by his superiors.  He was the best bayonetist in his regiment, and he displayed his techniques so smoothly and quickly that no one could tell what he was actually doing.  After the Russo-Japanese war, Ueshiba left the military under the protest of his superiors, who thought he had the potential to be a general.

Returning home, he worked again in many social programs, doing anything he could for the public.  In 1912 the Japanese government announced that a project in Hakkaido was to be started; they needed settlers to go prepare the land and make it suitable for farming.  The Founder led people through frozen lands, vicious storms, and poor harvests.  After two years of struggle, the town began prospering, with Ueshiba as their unofficial leader.  People came to him with problems, or questions, and he helped them as best he could.

The Founder met a JuJutsu master, Sogaku Takeda in 1915, and joined him to further advance his training.  He worked as an Uchi-Deshi, a live-in student, as well as aid to his teacher.  A few years after this, Ueshiba learned that his father was ill, so he planned to return to his home.  He left Hokkaido and gave everything he had to Takeda as a gesture of thanks.  On his way home, he heard stories of a man named Onisaburo Deguchi, who was part of a new Shinto sect called Omoto-kyu.  The Omoto-kyu was the unification of Asiatic Shamanism, Shinto, Zen Buddhism, and Christianity. Ueshiba, hoping for a miracle, went to ask for help concerning his father.  When he eventually returned to his home, he learned that his father had died.  This hit the Founder very hard, and he moved his entire family so they would be close to Deguchi, and he began a life dedicated to Omoto-kyu. Deguchi respected Ueshiba, and encouraged him to embrace Budo as his way of life. Acting on this advice, the Founder opened the Ueshiba School of Martial Arts.  In 1923 his art was officially named Aiki-BuJutsu.  Do is The Way, and Bu means warrior.  Budo is the Way of the Warrior, and BuJutsu translates to The Art, or technique of the Warrior.

In 1925 the Founder started training harder than he ever had before, and his spirit and body were strengthened more and more.  It was at this time in his life that he received the enlightenment he had been searching for since he had begun practicing Budo.  At this one instant, he claimed to understand the spirit and workings of the Universe, and in this understanding, he said that "Budo is the spirit of protection for all life."  Now, instead of developing his fighting style as that--a fighting style, he altered it so that it would be an art dedicated to Peace, and cooperation.  He changed the name of his art to Aikido.

With much help, his training facilities were moved and enlarged, and the name was changed to the Kobukan Dojo.  Kobukan is the search for truth, and Dojo is the place where the way is studied.  Many masters from other arts came to study under him, and Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, watched Ueshiba's technique and skill, and said, "This is my ideal in Budo."  Now Aikido began spreading at a phenomenal rate.  As W.W.II was beginning, the Founder went into retreat and he concentrated heavily on his farming and on meditation.  His level of spiritual awareness grew each day, but still he continued his search.  As a result, he lived in poverty while continuing to farm.  In 1942, the war was intensifying, and Ueshiba was troubled by the state of his country.  He and his wife Hatsu moved to the town of Iwama, and built an open-air Dojo, as well as an Aiki Shrine to serve as a spiritual retreat.

When W.W.II ended, the General Headquarters of the American Occupation forbade the teachings of Budo, but because Aikido emphasized peace, it was allowed to be taught.  The name of the Dojo was changed from Kobukan to the Aikikai Foundation, and was led by the Founders son, Kisshomaru Ueshiba.  The Founder was respectfully referred to as O Sensei (Great Teacher), and he still lived as a farmer, but visited the Dojo to lecture and give demonstrations.

In 1959 the ideas and teachings of Aikido were spreading more and more through Japan.  Many students traveled to other countries to teach there, a lot of them living in poverty to encourage the survival of Aikido.

On April 26, 1969, O Sensei's life came to an end.  This is just a small part of his life, but hopefully one can understand a part of  how and under what circumstances Aikido was created.  It is now our job as Aikidoka (students of Aikido) to continue the teachings and ensure the survival of  The Art of Peace.