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Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba
Aikido, a traditional Japanese martial art, was developed in the early
part of this century by Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969), now known as O-Sensei
(venerable teacher).
Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei, the
Aikido Kaiso (founder), was born in 1883 in Tanabe, a coastal town in
southern Japan. From the time of his youth, he studied various
martial arts, eventually including sumo, swordsmanship, spear technique,
staff technique, and various styles of jujutsu, particularly the Yagyu and
Daito styles.
From youth, Ueshiba also appears to have been a deeply sensitive and
spiritual person. Eventually influenced by the charismatic spiritual
leader and artist Onisaburo Deguchi, he came to view his martial training
as a means of personal purification and spiritual training.
The time of O-Sensei’s life saw Japan involved in some of the most
violent conflicts of the 20th century, culminating in the Pacific war.
However, it was during this time that he founded Aikido and declared it to
be a way of joining the peoples of the world together in peace. In
this way, Aikido is truly Budo - a martial Way - rather than simply a
bujutsu (martial technique) or bugei (martial art). When martial
training is undertaken not simply as a means to conquer others, but as a
means to refine and perfect the self, this can be said to be Budo.
The famous motto of O-Sensei, “Masakatsu Agatsu”, contains the essence
of the spirit of Aikido: “True victory is victory over the
self.”
The Kaiso’s incredible technical expertise and charisma brought him
tremendous support from high-ranking military officers, government
personnel, and the Imperial family during his life. Following his
death in 1969, he was posthumously awarded an Imperial medal for his
unique contributions. However, recognitions and honors aside, it was
the universality of his insights, and his vision of the martial Way being
open to all sincere persons internationally, which have led to the
phenomenal growth of Aikido. The noblest philosophies and intentions
of the samurai have become a part of world culture, and give spiritual
sustenance to millions of persons of all cultures; this is largely due to
the groundbreaking influence of Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei.
Late Aikido Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba
 Kisshomaru
Ueshiba, Nidai Doshu (the second “master of the Way” of Aikido), son
of Morihei Ueshiba, was born in 1922. From early youth, he trained
under the guidance of his father. During the confusion of the
wartime period, when allied fire-bombings reduced much of Tokyo to ruins,
it was he who remained in the city and preserved the original dojo
building. Following the war, as Aikido entered its golden age and
began to attract public attention, he was instrumental in leading and
organizing what would become the Zaidan Hojin Aikikai – the
government-recognized, not-for-profit organization which exists today as
the center of world Aikido. Upon the death of O-Sensei in 1969,
Kisshomaru Ueshiba was named the second Doshu of Aikido.
From that time on, Doshu quietly went about the business of
spreading Aikido internationally. The tremendous expansion of the
art, and the now millions of practitioners, can largely be called his
creation. It was he who coordinated the sending of Japanese Shihan
overseas, thereby founding and developing the seeds of large organizations
in other nations. He also maintained the strong support of
government officials and businessmen in Japan, and built new support of
this kind internationally. His many publications of Aikido technique
and philosophy have further spread Aikido’s influence. The high
educational and professional standards of Aikido, and the respect it has
gained, are a result of these efforts.
In 1999 Kisshomaru Ueshiba died in Tokyo, having successfully
transformed the vision of his father into an international movement.
Aikido Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba
Moriteru Ueshiba, son of Kisshomaru Ueshiba, was named the Sandai (third) Doshu shortly after his father’s death; before
that time, he had served as the Aikikai Hombu Dojo-cho
(headquarters dojo director). Now taking over the leadership
of the Aikikai organization, Doshu brings to his position an
already full life of training and instruction. The Aikido
world has high expectations that, under his leadership, Aikido
will continue to grow and expand in fulfillment of O-Sensei’s
dream.
Late Aikido Shihan Fumio Toyoda
Fumio Toyoda Shihan was uchideshi under the late Doshu
Kisshomaru Ueshiba, and also trained under Koichi Tohei Sensei, the
former Chief Instructor at Hombu Dojo. As a professional instructor at
Aikido World Headquarters, Toyoda Shihan had the opportunity to train
and travel across Japan, eventually establishing himself in the United
States.  Committed to spreading the direct lineage of Ueshiba Aikido,
Toyoda Shihan was actively engaged in developing the next generation of
shihan-level instructors through his uchideshi training program,
national instructor seminars, and other events. Toyoda Shihan's commitment
to high quality Aikido instruction lives on through the Aikido
Association of America and its current instructors all over the
world. Toyoda Shihan's legacy of quality, professional Aikido
instruction is the key to the future survival and growth of Aikido; this
effort has become the hallmark of Toyoda Shihan's and the Aikido
Association of America's organizational activities. In this way, the
lineage of Aikido will strongly continue for coming generations."
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