Aikido was born from the vision of an extraordinary budoka, Morihei Ueshiba, who transcended the limits of bujutsu. While traditional martial arts often positioned strength against weakness, O-Sensei sought a path where the refinement of mind and body would lead to the development of the human spirit. He declared that “Budo that corresponds to the modern era is called Aikido.”
From his youth, Ueshiba’s life was shaped by a deep awareness of suffering and injustice. Witnessing his father, a political opponent, “beaten with a heavy fist,” he was moved to study bujutsu. This experience kindled in him an unwavering resolve to dedicate his life to Budo. His journey led him to study under masters of distinguished schools, including Aya-Ryu Ju-jutsu, Kito-Ryu Ju-jutsu, Daito-Ryu Ju-jutsu, Ken Shinkage-Ryu, and Hozoin-Ryu Sojutsu. His meeting with Takeda Sokaku of the Daito-Ryu marked a turning point — opening a new vision of what Budo could become.
Yet he came to see that bujutsu alone could not bring salvation to society. This realization compelled him to seek a deeper path, turning toward spiritual practice. At eighteen, inspired to become a “Great Traveler,” he journeyed to Tokyo and eventually to Hokkaido, where he gathered eighty volunteers to form the Shirataki settlement, teaching them for eight years. There, his thoughts were touched by the vision of Deguchi Vanisaburo, the leader of Omoto-kyo, who dreamt of “creating a paradise on Mongolian soil.”
The passing of his father, a steadfast supporter, plunged Ueshiba into profound grief, compounded by the loss of two sons. It was in this crucible of suffering that Reverend Deguchi’s compassion became a lifeline. Guided by faith, sustained by the teachings of his own masters, and driven by tireless practice, Ueshiba embarked on a path to transform Bu into a means of peace for all — envisioning the Earth as “the big House open to everyone.” His experiences — from prison and the brink of execution to the trials of war — became a living testament to the evolution of Budo into Aikido.
A defining moment came when a naval officer and fencing master challenged him. Ueshiba faced him without a weapon, and “the enemy could not even touch him with his sword during the fight.” After the duel, as he drank from a well and walked through a garden, O-Sensei suddenly “froze, motionless, feeling the earth sway beneath him.” A cascade of golden rays descended and ascended, transforming his being. In that moment, he attained a profound vision: “The desire for blind victory must become Love. The source of Budo is divine love and universal compassion.” He recognized that true Budo harmonizes creation and protection — the very essence of Aikido.
This insight shaped his path. Invited by Count Yamamoto Gombei to return to Tokyo, O-Sensei taught the imperial entourage, heads of state, and noble families. Between these duties, he instructed in military academies and university halls. By 1935, desiring deeper personal cultivation, he acquired land in Iwama to establish a place where Budo could be practiced in harmony with nature. Yet the onset of war disrupted his plans. His students were drafted, and martial arts came under governmental influence, compromising the independence of true Budo.
With resolve, he entrusted his Tokyo dojo to his son and retreated to Iwama, where he created an open training hall and dedicated himself to developing Aikido. Even under the American occupation, when martial arts were prohibited, O-Sensei continued his work. By 1948, with the ban lifted, Aikido resumed openly at the Tokyo Dojo.
The spread of Aikido became a global journey. In 1951, Master Moshizuki Minoru introduced it to France and Europe. In 1952, Master Abe Tadashi brought it to Marseille, and Master Tohei Koichi began teaching in Hawaii and the United States. In 1961, O-Sensei, at 78, visited Hawaii for the opening of the Aikikai Dojo, marking the true internationalisation of Aikido. Demonstrations began in 1956, and training halls flourished in schools, universities, and companies.
From that time, the teachings of O-Sensei spread worldwide. In the 1960s, uchi deshi brought his spirit to the world: Yamada Yoshimitsu in the USA, Sugano Seichi in Australia, Noro Masamichi and Tamura Nobuyoshi in France, Shiba Kazuo in England, Kanai Mitsunari in the USA. Teachers such as Nakazono Mutsuharu, Kobayashi Hirokazu, Tada Hiroshi, Asai Katsuaki, Ichimura Toshikazu, and others settled permanently in Europe, further extending his legacy.
The International Aikido Federation, founded in 1975, today unites six continental federations and over forty national federations. Though some nations are not yet represented, Aikido continues to grow, remaining faithful to its mission — to transform conflict into harmony through the path of universal compassion.
— Nobuyoshi Tamura, “Aikido”
