“Aikido is training of mind and body. Its purpose is to produce sincere people.” — Aikido Founder, Ueshiba Morihei
Aikido is a relatively contemporary martial art though it’s technical origins date back many hundreds of years. Founder Ueshiba Morihei—also known as O’Sensei—studied and perfected these techniques and principles and after a life of vigourous martial arts training and experience, had an epiphany. He realised that the traditional, confrontational, nature of martial arts went against what he saw as the true meaning of Budo: conflict-resolution through peaceful means. From that point on O’Sensei dedicated his life to developing and transmitting a martial way that emphasised technical excellence, personal discipline and self-growth, what we now call Aikido.
Much of the founder’s research took place at his private “outdoor” dojo in the quiet farming community of Iwama, Japan. Thus, the name of the style we practise is often referred to as Dento Iwama Ryu, which literally translates as Traditional Iwama Style reflecting the technical and spiritual roots.
On his passing in 1969, O’Sensei’s left his dojo in the care of his longest serving live-in student, Saito Morihiro Sensei. On the passing of Saito Morhihiro Sensei in 2002 the style passed to Saito Sensei’s son, Hitohiro.
For more information on the history of Aikido, you might like to visit Aikido Journal’s Encyclopaedia of Aikido and in particular, the excellent entry on Ueshiba Morihei.