Aikido is a martial art native to Japan. The history of Aikido and the history of OSensei are essentially the same. Ueshiba Sensei began his studies of the martial arts as a child.

Ueshiba Sensei was born in Japan in the year of 1883 in the town of Tanabe in the Prefecture of Wakayama. His father was a farmer of good reputation and his mother came from a noble family (descended from the samurai).

Ueshiba Sensei spent much of his youth in religious studies. Those studies certainly contributed to his life-long interest in matters of the spirit.

His father made him study Sumo. Later, around 1902 he began his studies of the arts of jujutsu and kenjutsu. After being discharged from the army in 1907 he returned to his father's house. It was around this time that he studied Judo.

In the year 1912 he led a group of pioneers to the northern island of Hokkaido. The purpose of this group was to establish a village and cultivate the land. They established the village of Shirataki (which still exists) with more than 80 people. It was in that time that he began his studies of Daito-Ryu. He received a teaching certificate after pursuing a dedicated course of study under his teacher Sokaku Takeda.

In the year 1919 he was informed that his father was gravely ill. While traveling to his father's house, he met Mr. Onisaburo Deguchi, the leader of the Shinto sect known as Omoto-Kyo. Mr. Deguchi had a profound influence over the young Ueshiba with his religious teachings and concepts. After the death of his father, he returned to Mr. Deguchi. He also established a martial arts school in his house and taught members of the Omoto-Kyo sect.

At that time the religious teachings began to have a deep spiritual influence. OSensei saw that there is a relation between spirituality and physical movements. His teachings began to change. After a time many people began to believe that there was a "great teacher" of the martial arts in the village.

While he was with Mr. Deguchi, he went with Mr. Deguchi to Manchuria and Mongolia with the purpose of establishing a "holy land" from which they could establish a new world government. It didn't turn out well but when they returned from the Asian mainland he continued his studies of kenjutsu and jujutsu. He also began a study of sojutsu (spear techniques).

In the spring of 1925 he became acquainted with a naval officer. This man was an expert in kenjutsu and challenged Ueshiba Sensei. At that time, while being attacked by the officer, Ueshiba Sensei discovered that he could easily evade every strike made by the officer.

After this experience, while bathing at a well, he received a vision. In that vision he saw a "golden light" that surrounded him. At this time he realized the unity of the universe and the principles upon which the concepts of Aikido are based. Thus, he came to realize that he would have to call his art aiki-budo (the "road of aiki") instead of aiki-jutsu (the "techniques" of aiki).

In the year 1927, after various visits to Tokyo with the purpose of teaching various government officials and functionaries in the court of the Emperor, he established a permanent residence in Tokyo.

In the period between 1941 and 1942 OSensei felt compelled to call his art "Aikido" although it can be said that he was living in one of the darkest eras of human history. Because of the horrific things that were taking place during the war, he broke with the government and retired to a farm in the country. He immersed himself in religious studies and in the practice and perfection of his art. He began the construction of a sanctuary and training facility.

If you wish to read more about the history of Aikido, read the book "Budo" written by Morihei Ueshiba and published by Kodansha International in 1991.

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