The Simple History of Aikido Articles | Self Esteem

By: Darren Williger

Aikido is a simple Japanese martial art which was created in the early parts of the 20th century. It was created by Morihei Ueshiba who was also known as O Sensei or Great Teacher. The O Sensei was a disciplined master of different martial arts principles and philosophies. Out this exhaustive knowledge in both armed and unarmed combats Ueshiba formed Aikido. Aikido was termed a very efficient martial art but the training espoused in Aikido is not for street fighting or the advancement of students in sporting tournaments. Aikido focuses on the perfection of character as well as the development of positive human qualities like compassion, courage, endurance and inner strength as well.

Aikido training is taken not only to improve an individual but the general society as well. Tokyo was the founding center of Aikido and the main dojo or training hall is located at the Aikido World Headquarters there, known as the (Aikikai Hombu Dojo). The son of the O Sensei who was Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba has carried on the practice of the martial art to various places all over the world initially starting with Europe. In Europe Aikido was first taught in France before it moved to the rest of the continent. In the Americas it started with Hawaii when the well know teacher of Aikido Koichi Tohei Sensei taught the art and he was followed by the O Sensei as well.

The first shihan of master of Aikido who qualified as instructors where direct students of the O Sensei. These students strove to help the master achieve his dreams of making Aikido a truly universal martial art. Today the art transcends both natural and cultural boundaries. Hawaii in the United States was the first country to experience true Aikido and it was then followed by California. This then increased quite exponentially with the arrival of Aikido masters who came directly from the Aikido World Headquarters to establish outposts in major cities throughout the entire United States. Gradually Aikido spread to cover the entire country and today it is one of the more popular martial arts there.

From the year 1969 onwards the son of the O Sensei bred new breeds of Shihan through the means of the training program at the Aikido World Headquarters known as the uchideshi. These masters in turn have successfully spread the martial art by their use of a wide and broad reaching outreach program.

Over a relatively small amount of time and with the guidance of Doshu Ueshiba, Aikido has evolved from a simple path sought by few people into a martial art practiced by millions of people the world over. Doshu Ueshiba has been recognized for his many efforts and one of the laurels to testify as to his abilities and success in the world of martial arts was the medal given to him in the year 1995 by the Japanese emperor. Doshu Ueshiba was the president of the International Aikido Federations and the All-Japan Aikido Federation until his death in the month of January 1999 when he was almost eighty years old.