Morihei Ueshiba (1883 – 1969)

Morihei Ueshiba (“O-Sensei”, photo at left) is the founder of Aikido. Growing up studying several different martial arts, he became a skilled warrior and served in the Japanese Army during the Russo-Japanese war. After 1907, Ueshiba studied under Takeda Sōkaku, the founder of Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjitsu, honing his own skills and later starting his own dojo. Eventually, O-Sensei went on an expedition through Mongolia and was captured by Chinese troops. Upon his release, O-Sensei was said to have had a spiritual awakening: “A golden spirit sprang up from the ground, veiled my body, and changed my body into a golden one.” This experience seemed to awaken his spirit, increasing his skills and giving him insights into a more harmonious and peaceful martial art form: Aikido.

O-Sensei moved to Tokyo in 1926, where he set up the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. By now he was comparatively famous in martial arts circles.  He taught at this dojo and others around Japan, including several military academies. In the aftermath of World War II the Hombu dojo was temporarily closed, but O-Sensei had by this point left Tokyo and retired to Iwama.  However, O-Sensei continued teaching at a dojo he had established in Iwama. From the end of the war until the 1960’s, O-Sensei traveled regularly, and worked to promote Aikido throughout Japan and abroad.

After O-Sensei’s death, Aikido continued to be promulgated by his students (many of whom became noted martial artists in their own right). O-Sensei’s son, Kisshomaru Ueshiba was the 2nd Doshu of Aikikai Hombu Dojo until his passing in 1999.Moriteru Ueshiba is the current Doshu.

References:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morihei_Ueshiba
2. Ueshiba, Morihei (3 December 2002). The Art of Peace. Translated by Stevens, John. Shambhala Publications. ISBN 978-0-8348-2168-2.

Morihiro Saito (1928 – 2002)

Morihiro Saito Sensei began his study of Aikido in Iwama Japan in 1946.  Saito Sensei (photo at left) studied Aikido under O-Sensei for 23 years, and he was O-Sensei’s longest continuous student.  Saito’s job with the Japanese railroad gave him shifts of 24-hours on, followed by 24-hours off.  This allowed him to train intensively with O-Sensei, including participation in the morning weapons class.  O-Sensei regularly taught Aikido sword (bokken) and staff (jo) techniques in Iwama, and over many years Saito Sensei was able to inherit this technical treasure.  In the Iwama style of Aikido, the movements of empty-hand techniques (taijutsu) correspond to the movements of sword and staff  techniques (bukiwaza), and all are taught as a interrelated system.  Saito Sensei organized and categorized this system, and he methodically passed it on in his lessons.

After O-Sensei’s death, Saito Sensei became the chief instructor at the Iwama Dojo, as well as the guardian of the Aiki Shrine.  In 1973 he began publication of the Traditional Aikido series. He ultimately published five books under this title, gaining worldwide recognition.  Saito Sensei also traveled extensively to teach international seminars in the United States, Europe, and Australia; thus, establishing a large and international Aikido community.  His instruction was known for precision of the technical movements, clarity, and fidelity to detail.  Saito Sensei is among the most significant Aikido Shihans, and he contributed substantially to the world-wide dissemination of Aikido.  He was deeply committed to passing on O-Sensei’s treasure, the techniques of Aikido, as a gift to humanity.

Photo credit: Cover photo from Takemusu Aikido: Background & Basics. Morihiro Saito with Stanley Pranin. Volume 1. 1994. Published by Aiki News.