Morihei Ueshiba

Morihei Ueshiba was a Japanese martial artist who created the modern self-defense art of aikido. He was born in a wealthy family of landowners and fishermen in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. He was a weak and sickly child, but his father encouraged him to become strong and resilient by practicing sumo wrestling and swimming. He also received a Confucian education at a local temple. He moved to Tokyo in 1901 and worked at a tax office, but soon quit due to boredom. He then joined the army and served in the Russo-Japanese War, where he distinguished himself for his bravery and skill. He returned to Japan in 1906 and married Hatsu Itokawa, with whom he had four children, only one of whom survived infancy. Ueshiba became interested in martial arts and studied various styles of jujutsu, kenjutsu, and sojutsu. He met Sokaku Takeda, the founder of Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu, in 1915 and became his devoted student. He also joined the Omoto-kyo, a new religious movement that emphasized world peace and harmony. He moved to Hokkaido in 1912 and established a settlement with other Omoto-kyo followers. He also opened his first dojo and taught martial arts to his students and neighbors. He later moved to Ayabe in 1920 and became a close disciple of Onisaburo Deguchi, the leader of Omoto-kyo. He continued to teach martial arts and also participated in several Omoto-kyo expeditions to Mongolia and China. Ueshiba had a spiritual awakening in 1925, after he defeated a naval officer in a sword duel without harming him. He realized that the true purpose of martial arts was not to defeat enemies, but to protect life and create harmony. He began to modify his techniques and incorporate his religious beliefs into his martial art, which he initially called aiki-budo. He moved to Tokyo in 1927 and opened the Kobukan dojo, where he attracted many prominent students, including politicians, military officers, and celebrities. He also traveled across Japan and gave demonstrations and lectures on his martial art. He changed the name of his art to aikido in 1942, meaning "the way of harmony with the spirit". Ueshiba was deeply affected by the devastation of World War II and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He decided to dedicate his life to promoting peace and harmony through aikido. He moved to Iwama in 1942 and built the Aiki Shrine and the Iwama dojo, where he spent his later years refining his art and teaching his students. He also visited his other dojos and gave guidance to his followers. He became known as O-Sensei, meaning "great teacher", and was revered as the founder of aikido. He died of liver cancer in 1969, at the age of 85. He was buried at the Kōzan-ji temple in Ibaraki, Osaka. His son Kisshomaru Ueshiba succeeded him as the second Doshu, or the official heir and leader of aikido. His grandson Moriteru Ueshiba is the current and third Doshu of aikido.