O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba

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It is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba (from 1942 to the 1960s) Aikido does not use force but flexibility, displacement, placement of the hips and muscle relaxation. His techniques are not intended to defeat but to reduce violence or possible aggression to nothing.

 

Biography

 

• Morihei Ueshiba was born on December 14, 1883 in Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. His father Yoroki Ueshiba and his mother Yuki Itokawa.

• At the age of 7, he started swimming and sumo. His father teaches him the secret martial art Aioi-ryu, which was a mix of tai-jitsu and Kendo.

• At the age of 17, he moved to Tokyo and deepened his knowledge of martial arts by studying at the "Tengin Shinyo-Ryu" jujutsu school, run by Tokusaburo Tojawa Sensei, as well as at the school's Kenjutsu. Shinkage Kenjutsu. He marries Hatsu Itokawa.

• In 1903, he joined the 37th Regiment of the 4th Osaka Division, to defend Japan from the conflict with Russia. He trained in bayonet and later in Juken-Jutsu.  In 1904 he was sent to the front during the Russo-Japanese War and returned with the rank of sergeant.

• He trains in Sakai, near Osaka, at the Masakaku Nakai dojo, where he studied Yagyu-ryu-jujutsu.

• Returning to civilian life, Morihei began studying judo with Kiyoichi Tokagi Sensei and worked on the family farm,

• In 1912 he settled in Hokkaido and built the village of Shirataki near Yobetsu.

• In 1915, in the city of Engaru, he meets Sokaku Takeda Sensei, a specialist in Daito-Ryu Jujutsu who becomes his teacher, granting him the first degree of Daito-ryu in 1917.

• In 1919 he receives the news that his father is seriously ill and returns to Tanabe, diverts his journey to Ayabe and meets Onisaburo Deguchi, leader of the Omoto-Kyo religion and famous for his Chikon Kishin (meditation technique).

•  His father, Yoroku, passes away and he decides to move to Ayabe with his wife Hatsu and daughter Hatsuko to study with Onisaburo Deguchi. He transforms his house into a dojo and founds the Ueshiba martial arts academy, where he taught Daito-Ryu Jujutsu.

• In 1921, Morihei's wife gave birth to a new son, Kisshomaru.

• In 1922 he receives an official teaching diploma from Takeda and names his new budô "Aïki-bujutsu" as Ueshiba-ryu for the first time. -aiki-bujutsu.

• In 1924 he traveled with Deguchi to Mongolia, was captured and deported to Japan. He returns to Ayabe, resumes teaching martial arts at Ueshiba Academy, particularly Sojutsu (the spear technique), Ken-jutsu, and jujutsu and works at the Tennodaira farm.

• He meets Admiral Takeshita who encourages him to demonstrate and run workshops in Tokyo.

• In 1925 he changed the name from aïki-bujutsu  to aïki-budo, changing from "aiki martial technique" to "aiki martial form".

• In 1930, he started a dojo in Ushigome, Shinjuku district, which he called Kobukan, currently the headquarters of Aikikai. He receives a visit from Jigoro Kano Sensei, Kokodan teacher, founder of Judo who entrusts some of his students to him, such as: Yoïchiro Inoue, Kenji Tomiki, Minoru Mochizuki, Tsutomo Yokawa, Shigemi Yonekawa, Rinjiro Shirata and Gozo Shioda.

• In 1931 the "Association for the Promotion of Martial Arts" was created under the auspices of the Omoto-Kyo religion at the request of Onisaburo, which was effective from 1931 to the end of 1935, when the religion was suddenly banned by the Japanese military government. .

• In 1940, the Kobukan obtained the status of "Formation recognized by the Ministry of Health and Hygiene" through its first president, Admiral Isamu Takeshita  .

• In 1942, after becoming seriously ill, Master Ueshiba decides to establish a new base for the aikido organization in Ibaragi Prefecture, Iwama Town. He then left the charge of the Wakamatsu-cho dojo to his son Kisshomaru Ueshiba.

• In 1952, a large festival is held at Iwama Aiki Temple to celebrate 60 years of Morihei practice.

• In 1954, the Aikido headquarters moved to Tokyo, taking the official title of "Aikikai Foundation": the Hombu Dojo of Aikido.

• In 1956, the Aikikai held the first sanctioned public performance of martial arts after World War II for five days on the roof of the Takashimaya department store in Tokyo's Nihombashi district. In fact, because of its "peaceful" nature, Aikido was the first martial art to be re-authorized for American practice in post-war Japan.

• In 1964, he received a special award from Emperor Hirohito in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the martial arts.

• In 1967, the foundation stone was laid for a new Hombu dojo, a three-story building, which was  completed on December 18 of the same year.

• During this part of his life in Iwama, Master Ueshiba defines the concept of Takemusu Aïki, which corresponds to the spontaneous execution of an infinity of techniques adapted to any attack.

• On April 26, 1969, Morihei Ueshiba died of liver cancer. On the same day, he received a posthumous award from Emperor Hiro Hito.