Morihei Ueshiba: The Founder of Aikido
At the source of our lineage is Morihei Ueshiba (1883–1969), the founder of Aikido. Known throughout the world as O’Sensei (“Great Teacher”), he is revered as one of history’s greatest martial artists—a man who transformed ancient combat techniques into a path of peace and spiritual harmony.
Early Life and Discipline
Born on December 14, 1883, in Tanabe, a city in the sacred Wakayama prefecture, O’Sensei grew up in a region steeped in Japanese history and spirituality. Though he was an avid reader from a young age, his path was not destined for academia. After a brief period in business and service in the Russo-Japanese War, he sought a deeper purpose through physical and spiritual discipline.
The Meeting with Sokaku Takeda
The most pivotal moment in his martial development occurred in 1915 in Hokkaido. It was there that O’Sensei met Sokaku Takeda, the formidable head of Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjitsu. This encounter was the catalyst that turned O’Sensei into a true martial master. The rigorous techniques of Daitō-ryū, combined with his later mastery of the spear and sword (Shinkage-ryū), formed the technical bedrock upon which Aikido would eventually be built.
From Combat to Harmony
As his practice evolved, O’Sensei moved away from the idea of “defeating an enemy” and toward the concept of Aiki—the unification of energy and the cessation of conflict. He spent his later years in Iwama, refining the relationship between open-hand techniques (Taijutsu) and weapons (Ken and Jo).
The Iwama Legacy: Morihiro Saito Sensei
To ensure his art remained pure, O’Sensei entrusted the protection of his private Dojo and the Aiki Jinja temple to his most devoted disciple, Morihiro Saito Sensei. Having served the Founder for 23 years, Saito Sensei became the guardian of the authentic Iwama tradition.
It was under Saito Sensei’s direct guidance that Daniel Toutain mastered the techniques of Aiki, ensuring that the legacy of O’Sensei continues to live on through the Wanomichi method today.
“To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace.” — Morihei Ueshiba