Aikido is known as the three concepts: Ai meaning (harmony), KI meaning (spirit) and Do meaning (way) or the way of spiritual harmony. It is a self defence system that incorporates different styles such as Judo, Jujitsu, and many other styles.

Aikido was mostly formulated during the 1920’s and 30’s by Morihei Ueshiba in Japan. Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanbe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan on December 14th 1883. His father a wealthy landowner that traded lumber , fishing as well as politics . Ueshiba who was rather a small weak child was encouraged by his father to participate in athletics and often told him abut his grandfather Kichiemon who was a great Samurai.

It is said that Useshiba witnessed his father attack due to his political beliefs and aspirations. This persuaded Ueshiba to want to become skilled enough in the martial arts to be able to defend himself. Ueshiba began to train in Tenjin Shin’yo –Ryu jujutsu under Tozawa Tokusaburo in 1901 , Goto-Ha Yagya Shingan-Ryu under Nakai Matsakatsu between 1903-08 , and in Judo under Kiyoichi Takagi in 1911.

He became very serious about his training in 1915 while studding Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu under Takeda Sokaku .He was affiliated with Daito –Ryu for the next 22 years which he began to call ‘Aiki Budo’, the art that that would become known as Aikido in 1942, which was greatly influenced by two things , the training Ueshiba received in Daito-Ryu and the Omotokyo religion.

The ideas of Omotokyo was the unification of all humanity into a ‘heavenly kingdom on earth, which has philosophical bearings on Aikido .Ueshiba is referred to by his students as Osensei (great teacher) due to his amazing contributions to the art. In 1951 aikido was first introduced to the West by Minoru Mochizuki when he visited France to teach judo students.

Kisshomaru Ueshiba the third child of , Kisshomaru became the international leader of aikido when his farter passed away . This made him the second doshu, or ‘keeper of the way’ for the art. kissomaru influenced a large part of aikido by introducing aikido to the rest of the international world . Moriteru Ueshiba, son of the now deceased Kisshomara, is now the third doshu of aikido. Steven Seagal a 7th dan black belt in aikido and is considered one of the first foreigner to operate a dojo in Osaka.

Aikido Demonstration Video: