Morihei Ueshiba, called O'Sensei ("great teacher"), the founder of modern Aikido, was born on December 14, 1883 in the Wakayama Prefecture of Japan.
Several incidents in his life served to shape his vision and beliefs, and influenced his design of a martial art that is, in many ways, unlike any other practiced today.
As a small child, he saw his father attacked and assaulted by political opponents, and because of this injustice, devoted himself to becoming physically powerful. He studied under masters in several traditional forms of the martial arts. He became an expert in the styles of jujitsu (unarmed combat), kenjitsu (sword fighting), and sojitsu (spear fighting). O'Sensei would later incorporate elements of these styles into modern Aikido.
Despite his physical prowess, he found himself dispirited. He turned to studying various religions and philosophies in the hope of finding a deeper meaning and significance to life. In his search, he discovered and became a devotee of the religion called Omotokyo - a blend of neo-shintoism and socio-political idealism - where the unification of all humanity is one goal. He reached the conclusion that it was important to train people’s minds and spirits as well as their bodies.
O’Sensei credited an incident with a naval officer as the beginning of his enlightenment. The officer, who was a fencing instructor, challenged him to a match. During the match, an unarmed O’Sensei repeatedly evaded the officer’s strikes with a wooden sword, eventually defeating him when the officer dropped from exhaustion. In his retelling of the incident, O'Sensei stated he was aware that could "see" the officer’s moves before he made them. He also realized that he had defeated an armed attacker without ever harming or even laying a hand on him.
Originally called aikibudo by its founder, this art that expressed O'Sensei's philosophy of harmony, protection and love, had a large number of followers by the early 1920's. In 1927 O'Sensei built a dojo in Tokyo. A few years later he founded the Budo Enhancement Society and became its chief instructor.
In the early 1940’s his creation was being called Aikido, but it was still only practiced by carefully chosen individuals in Japan. After WWII, Aikido was introduced to the world, and gradually spread, reaching the United States in the late 1950’s.
O’Sensei was a man of peace who followed his spiritual and philosophical vision. He taught that the martial arts should be used as a means to live in harmony with oneself, the earth, and its inhabitants. Throughout his life he continued to refine his system to the less violent and gently flowing techniques practiced today. O’Sensei died at the age of 86 on April 26, 1969.
Kissomaru Ueshiba, O’Sensei’s son, took over the task of spreading the vision of Aikido - The Art of Peace - after his father’s death. His grandson, Moriteru Ueshiba continues this tradition today.
Morihei Ueshiba quotes
A good stance and posture reflect a proper state of mind.
Morihei Ueshiba
All life is a manifestation of the spirit, the manifestation of love.
Morihei Ueshiba
All the principles of heaven and earth are living inside you. Life itself is truth, and this will never change. Everything in heaven and earth breathes. Breath is the thread that ties creation together.
Morihei Ueshiba
Always keep your mind as bright and clear as the vast sky, the great ocean, and the highest peak, empty of all thoughts. Always keep your body filled with light and heat. Fill yourself with the power of wisdom and enlightenment.
Morihei Ueshiba
As soon as you concern yourself with the 'good' and 'bad' of your fellows, you create an opening in your heart for maliciousness to enter. Testing, competing with, and criticizing others weaken and defeat you.
Morihei Ueshiba
Create each day anew.
Morihei Ueshiba
Do not look upon this world with fear and loathing. Bravely face whatever the gods offer.
Morihei Ueshiba
Each and every master, regardless of the era or the place, heard the call and attained harmony with heaven and earth. There are many paths leading to the top of Mount Fuji, but there is only one summit - love.
Morihei Ueshiba
Economy is the basis of society. When the economy is stable, society develops. The ideal economy combines the spiritual and the material, and the best commodities to trade in are sincerity and love.
Morihei Ueshiba
Everyone has a spirit that can be refined, a body that can be trained in some manner, a suitable path to follow. You are here to realize your inner divinity and manifest your innate enlightenment.
Morihei Ueshiba
Failure is the key to success; each mistake teaches us something.
Morihei Ueshiba
If your heart is large enough to envelop your adversaries, you can see right through them and avoid their attacks. And once you envelop them, you will be able to guide them along the path indicated to you by heaven and earth.
Morihei Ueshiba
In extreme situations, the entire universe becomes our foe; at such critical times, unity of mind and technique is essential - do not let your heart waver!
Morihei Ueshiba
It is necessary to develop a strategy that utilizes all the physical conditions and elements that are directly at hand. The best strategy relies upon an unlimited set of responses.
Morihei Ueshiba
Life is growth. If we stop growing, technically and spiritually, we are as good as dead.
Morihei Ueshiba
Loyalty and devotion lead to bravery. Bravery leads to the spirit of self-sacrifice. The spirit of self-sacrifice creates trust in the power of love.
Morihei Ueshiba
Mankind's role is to fulfil his heaven-sent purpose through a sincere heart that is in harmony with all creation and loves all things.
Morihei Ueshiba
One does not need buildings, money, power, or status to practice the Art of Peace. Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is the place to train.
Morihei Ueshiba
Opponents confront us continually, but actually there is no opponent there. Enter deeply into an attack and neutralize it as you draw that misdirected force into your own sphere.
Morihei Ueshiba
Progress comes to those who train and train; reliance on secret techniques will get you nowhere.
Morihei Ueshiba
Study how water flows in a valley stream, smoothly and freely between the rocks. Also learn from holy books and wise people. Everything - even mountains, rivers, plants and trees - should be your teacher.
Morihei Ueshiba
The art of Peace I practice has room for each of the world's eight million gods, and I cooperate with them all. The God of Peace is very great and enjoins all that is divine and enlightened in every land.
Morihei Ueshiba
The divine is not something high above us. It is in heaven, it is in earth, it is inside us.
Morihei Ueshiba
The heart of a human being is no different from the soul of heaven and earth. In your practice always keep in your thoughts the interaction of heaven and earth, water and fire, yin and yang.
Morihei Ueshiba
The purpose of training is to tighten up the slack, toughen the body, and polish the spirit.
Morihei Ueshiba
There are no contests in the Art of Peace. A true warrior is invincible because he or she contests with nothing. Defeat means to defeat the mind of contention that we harbor within.
Morihei Ueshiba
Those who are possessed by nothing possess everything.
Morihei Ueshiba
To injure an opponent is to injure yourself. To control aggression without inflicting injury in the Art of Peace.
Morihei Ueshiba
When an opponent comes forward, move in and greet him; if he wants to pull back, send him on his way.
Morihei Ueshiba
When life is victorious, there is birth; when it is thwarted, there is death. A warrior is always engaged in a life-and-death struggle for Peace.
Morihei Ueshiba
Your heart is full of fertile seeds, waiting to sprout.
Morihei Ueshiba
True victory does not come from defeating an enemy, true victory comes from giving love and changing an enemies heart.
Morihei Ueshiba
Your spirit is the true shield.
Morihei Ueshiba
Aikido is based on the projection of love.
Aikido is love. It is the path that brings our heart into oneness with the spirit of the universe to complete our mission in life by instilling in us a love and reverence for all of nature.
Morihei Ueshiba
