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The Simple History
of Aikido
Aikido is a simple Japanese martial art which was created in the
early parts of the 20th century. It was created by Morihei Ueshiba
who was also known as O Sensei or Great Teacher. The O Sensei was
a disciplined master of different martial arts principles and
philosophies. Out this exhaustive knowledge in both armed and
unarmed combats Ueshiba formed Aikido. Aikido was termed a very
efficient martial art but the training espoused in Aikido is not
for street fighting or the advancement of students in sporting
tournaments. Aikido focuses on the perfection of character as well
as the development of positive human qualities like compassion,
courage, endurance and inner strength as well.
Aikido training is taken not only to improve an individual but the
general society as well. Tokyo was the founding center of Aikido
and the main dojo or training hall is located at the Aikido World
Headquarters there, known as the (Aikikai Hombu Dojo). The son of
the O Sensei who was Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba has carried on the
practice of the martial art to various places all over the world
initially starting with Europe. In Europe Aikido was first taught
in France before it moved to the rest of the continent. In the
Americas it started with Hawaii when the well know teacher of
Aikido Koichi Tohei Sensei taught the art and he was followed by
the O Sensei as well.
The first shihan of master of Aikido who qualified as instructors
where direct students of the O Sensei. These students strove to
help the master achieve his dreams of making Aikido a truly
universal martial art. Today the art transcends both natural and
cultural boundaries. Hawaii in the United States was the first
country to experience true Aikido and it was then followed by
California. This then increased quite exponentially with the
arrival of Aikido masters who came directly from the Aikido World
Headquarters to establish outposts in major cities throughout the
entire United States. Gradually Aikido spread to cover the entire
country and today it is one of the more popular martial arts
there.
From the year 1969 onwards the son of the O Sensei bred new breeds
of Shihan through the means of the training program at the Aikido
World Headquarters known as the uchideshi. These masters in turn
have successfully spread the martial art by their use of a wide
and broad reaching outreach program.
Over a relatively small amount of time and with the guidance of
Doshu Ueshiba, Aikido has evolved from a simple path sought by few
people into a martial art practiced by millions of people the
world over. Doshu Ueshiba has been recognized for his many efforts
and one of the laurels to testify as to his abilities and success
in the world of martial arts was the medal given to him in the
year 1995 by the Japanese emperor. Doshu Ueshiba was the president
of the International Aikido Federations and the All-Japan Aikido
Federation until his death in the month of January 1999 when he
was almost eighty years old.
Article Source:
http://www.aikidopages.com |
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