Nidai Dōshu — Ueshiba Kisshomaru
Upon the Founder’s death, his son Kisshomaru Ueshiba (1921–1999) assumed the title of Aikido Dōshu. His dedication helped preserve the art through World War II and shaped the organization of Aikido’s technical canon.
What Is Aikido?
Aikido 合氣道 is a traditional Japanese martial art created by Morihei Ueshiba O Sensei who, along with Kano Jigoro Sensei (the founder of Judo 柔道) and Funakoshi Gichin Sensei (the founder of Karate-dō 空手道), brought Japanese bujutsu—the traditional Japanese warrior arts—into the 20th century.
These revolutionary teachers taught the warrior principles of the samurai while adding a social dimension that emphasized peaceful resolution of conflict and living in harmony with others.
Today these arts are collectively referred to as Budō 武道, or Japanese martial ways, emphasizing their focus on individual self-development rather than just military application and fighting.
Aikido’s movements appear soft and flowing due to their non-confrontational nature. However, they are at the same time very subtle and powerful. The movements and spirit of Aikido are deeply rooted in the Japanese sword and battlefield arts.
They have been synthesized into a complete budo that—while effective for use in self-defense situations—develops awareness, intent, focus, coordinated movement, and physical engagement without the use of strength or resistance.
True Aikido technique is executed with a martial mindset honed to resemble the Japanese katana. More importantly for our present-day survival, the path of Aikido cultivates a similarly honed spirit committed to reconciling conflict without reciprocal violence.
“To injure an opponent is to injure yourself. To control aggression without inflicting injury is aikido.”— Ueshiba Morihei O Sensei
Ultimately, Aikido teaches us to replace resistance and control with physical and spiritual connection. In the pursuit of this ideal we discover that self-defense is not found in the defeat of or protection from others. Rather, true self-defense is found in freedom from our own internal, physical, and emotional conflicts.
Self-defense begins within ourselves.
The Founder of Aikido
Ueshiba Morihei O Sensei
Aikido represents a synthesis of fighting principles that date back hundreds of years. The art’s present form is the product of a lifelong pursuit of the samurai warrior arts by Morihei Ueshiba (1883–1969), referred to by his students as O Sensei, or “great teacher.”
Ueshiba explored several traditional schools of jujutsu, spear, staff, and sword arts—most notably Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu. From these arts modern-day Aikido was born.
A profoundly spiritual man, O Sensei lamented the futility of bujutsu whose sole purpose was victory over others. He termed the phrase masakatsu agatsu katsuhayabi: “true and correct victory is the victory over oneself.”
Transformed by this insight, O Sensei focused on a martial art of refinement and preservation—a way to overcome discord and help bring lasting peace to the world.
The Ueshiba Legacy
Sandai Dōshu — Ueshiba Moriteru
Today O Sensei’s grandson Moriteru Ueshiba serves as Aikido Dōshu and General Director of the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, overseeing an art now practiced around the world.
Waka Sensei — Ueshiba Mitsuteru
Mitsuteru Ueshiba, O Sensei’s great-grandson, became Hombu Dojocho in 2012. The title Waka Sensei recognizes him as the successor who will carry the Ueshiba legacy forward.