Morihei Ueshiba
Born on December 14 , 1883 to Yuki and Yokoru Ueshiba in Wakayama Prefecture ( present day Tanabe ) . Morihei Ueshiba was rather a weak and frail child and as a result , spent most of his in indoors reading books and studying , rather than engaging in physical activites like the other kids . His father , Yokoru , was regularly engaged in politics and would often recount tales of his grand father , Kichiemon , who was the strongest samurai of his era , to his son , Morihei . Suddenly , Morihei saw the frantic need to be strong when he witnessed his father get beaten up by rival politicians . He started phyisical activites such as Sumo and Swimming .
Soon the bored Morihei Ueshiba decided to leave school and move to Tokyo , where he set up a stationary bussiness in 1898 . This was where he took the time to train in various martials such as Tenshin Shinyo Ryu Jujutsu ( an art that Judo's founder , Jigoro Kano as trained in ) , Yagyu Shinkage Ryu Jujutsu , Hozoin Ryu and many more . He was said to be an expert at the sword , bo staff , club and lance . During the Russo - Japanese war , Morihei Ueshiba decided to enlist into the army , only resulting in failure as he did not meet the height requirement . A sad and dejected Ueshiba decided to spend the rest of his time working out and building his body . He went to the forests and regularly swung on trees .
Ueshiba's hard physical training paid off as he was enlisted in the army . His martial arts training proved to be worthy as he dodged many life or death encounters in the harsh climate in Manchuria . He was praised by his fellow soldiers for his extraordinary display of his martial arts skills . He regularly conditioned his head by striking it on rock . At one point , an officer broke his wrist by hitting him on the head . Moreover , he was ambushed by his fellow troops who decided to test him out . Much to their disappointment , Ueshiba evaded their attacks . Officials recommended that Ueshiba make his career in the army , but he decided to return to civilian life .
Ueshiba then returned to his family to engage in farmwork and labour . At this point , his father built a dojo near their house and invited famous Judo practitioner , Kiyoichi Tagaki to teach his son . Ueshiba briefly trained in Judo with his teacher . Along with training in martial arts , Ueshiba soon grew an interest in politics . This led him to move his family and a group of followers to Hokkaido , where they founded a village , Shirataki in 1912 . With constant physical training , Ueshiba has tremendous physical strength and was unmatched ! At one point , he could carry up to 1200 pounds !
At was in Hokkaido that he saw a turning point in the way he trained . The famous Bujutsuka , Sokaku Takeda ( also known as The Little Demon of Aizu ) , was in Engamu . Morihei Ueshiba met him at the Hisada Inn . Despite being bigger and physically stronger than Sokaku Takeda , he was thrown around like feathers . They soon developed a student teacher relationship as Ueshiba threw himself into being a loyal student of Sokaku Takeda . Ueshiba attended 3 ten day seminars by The Little Demon . The training was severe and only selected people could attend . Anybody caught even peeping in would be throw away by The Little Demon .
Morhei Ueshiba invited Sokaku Takeda back to his home , where he had built a personal dojo . He was taught the techniques of Daito Ryu Aikibujutsu , which was practiced by the Aizu clan for hundreds of years .
Upon receiving a telegram stating that his father was seriously ill , he immediately sold off his land and property to his teacher and left home . While on the train journey , he stopped at Ayabe and met the leader of the spiritual group , Omoto Kyo , Shanman Onisaburo Deguchi . This meeting had an influence in the development of Aikido.
With constant training , Ueshiba received the scrolls and teaching certificate from his teacher , Sokaku Takeda in 1922 . He had received the Kyoju Dairi . Ueshiba had another near death experience when he went to Mongolia with a few followers to establish a utopian community . He had to fight of several bandits who came to rob them . Unfortunately , they were caught by the Chinese military and became prisoners . They were sentenced to death by firing squad . Ueshiba was given another chance to live when the Japanese government intervened . Together with his previous experience and spiritual beliefs , Ueshiba started to teach his own art .
Soon , he became well known among the martial arts community and was giving demonstrations . He even taught at various military and spy schools such as the Naval Staff College , Rikugun Shinkan Gakko and the Nakano Spy School . On one occasion , he was demonstrating in Tokyo in 1926 infront of high ranking military officers and martial artists . On another occasion , he was demonstrating infront of a huge audience in 1930 . Among them was the founder of Judo , Jigoro Kano . He was mind blown by the spectacular demonstration that he invited Ueshiba to teach at the Kodokan . Ueshiba declined . Kano then wrote a letter to Ueshiba formally asking him to teach some of his students .
This resulted in several of Kano's students such as Kenji Tomiki and Minoru Mochizuki training with Ueshiba for several years . Together with Ueshiba's teachings and their own experience , they went on to form their own style of Aikido . Tomiki Aikido and Yoseikan Aikido . Jigoro Kano was in high praise of Ueshiba . After the demonstration , he said what Ueshiba was doing is " True Budo ! " . He even said to his students that he had wished to acquire the internal skills Ueshiba possessed . Even in his later years , Kano supported his student , Kenji Tomiki to continue studying Aikido to improve his Judo and skills . If Kano had not died too early , his teachings might have made a difference in both Aikido and Judo .
Later in life , the friendship between Ueshiba and Sokaku Takeda would dissolve due to financial and other problems . Now , Ueshiba's art was known as Aikibujutsu and Aikibudo . Still , it contained many teachings from Daito Ryu Aikibujutsu . In 1942 , Ueshiba established the Kobukan Dojo , also known as the Hell Dojo . Training here was so hard that even the tatami mats would give away . Torn skins and burns were common here . Students such as Gozo Shioda endured the training here .
Many people came and challenged him , only to be soundly defeated . At one point , famous Sumo wrestler , Tenryu , challenged Ueshiba . Much to his surprise , he found Ueshiba to be immovable ! With a slight movement of his body , Tenryu was sent flying . This resulted in him training with Ueshiba for a few years . On another occasion , a famous Kendo champion , Junichi Haga , challenged Ueshiba . Ueshiba accepted the challenge and said that he would fight without a sword . Taking this as an insult , the Kendoka attacked Ueshiba with all his might . As the sword was raised , Ueshiba could notice the reflection of the light . Through this , he could sense which way the sword was going . By just avoiding the attacks , Ueshiba defeated the skilled swordsman by tiring him .
Between 1942 and 1943 , Ueshiba moved to Iwama , where he established the Aiki Shrine . This became to be known as the birthplace of Aikido . Along with farming , Ueshiba taught had many talanted students who would go on and spread his teachings . Tadashi Abe , Kenshiro Abbe , Minoru Mochizuki , Koichi Tohei are some examples of students who went to countries like France , United Kingdom and Hawaii to spread Aikido .
It was during the worst fighting of world war two that Ueshiba grew tired of seeing bloodshed and violence. He started to think less about violence and causing harm . This caused him to grow spiritually . Morover , this caused a change in the way he taught his art . Lesser strikes , larger circular movements , and lesser emphasis on violence were some of the changes . This became to be known as post war aikido , which is the style of aikido that is mainly practised and popularized today . Ueshiba started to lose most of his strength and muscle and grew spiritually . Despite being old and frail , he could throw people effortlessly .
Morhei Ueshiba's life was coming to an end in early 1969 where he was diagnosed was liver cancer . In the spring of 1969 , Ueshiba told his son that " God is calling me " . Also he said that " Aikido is for the entire world. Train not for selfish reasons, but for all people everywhere " . In the morning of 26 April 1969 , Morihei Ueshiba peacefully passed away .
Jigoro Kano's Letter To Morihei Ueshiba
Dear Sir:
I thank you deeply for the hospitality I received when I visited you the other day. As I mentioned at that time, I would like to select some serious persons to receive instruction from you. I have searched and chosen a man by the name of Takeda, the same person who accompanied me when I visited you, and in addition, one other person by the name of Mochizuki. I have arranged to have Mr. Shuichi Nagaoka visit you within a few days to formally make the request on my behalf, so please discuss the matter with him.
Again, accept my thanks for your hospitality and please note the request contained in this letter.
Jigoro Kano
Dear Sir:
I thank you deeply for the hospitality I received when I visited you the other day. As I mentioned at that time, I would like to select some serious persons to receive instruction from you. I have searched and chosen a man by the name of Takeda, the same person who accompanied me when I visited you, and in addition, one other person by the name of Mochizuki. I have arranged to have Mr. Shuichi Nagaoka visit you within a few days to formally make the request on my behalf, so please discuss the matter with him.
Again, accept my thanks for your hospitality and please note the request contained in this letter.
Jigoro Kano
Stories
Another story of Morihei Ueshiba being challenged . As recounted by his student , Kazuo Chiba
Yes, I started doing iaido when I was an uchideshi, because O-Sensei told me to. Around 1959 or 1960, a writer named Yamada came to the dojo. He was writing a novel called Oja no Za, (The King’s Throne), using O-Sensei as a model for one of the characters. He made tape recordings of O-Sensei talking about his experiences in Hokkaido. I sat there listening while O-Sensei recounted his stories, one of which involved an incident in which he fought a match against an iaido expert, apparently as a proxy for Sokaku Takeda. Takeda Sensei had killed a number of people, you know, among them an iaido teacher, whose student sent Takeda Sensei a challenge. Takeda Sensei was ill at the time and couldn’t accept it, so O-Sensei went as his representative and fought the match in the Hokkaido snow.
When the distance (maai) between them closed, O-Sensei suddenly kicked up some snow with his front food and leapt in swiftly to strike his opponent in the side under his arm. Then he threw him.
Another story of Morihei Ueshiba being challenged . As recounted by his student , Kazuo Chiba
Yes, I started doing iaido when I was an uchideshi, because O-Sensei told me to. Around 1959 or 1960, a writer named Yamada came to the dojo. He was writing a novel called Oja no Za, (The King’s Throne), using O-Sensei as a model for one of the characters. He made tape recordings of O-Sensei talking about his experiences in Hokkaido. I sat there listening while O-Sensei recounted his stories, one of which involved an incident in which he fought a match against an iaido expert, apparently as a proxy for Sokaku Takeda. Takeda Sensei had killed a number of people, you know, among them an iaido teacher, whose student sent Takeda Sensei a challenge. Takeda Sensei was ill at the time and couldn’t accept it, so O-Sensei went as his representative and fought the match in the Hokkaido snow.
When the distance (maai) between them closed, O-Sensei suddenly kicked up some snow with his front food and leapt in swiftly to strike his opponent in the side under his arm. Then he threw him.