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Morihei Ueshiba
Kempo Karate StylesStyles of KempoThis article does not purport to present a complete or exhaustive list of Kempo styles. Below are the Kempo styles in ..... Morihei Ueshiba, the originator of aikido, was born in Japan on December 14, 1883. When Ueshiba was a boy, he often witnessed his father being beaten by the local hooligans. The reasons behind the beatings were political. Driven by the desire to avenge his father, Ueshibo resolved to make himself strong. He spent most of his time doing hard and strenuous physical conditioning and he eventually practiced "budo" or martial arts. Aikido: A Fusion of Martial Arts and ReligionUeshiba mastered several styles of jujitsu, fencing and spear fighting. In spite of his achievements, though, Ueshiba felt discontentment.He felt restless and empty inside. This pushed him to begin exploring different religious dogmas. While Ueshiba mastered budo, he tried to discover the meaning and significance of life through religion. Ueshiba incorporated his spiritual and political beliefs with his martial training and the result was "aikido", a modern martial art. For a time, Ueshiba called his creation "aikibudo" and "aikinomichi" until he settled on the name "aikido" in 1942.Jujitsu RootsBecause Ueshiba mastered several styles of jujitsu, a martial art from which judo is derived, it can be observed that his creation, aikido, bears resemblance to it. Aikido particularly has its roots in daitoryu-(aiki) jujitsu and sword and spear fighting.To illustrate it simply, aikido has jujitsu's joint locks and throws and the body movements of sword and spear fighting. Aikido, however, is not simply a derivation of jujitsu and sword and spear fighting. Master Ueshibo developed many original aikido techniques.Ueshiba's Religious BeliefsUeshiba was a firm adherent of Omotokyo, one of the "new religions" in Japan. Part neo-shintoism and part socio-political idealism, Omotokyo's goal is to unify the world in one "heavenly kingdom on earth." Omotokyo's intent is to have all religions banded together under its banner.
Because Ueshiba's beliefs were based strongly on Omotokyo, one will find it difficult, or even impossible, to fully understand many of his writings and sayings without having an understanding of Omotokyo and its influence on Ueshiba.A Smorgasbord of BeliefsContrary to what many people believe, aikido has no unified doctrine. Instead, aikido is a jumbled mix - a smorgasbord - of spiritual, moral and transcendental beliefs that are only partially coherent. Aikidoists pass on these beliefs through word-of-mouth and in smatterings of publications featuring aikido.Some Examples of Aikido's Beliefs- Aikido, its followers believe, is not a way to fight with or defeat enemies. Instead, aikido is a way to unite all the peoples of the world into one family. - The core or the heart of aikido is the cultivation of "ki", which is a vital force, an internal power or mental/spiritual energy.- Becoming one with the universe is the goal of aikido.- Aikido is fundamentally a path towards the attainment of physical and psychological mastery of the self.- Aikidoists hold the belief that the body is the tangible evidence of union of the physical and spiritual that the universe has contrived.At the center of nearly all of aikido's philosophical interpretations, however, are at least two identifiable essential ideas that guide its followers. First, that its followers be committed to the peaceful resolution of any discord whenever possible. Second, that aikido's followers be committed towards improving themselves through training and mastering aikido.Words by Master UeshibaMaster Ueshiba said that "eight forces sustain creation: movement and stillness, solidification and fluidity, extension and contraction, unification and division." He also said that aikido techniques use four qualities, which are a reflection of nature. "Depending on the circumstance, you should be:hard as a diamond, flexible as a willow, smooth flowing like water, and as empty as space," Ueshido expounded.
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