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O Sensei
Why is the founder called O Sensei?
The word sensei means 'master' and is used to address any person you respect, such as a teacher.
O Sensei means 'great master' and emphasizes the respect an Aikidoka has for him, the founder.
Morihei Useshiba was born on the 14th of December, 1883. Even as a young boy he showed great piety. His parents had him swim and practice sumo (a martial art) so that he could also improve his body and health.
After his schooling he worked and got married, and had to leave for Tokyo after his involvement in political riots. It was then that he began to study martial arts in earnest and especially Ju jutsu (a martial art from which stemmed Judo among others) and Kenjutsu (the art of the sword). This training helped him develop a surprinsingly great strength for his size (1m54 - 5ft2). Still, he was not satisified with physical strength alone and studied various styles of sword fighting and Jujutsu.
From 1903 to 1907 he served in the army where his fighting abilities were noticed whether armed or bare-handed and especially with bayonets. Later on he was involved in the development of the town of Shirataki on the island of Hokkaido.
His military career did not prevent him from pursuing his martial studies. He practiced Judo and met Sokaku Takeda, master of the Daitoryu Jujutsu, who taught him his secret techniques. Morihei Ueshiba then built a dojo where he housed Takeda Sensei.
Morihei Useshiba had a life-changing experience when he met Onisaburo Deguchi who was at the head of the then flourishing sect Omoto-kyo. After the deaths of his father (in January 1920) and two sons, Morihei Ueshiba found solace in the Omoto-kyo. The movement was persecuted by the authorities who perceived the Omoto-kyo as a threat, and Morihei Ueshiba helped Onisaburo Deguchi in its rebuilding. Their collaboration led them to try and build a Kingdom of Peace in Mongolia, and their failure caused them to spend a few months in Chinese jails. However, during this journey Morihei displayed his great martial qualities and especially the Sen no sen, a kind of sixth sense which allowed him to anticipate an attack. It would have prevented his falling victim to their opponents' bullets.
The spiritual influence he experienced with Deguchi Sensei made him realise that his physical strength and perfect techniques were not enough since he felt he had no control over his mind and spirit. At this time in his development, Aikido was called Aiki-bujutsu.
Through his own life and the teachings of Onisaburo Deguchi, Morihei Ueshiba created a martial art which aims at unifying mind and body, fostering everyone's improvement and promoting peace and love among mankind. In 1925 he had a revelation he called his satori in which he discovered that 'the source of budo (martial art) is divine love, the spirit of love that protects all beings'. His teaching was then called Aiki-budo before getting its final name Aikido in the 40s.
O Sensei left Tokyo to live far from the capital during World War II. After the war the pacifist tendencies Aikido inherited from Deguchi Sensei made it the first martial art to be authorized by the Americans who had banned them. Those years were marked by the development of Aikido under the supervision of Morihei Ueshiba's son Kisshomaru while O Sensei himself travelled to promote Aikido, which was becoming softer and less harsh, and concentrated on his martial practice and meditation. The Shinto animist religion which is specific to Japan was indeed essential in O Sensei's life. He often alluded to it in his Aikido demonstrations and in his doka, short poems in which he presented principles of Aikido.
O Sensei died on the 29th of April, 1969. His teachings were spread thanks to his followers who travelled and developped Aikido all around the world.
The word sensei means 'master' and is used to address any person you respect, such as a teacher.
O Sensei means 'great master' and emphasizes the respect an Aikidoka has for him, the founder.
Morihei Useshiba was born on the 14th of December, 1883. Even as a young boy he showed great piety. His parents had him swim and practice sumo (a martial art) so that he could also improve his body and health.
After his schooling he worked and got married, and had to leave for Tokyo after his involvement in political riots. It was then that he began to study martial arts in earnest and especially Ju jutsu (a martial art from which stemmed Judo among others) and Kenjutsu (the art of the sword). This training helped him develop a surprinsingly great strength for his size (1m54 - 5ft2). Still, he was not satisified with physical strength alone and studied various styles of sword fighting and Jujutsu.
From 1903 to 1907 he served in the army where his fighting abilities were noticed whether armed or bare-handed and especially with bayonets. Later on he was involved in the development of the town of Shirataki on the island of Hokkaido.
His military career did not prevent him from pursuing his martial studies. He practiced Judo and met Sokaku Takeda, master of the Daitoryu Jujutsu, who taught him his secret techniques. Morihei Ueshiba then built a dojo where he housed Takeda Sensei.
Morihei Useshiba had a life-changing experience when he met Onisaburo Deguchi who was at the head of the then flourishing sect Omoto-kyo. After the deaths of his father (in January 1920) and two sons, Morihei Ueshiba found solace in the Omoto-kyo. The movement was persecuted by the authorities who perceived the Omoto-kyo as a threat, and Morihei Ueshiba helped Onisaburo Deguchi in its rebuilding. Their collaboration led them to try and build a Kingdom of Peace in Mongolia, and their failure caused them to spend a few months in Chinese jails. However, during this journey Morihei displayed his great martial qualities and especially the Sen no sen, a kind of sixth sense which allowed him to anticipate an attack. It would have prevented his falling victim to their opponents' bullets.
The spiritual influence he experienced with Deguchi Sensei made him realise that his physical strength and perfect techniques were not enough since he felt he had no control over his mind and spirit. At this time in his development, Aikido was called Aiki-bujutsu.
Through his own life and the teachings of Onisaburo Deguchi, Morihei Ueshiba created a martial art which aims at unifying mind and body, fostering everyone's improvement and promoting peace and love among mankind. In 1925 he had a revelation he called his satori in which he discovered that 'the source of budo (martial art) is divine love, the spirit of love that protects all beings'. His teaching was then called Aiki-budo before getting its final name Aikido in the 40s.
O Sensei left Tokyo to live far from the capital during World War II. After the war the pacifist tendencies Aikido inherited from Deguchi Sensei made it the first martial art to be authorized by the Americans who had banned them. Those years were marked by the development of Aikido under the supervision of Morihei Ueshiba's son Kisshomaru while O Sensei himself travelled to promote Aikido, which was becoming softer and less harsh, and concentrated on his martial practice and meditation. The Shinto animist religion which is specific to Japan was indeed essential in O Sensei's life. He often alluded to it in his Aikido demonstrations and in his doka, short poems in which he presented principles of Aikido.
O Sensei died on the 29th of April, 1969. His teachings were spread thanks to his followers who travelled and developped Aikido all around the world.