Aikido and the Philosophy of Morihei Ueshiba
Aikido was evolved from Aiki jutsu techniques in the main by Morihei Ueshiba (1883 – 1969), a man some claim as being a magician, or 'at least' the greatest martial artist that ever lived. Ueshiba began his life in Wakayama Prefecture, near both Osaka and the former capitals Nara and Kyoto, a son of a farmer. After a brief failed business attempt and a bout of beriberi, Ueshiba joined the army in 1903. By this time he was gaining experience in different martial art forms and was becoming healthier after his earlier illness. In 1912 Ueshiba led a group of settlers into the harsh northern lands of Hokkaido. During this quest he met and began training with Sokaku Takeda, a master of Daito ryu Aiki jutsu. These techniques would go on to form the basis of his new art.
As important as the martial application of techniques is to Aikido, so are its religious and spiritual aspects. For almost ten years, Ueshiba became involved in the new, infamous religion of Omoto-kyo, the teachings of which would have an effect on shaping his philosophy of Aikido. During his stay with the sect he began teaching students, being encouraged by the sect leader Deguchi Onisaburo to explore his own personal method of understanding and communicating the divine. Ueshiba’s tremendous reputation spread and soon non-sect members were traveling to train with him. The first signs of his emerging art appeared in 1922 when the style of Ueshiba-ryu Aiki bujutsu emerged. From this moment on his exploits become legendary.
In 1924 Ueshiba, Onisaburo and others traveled to China in search of land to create a seat of government for a new, religiously based world order. Ueshiba and his friends were captured under gunfire and it was only through intervention by consular staff that the execution of this small party was prevented. What was startling was that during the firefight that led to his capture Ueshiba swore that he was able to see lines of light indicating the path of bullets. From this moment his life became, if possible, more spiritual. Other profound experiences followed, leading to Ueshiba renaming his style Aiki budo, the change from jutsu to budo indicating a shift in mentality away from a combative approach. By 1930 Ueshiba was teaching in Tokyo with a string of high profile connections supporting him. Jigoro Kano, founder of Judo, visited Ueshiba and announced that Aiki budo was ‘…my ideal budo’. As conflict spread in Manchuria, Ueshiba’s new dojo became known as ‘hell dojo’ because of the severity of the training as young men prepared body and mind for the ravages of looming conflict. War first in China and then throughout the Pacific saw many promising students leave never to return. After the war Aikido, like other arts, suffered in popularity and exposure. However, on February 9, 1948 permission was granted to reestablish the Aikikai (the headquarters) and Ueshiba once more began teaching in Tokyo.
Training in this art involves a great deal of pair work with each helping the other to further his study and expertise. Basic techniques are learned before more advanced ones can be mastered, but always the same principles are evoked: do not oppose force with force, but blend with an attack and redirect the force to expose the opponent’s weak point. Movements are circular and the emphasis is on throwing and locking, though Ueshiba himself recognized that a quick punch or kick to unsettle an opponent prior to a controlling technique was a good tactic. However, this initial technique - intended more to distract than harm - tends not to be taught in the majority of schools today.
Central to the philosophy of this martial art is the notion that the practitioner should love his enemy. Ai means love or harmony. In combat the Aikidoka does not seek to permanently injure his opponent. Rather he will attempt to throw and trip his attacker. Only if the aggressor is persistent in pressing his attack will lasting and even final damage be inflicted. Another central aspect is the notion of ki, an energy that Ueshiba saw as being universal, and comparable to the Chinese notion of chi. This energy is believed to infuse all things. Being present in all things, Ueshiba postulated that if one could harmonize with this energy he would necessarily be harmonized with all things. It was his ability to achieve this, the master said, that made him such a formidable opponent even in the later years of his life.
