O'SENSEI MORIHEI UESHIBA
Biography of the Founder of Aikido (1883-1969)
Unique boy among four sisters, Master Ueshiba Morihei was born the 14th of December in 1883 in the city of Wakayama, in the center of a very religious family who practiced the Buddhism religion 'Bukio-Shim-Gom-Shiu'.
His body contexture was so thin and weak that his parents got really worried. Since early age he went out and play in a nearby temple, in which he cultivated a great friendship with the monks, because of this, by the time he was seven years old he already perfectly knew the sacred texts of his religion.
Already an adolescent, his dream was to become a businessman. At the age of 17. He travels to Tokyo (Asakusa) to reside in the house of a relative who owns a bookstore, evolving during the day in the care of commerce. By night he would attend to a Jiu-Jitsu dojo. The change of life weakened his physical dissuaded character, influencing this in the contraction of beriberi (kakke), made him return to his completely lowered home.
Then he begins his physical recovery, for which he daily walks three to five kilometers through the mountain ranges, and gradually surpasses this distance, helped by the excellent climate until he could run slowly first, and finally running about 10 kilometers a day. Completely recovered, he continues with the practice of martial arts and gymnastics of all nature, dedicating from 9 to 11 hours per day.
At his twenty years of age he enrolls in the army, in spite of his low stature (1.56mts) benefited by his now solid structure and athletic body. His performance is excellent in the instruction and it stands out mainly in the arts of combat, particularly in the Yu Ken Jutsu (the art of the gun bayonet). With the idea of fighting in the front he asks for the corresponding permission, which is denied to him, considering his superior ones that his great capacity as an instructor is invaluable. He will tenaciously insist until the request takes place in 1905, when he was 22 years old. Just a short time after his arrival to the battle front in China, the war finishes with the victory of Japan. Without delay, he tries to learn the Chinese weapons and military arts, not known by him until that moment.
The same year he returns to Japan and leaves the army. With the help of his parents he opens a Sumo dojo (Japanese traditional art) and teaches the practice of Yu Ken Jutsu. In 1908 he receives the title of Yagyu Ryu Jiu Jutsu; he was then 25 years old. He is called again by his army superior ones and asked to continue the instruction of the soldiers, but glimpsing a new goal in his life, he decides not to reincorporate himself to a full time job, but to dedicate himself to his great dream: to perfect the arts of battle. The task he sets out is taken with total impetus, being thus, for example, that whenever some teacher arrived at his town, he entertained him in his own home and he invited him to his dojo to receive the experiences and lessons that left him.
Raised in the nature and having practiced in it, observes that in his town, the farmers tired of their earth, emigrate to America or Hawaii in search of better grounds. He decides to travel to the North end of Japan, to Hokaido, starting to work in agriculture in 1912. For that time he receives the education from diverse teachers, one of them, Sensei Takeda Sokaku form Daito Ryu; his education helped the origin of the birth of the Aikido. The great Sokaku teacher sees in Ueshiba Morihei sensei a great future and thus he is invited by the teacher of the Daito Ryu to his dojo, where he also receives the knowledge of his techniques, those that had captivated him deeply.
In 1920 he returns to his native land, where he meets with Deguchi Onisaburo, monk of the Dai Jonkio Buddhism branch, who guides him through the spiritual path of his religion and a highest moral character. Conversations with the Onisaburo monk, turned in addition in different subjects, he draws the conclusion that the martial art not only to fight and to exercise the body, but that they are also necessary to know how to exercise the spirit, if it is wanted to arrive at a real depth and knowledge. He decides then to study with the monk, to feel his wisdom. He is introduced in the great world of Zen philosophy. Together they undertake a trip to Manchuria (China), he remains with the monk approximately five months to get into the ways of fight and systems of the region.
In his return to Japan, consecutively receives the unexpected visit of three groups of people interested in the work of Ueshiba sensei, who expose different characters and points of view on the matter. First of these groups observes with astonishment the results of the joint work of Ueshiba sensei and the Onisaburo teacher, like the ideal union of the spiritual plane with the physical plane, knowing the great fame that the Ueshiba teacher showed, the members of the second group solicits to integrate themselves in quality of disciples. The third group is compose by different teachers of other fighting techniques, instructors who served in diverse regions of Japan.
As Ueshiba Morihei was developing his work, they doubted of his effectiveness, they even got to defy the master. Far from accepting the provocations, Ueshiba Sensei preferred to ignore enemies to fight them, which won new disciples to him. Just in an occasion, and by the real impossibility to avoid the challenge, he accepts to fight with a military man, expert in the art of Kendo. At the precise moment of the combat, when the challenger was arranged to attack with his bokken (wooden sword), Ueshiba Morihei feels where he’s going to receive the attack. He goes ahead to the blow, cutting the advance of the rival and enters as well towards the center of the body of the opponent, which he tumbles without causing no physical damage; with this evidence he shows his superiority before his adversary, who chooses to retire. Soon after the brief combat, drying its body next to a rain tank understands that it was not something physical what made him demolish his rival. It was something deeper; Ueshiba Morihei comments that sensation:
"Sky and earth vibrated before me. The earth brought forth a gold dust cloud that surrounded my solid gold body, transforming me, and at that precise moment it seemed to me being the air. I understood then the language of the birds and nature, and had a clear conscience of the thought of God, the Creator of the Universe. Also I understood that the root of the martial art is the love of God and the love to the resemblances. Then it brought forth a happiness tear to me". "This the martial art is not to hurt with force to a resemblance, or arms, but on the contrary is about love toward the opponent , it is not to defeat to the world with wars, but to construct a better world ". This experience mentioned before happened on spring day in 1925, when the master was 42 years old. Thus the Aiki (union principle, harmony) as a result of the lived experiences, the techniques learned in those last years and the evolution that obtains in the plane of the spirit.
In 1927 he opens a Dojo in Tokyo; four years later he founds the Kobukan Dojo, famous by the intensity of the practices. It was told that it was not allowed for martial artists to cross its front if they were not very secure of themselves.
In 1939, with 56 years, his art is recognized by the government of Japan. The Federation Kobukan Hombu Dojo takes place.
In 1942 he goes to Iwama, in Ibaraki, staying as instructor in Tokyo his son the master Kisshomaru Ueshiba. In Iwama the following year he builds the temple of Aikido, Aiki-Jinja.
In 1948 transforms the Kobukan Federation in Aikikai Federation, which actually presides his grandson Moriteru Ueshiba, present authority of the Hombu Dojo Aikikai Federation in the present day, with seat in Tokyo, center of aikido nationally and internationally.
The 26 of April of 1969, being five times awarded due to his personal merits by the Japanese government, master Ueshiba Morihei passes away. His rests are in Tanabe Wakayama, his native town, leaving his properties to Aiki-Jinja and Hombu Dojo.
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