Morihei Ueshiba, O'sensei
Morihei Ueshiba -植芝盛平- (1883-1969) , Also called O-Sensei (Great Master), he was a Japanese martial artist, founder of Aikidō. Born December 14, 1883 in Japan, in Wakayama Prefecture (now Tanabe). Son of Yoroku Ueshiba and Yuki Itokawa belonging to ancient samurai families.
His interest in martial arts training, took Master Ueshiba on a personal quest for perfection in martial arts, getting to know many masters and traditional schools of martial arts with weapons (kenjutsu saber in various styles, Hozoin-Ryu style Sojutsu spear and Bojutsu staffs) and without weapons (Jujutsu, and Judo).
The dojo was his center of activities for many years, where he was extremely active as a teacher of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu. He gradually parted ways with Sokaku Takeda and began what he called Aiki Budo.
In the late 1930s, he made several trips to Manchuria where he conducted seminars and gave demonstrations. Near the end of World War II, he gave up his teaching in Tokyo, which included various military schools, and retired to Iwama.
During and immediately after the war, Ueshiba remained in Iwama and devoted himself to intensive training, meditation, and farming. He repeatedly stated that he was in Iwama perfecting modern Aikido. In the mid-1950s, he began to spend considerable time in Tokyo and also traveled frequently to the Kansai region.
In 1960, together with Yosaburo Uno, tenth dan of Kyudo, he received from Emperor Hiroito the "Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon" or "Shojuhoso" in recognition of his work for the physical, mental and spiritual health of Japan.
In the year of 1969 the teacher made his last exhibition. In the spring of that same year, O Sensei Morihei Ueshiba fell seriously ill; before he died he told his students “Aikido is for everyone. Train Aikido, not for selfish reasons, but to share it with people all over the world."
On April 26 of the same year, he died at the age of 86; two months later his wife Hatsu died. Locks of hair and beard of O-Sensei as well as his ashes were taken to the sacred sanctuary of Aiki in Iwama, every April 26 the death anniversary of the master is commemorated in that place.
Chronology...
1883 - Born on December 14 in Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.
1912 - In Hokkaido Prefecture he meets Master Sokaku Takeda, where he learns Daito-ryu Aiki-Jujitsu.
1919 - Meets Onisaburo Deguchi of the Omoto Sect in Ayabe, Kyoto.
1927 - Moves to Tokyo with his family and begins to teach the Way of Aiki.
1960 - Receives the "Shiju Hosho" Award from the Japanese Government.
1969 - He died on April 26, at the age of 86.