History & Culture

O'Sensei had studied various martial arts throughout his life.  The forms of Aikido are a modified version of those previous studies.  It is quite clear by form and historical record that the primary art from which Aikido's technical repertoire originated was Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu.  O'Sensei had studied under the soke of Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu; Takeda, Sokaku.  This martial art originated in the late 11th century with Minamoto, Shinra Saburo no Yoshimitsu, a descendant (6th grandson) of the Emperor Seiwa.  The principles of the technique were learned by Yoshimitsu while observing a spider trapping prey in its web.  In addition, Yoshimitsu had done autopsies on several corpses obtained from Japans bloody battlefields.  Combining the principle of aiki with his knowledge of human anatomy a new martial art was born.  Over a number of generations the art evolved and grew to meet the rigorous demands of armed combat.  Elements of jujutsu were combined in the armored environment of the samurai sword while always utilizing the closely held secret of aiki.  The art was formidable and elite, but it was not enough in the hands of the few.  Ultimately the Minamoto clan failed, but the art survived.  The art migrated from the Minamoto clan to the Aizu clan and finally to the Takeda clan.  Along the way it found usefulness with the Emperor's elite palace guards (Oshikiuchi).

Shinra Saburo Yoshimitsu Minamoto

O'Sensei discovered Takeda, Sokaku and Daito Ryu while serving as a town leader in the frontier of Japan's north island Hokkaido.  Some members of society were subsidized by the Japanese government to open up Hokkaido for Japan.  O'Sensei was one of these.  At the time many criminals had been directed towards Hokkaido as a labor pool.  To regulate those criminals the government recruited the Daito Ryu with their unique methods.  It is apparent from record that O'Sensei learned a great deal from Takeda, Sokaku, and was awarded teaching credentials.  Shortly thereafter, O'Sensei encountered a charismatic religious leader by the name of Degughi, Onisaburo.  The name of this religion was the Omoto kyo.  This religion was primarilly Shinto in nature, but incorporated elements of various world religions resulting in a more universal message.  It was the unification and transformation of  this ideaology and the Daito Ryu techniques that was catalyzed by the genius of O'Sensei, leading to the formation of Aikido.

Aikido calligraphy by O'Sensei

O'Sensei performs O-rei before beginning Aikido Keiko

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