“A

ikido" is the martial art created by Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969). Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe City, Wakayama prefecture, Japan. He had set his sights on martial arts and passed through the gates of various styles of martial arts from his earlier years. He mastered various kinds of martial arts including Shinkage-Ryu Jujutsu, Sousei-Ryu Jujutsu, Yagyu-Ryu Jujutsu, Daito-Ryu Jujutsu, Hozoin-Ryu Sojutsu and of course Modern Jukendo. And he went further to do every penance in his spiritual training. The result of his efforts is that "Aikido" was born.

Morihei Ueshiba used to say often "Aiki is Love. Making up our mind by the heart in the universe (Tenchi no Kokoro) and fulfilling the personal mission by the great spirit of universal kindness (Banyu Aigo no Daiseishin) should be the path of martial arts. The Aiki is to master self and to take the fight out of the enemy, by the way of the absolute self completion, getting rid of the enemy itself. Thus the Aikido arts move the celestial natural laws in our body and are the duty and way to achieve the fresh-spirit united supreme goal." I assume that this means that Morihei Ueshiba extremely expressed his flexibility of thinking beyond philosophy after mastering the secrets of various styles of martial arts.

The character of Aikido is that breaking down the balance of a person in opposite directions by body repositioning (Tai Sabaki) like the flow of circle without meeting force with force. The "Waza" does not withstand the power of the other, the beautiful "Waza" that harmonizes the self flow of energy with the other and has no conflict with the other at all. Therefore, women and older persons can perform the "Waza" comfortably. Some say that this "Way" is the greatest "art of defense" and others say "dance besides martial art" "health management method for everybody" etc. And this reveals some of the character. "Aikido" that integrated the essence of the constantly continuing study by Morihei Ueshiba with the framework of ancient martial arts is for the mental health of young people and all ages of both genders who enjoy the training.

Manseikan Aikido founder
Kanshu Sunadomari