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Aikido
 Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba (O-Sensei). Though the art was known as “Aikibudo” and “Aikinomichi” in its development stage, O-Sensei officially named the art Aikido [“Ai” (harmony), “ki” (spirit), “do” (way)] in 1942. Aikido can be translated as “the way of harmony with the Universe”.
Aikido's founder Morihei Ueshiba or O-Sensei was born in Japan on December 14, 1883. During his childhood, he often witnessed his defenceless father being beaten by thugs for political reasons. He was determined at that point to grow strong to ensure this would not happen to him. He devoted his life to physical conditioning and later martial arts. O-Sensei became an extraordinary martial artist; a master of the sword, the staff, the spear, as well as the art of ju-jitsu.
Despite his abilities as a martial artist, he felt very dissatisfied. O-Sensei delved deeply into the study of religion, especially Shinto (Japan's native religion of nature worship), while continuing his studies of the martial arts. He eventually resolved his dilemmas in a moment of profound awakening, and in using his technical mastery of traditional martial arts, he developed a new martial art.
The art of Aikido, as it was later named is fundamentally different from all other martial arts. Rooted in several styles of ju-jitsu as well as sword and spear fighting technics, Aikido is an art of refinement and astonishing power. In the words of Morhei Ueshiba, "The secret of Aikido is to harmonize with the movement of the universe and bring ourselves into accord with the universe itself".
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