Morihei Ueshiba

Aikido's founder, Morihei Ueshiba, was born in Japan on December 14, 1883. He devoted himself to the practice of martial arts, receiving certificates of mastery in several styles of jujitsu, fencing, and spear fighting. In spite of his impressive physical and martial capabilities, however, he felt dissatisfied. He began delving into religions in hopes of finding a deeper significance to life, all the while continuing to pursue his studies of Budo, or the martial arts. By combining his martial training with his religious and political ideologies, he created the modern martial art of Aikido.
On the technical side, aikido is rooted in several styles of jujitsu (from which modern judo is also derived), in particular daitoryu-(aiki)jujitsu, as well as sword and spear fighting arts. Oversimplifying somewhat, we may say that aikido takes the joint locks and throws from jujitsu and combines them with the body movements of sword and spear fighting. However, we must also realize that most of the aikido techniques are the result of Master Ueshiba's own innovation.
O Sensei said: “Spiritually, there are no strangers or borders. Everyone is part of a family. The aim of aiki is to banish fighting, warfare, and violence.” Aikido is not used to defeat enemies. Rather the context of life - and- death combat is used to master one’s own mind and body. “Winning means winning over the mind of discord in yourself,” declared Master Morihei Ueshiba, “Fighting has long persisted in the world. We have to use the strategy of ki, in other words, the spirit of aiki. The world up until now has been in a solid state dominated by physical power. The world is now entering a soft phase. My movements are soft in nature. That’s why I throw with ki, even without using my hands. Somehow I lead my partner as my spirit wishes. Martial arts are not something you do by choosing a form. Techniques differ depending on the particular circumstances.”
Aikido emphasizes working with a partner, not fighting against an opponent as in competitive tournaments. The essence of the practice is the blending of movements and breathing, which physically creates harmony. Aikido techniques neutralize and control rather than violently defeat an attacker. Training emphasizes form, mutual cooperation, awareness of others, and the coordination of the body’s movement with a calm state of mind. The practice also stresses perfection of character and development of positive human qualities such as compassion, courage, endurance, and inner strength. In this spirit, Aikido improves the individual, and the effects of one’s personal training extend into society. (1)
O Sensei said: “If we look inside and gaze at our bodies with our inward eye, we see that the history of the divine world flows within us. The past and the future are played out in a single lifetime within us. This is aiki. In a word, the principle object of aikido is to build a paradise on earth by creating harmony in the world and making friends. Let’s make friends so there will be no enemies. This is the principle of nonresistance.” Morihei Ueshiba also mentioned that “all the acts of man reveal the subtle workings of kotodama (2). It is the echoing of sounds which will lead you to an understanding when you truly examine yourself. Aikido, especially, is born amidst the echoing of sounds. Takemusu (3) is the blossoming of natural techniques in harmony with the power and design of Nature. The techniques of takemusu are always to be found within intervals between breaths. Know that there too exists the abode of purification.” On the religious side, Ueshiba was a devotee of one of Japan's so-called "new religions," Omotokyo. Omotokyo was (and is) part of shintoism (4). It is impossible.