Morihei Ueshiba, The Founder of Aikido
Morihei Ueshiba, O-sensei (Great Teacher), the founder of Aikido, was a superlative martial artist who left as a legacy a unique Budo.
Development of Aikido
The art of Aikido evolved throughout his life with its final form being a true Budo. In the Founder's own words:
Budo is not a means of felling the opponent by force or by lethal weapons. Neither is it intended to lead the world to destruction by arms and other illegitimate means. True Budo calls for bringing the inner energy of the universe in order, protecting the peace of the world and molding, as well as preserving, everything in nature in its right form. Training in Budo is tantamount to strengthening, within my body and soul, the love of the kami, the deity who begets, preserves and nurtures everything in nature.
Further examples of O-sensei's teachings can be found in his doka (songs of the way) - a collection of inspirational poems.
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