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“Aiki is Love”: The Spiritual Foundation of Aikido
One of the most frequently cited statements attributed to Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, is the philosophical declaration beginning “Aiki is love” 「合氣とは愛なり」. This statement appears in the text “The Spirit of Aikido”「合氣道の精神」used in Masseikan 万生館 Aikido, where students recite the passage at the beginning of class. Historians generally consider the text to be a post-war compilation or summary of Ueshiba’s teachings rather than a single original essay written directly by him. Nevertheless, the passage captures the essence of the spiritual philosophy that Ueshiba articulated in the later decades of his life. The text reads as follows: 「合氣とは愛なり。天地の心を以って我が心とし、万有愛護の大精神を以って自己の使命を完遂することこそ武の道であらねばならぬ。合氣とは自己に打ち克ち敵をして戦う心無からしむ、否、敵そのものを無くする絶対的自己完成の道なり。而して武技は天の理法を体に移し霊肉一体の至上境に至るの業であり、道程である。」 A direct translation reads: “Aiki is love. Taking the heart of…
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One Aikido, Many Expressions: Different Styles of a Living Art
Aikido, a modern Japanese martial art created by Morihei Ueshiba 植芝 盛平 (1883–1969), has grown into a worldwide discipline with numerous styles and interpretations. Though rooted in the same philosophical and technical foundation, the different styles of Aikido each carry their founder’s interpretation, emphasis, and training methodology. Here is an overview of some of the most influential Aikido styles and their defining characteristics. Aikikai 合気会 – Aikikai is the original and largest Aikido organization founded by Morihei Ueshiba, carried on by his son Kisshomaru Ueshiba 植芝 吉祥丸 (1921–1999, Second Doshu) and grandson Moriteru Ueshiba 植芝 守央 (Third and current Doshu). It is considered the Honke 本家 style of Aikido and…
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Sunadomari – His Kokyu Power and The Spirit of Aikido
Kanshu Sunadomari 砂泊諴秀 was a prominent figure in the development of Aikido. He was a direct student of Ueshiba and trained with him for many years. Born in Kagoshima Prefecture 鹿児島県 in 1923, Sunadomari was exposed to Aikido as a child as his older brother, Kanemoto Sunadomari 砂泊兼基, was also a student of Ueshiba. His older sister, Fukiko Sunadomari 砂泊扶妃子 (光恵 Mitsu), later joined as well. The first biography of Morihei Ueshiba entitled Aikido Kaiso Morihei Ueshiba was published by Kanemoto Sunadomari in 1969, with his sister Mitsu deeply involved. In 1942, at the age of 19, Sunadomari began his aikido training as an uchi deshi 直弟子 (live-in student) of…
