Aikido, a traditional Japanese martial art, was developed in the early part of this century by Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969), now known as O-Sensei (venerable teacher). Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei, the Aikido Kaiso (founder), was born in 1883 in Tanabe, a coastal town in southern Japan. From the time of his youth, he studied various martial arts, eventually including sumo, swordsmanship, spear technique, staff technique, and various styles of jiujutsu, particularly the Yagyu and Daito styles. From youth, Ueshiba also appears to have been a deeply sensitive and spiritual person. Eventually influenced by the charismatic spiritual leader and artist Onisaburo Deguchi, he came to view his martial training as a means of personal purification and spiritual training. The time of O-Sensei's life saw Japan involved in some of the most violent conflicts of the 20th century, culminating in the Pacific war. However, it was during this time that he founded Aikido and declared it to be a way of joining the peoples of the world together in peace. In this way, Aikido is truly Budo - a martial Way - rather than simply a bujutsu (martial technique) or bugei (martial art). When martial training is undertaken not simply as a means to conquer others, but as a means to refine and perfect the self, this can be said to be Budo. The famous motto of O-Sensei, "Masakatsu Agatsu", contains the essence of the spirit of Aikido: "True victory is victory over the self. " The Kaiso's incredible technical expertise and charisma brought him tremendous support from high-ranking military officers, government personnel, and the Imperial family during his life. Following his death in 1969, he was posthumously awarded an Imperial medal for his unique contributions. However, recognitions and honors aside, it was the universality of his insights, and his vision of the martial Way being open to all sincere persons internationally, which have led to the phenomenal growth of Aikido. The noblest philosophies and intentions of the samurai have become a part of world culture, and give spiritual sustenance to millions of persons of all cultures; this is largely due to the groundbreaking influence of Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei.

1883 Born on Decemer 14 in Tanabe city ,Wakayama Prefecture , Japan.
1912 Moves to Hokkaido Prefecture and meets Sokaku Takeda , learns Daito-ryu Aiki-Jujitsu.
1919 Meets O. Deguchi of the Omoto Sect in Ayabe, Kyoto.
1927 Moves to Tokyo with his family and begins teaching the Way of Aiki.
1960 Receives the Shiju Hosho Medal from the Japanese government.
1969 Passes away on April 26, at the age of 86.

Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Nidai Doshu (the second "master of the Way" of Aikido), son of Morihei Ueshiba, was born in 1922. From early youth, he trained under the guidance of his father. During the confusion of the wartime period, when allied fire-bombings reduced much of Tokyo to ruins, it was he who remained in the city and preserved the original dojo building. Following the war, as Aikido entered its golden age and began to attract public attention, he was instrumental in leading and organizing what would become the Zaidan Hojin Aikikai - the government-recognized, not-for-profit organization which exists today as the center of world Aikido. Upon the death of O-Sensei in 1969, Kisshomaru Ueshiba was named the second Doshu of Aikido. From that time on, Doshu quietly went about the business of spreading Aikido internationally. The tremendous expansion of the art, and the now millions of practitioners, can largely be called his creation. It was he who coordinated the sending of Japanese Shihan overseas, thereby founding and developing the seeds of large organizations in other nations. He also maintained the strong support of government officials and businessmen in Japan, and built new support of this kind internationally. His many publications of Aikido technique and philosophy have further spread Aikido's influence. The high educational and professional standards of Aikido, and the respect it has gained, are a result of these efforts. In 1999 Kisshomaru Ueshiba died in Tokyo, having successfully transformed the vision of his father into an international movement.

1921 Born on June 27, in Ayabe.
1946 Graduates from Waseda University, Faculty of Economics and Political Science.
1956 Gives the first demonstration and starts to teach Aikido to the public.
1957 Publishes the first textbook mAIKIDO].
1969 Assumes the title of Aikido Doshu.
1995 Receives the Zui Hosho Medal from the Japanese government.
1999 Passes away on January 4, at the age of 77.

Moriteru Ueshiba, son of Kisshomaru Ueshiba, was named the Sandai (third) Doshu shortly after his father's death; before that time, he had served as the Aikikai Hombu Dojo-cho (headquarters dojo director). Now taking over the leadership of the Aikikai organization, Doshu brings to his position an already full life of training and instruction. The Aikido world has high expectations that, under his leadership, Aikido will continue to grow and expand in fulfillment of O-Sensei's dream. The Doshu has carried on in his father's tradition with of Aikido at the highest level, clean and powerful.

1951 Born on April 4, in Tokyo.
1976 Graduates from Meiji Gakuin University, Faculty of Economics.
1986 Becomes General Director of the Hombu Dojo.
1996 Becomes Chairman of the Aikikai Foundation.
1999 Assumes the title of Aikido Doshu.

Uchideshi of O Sensei. Author of a number of books on Aikido. Creator of a traditional-style certification system for Aiki-ken and Aiki-jo. There is no formal Iwama style or organization, but "Iwama-style" is used informally to refer to the style of Aikido, Aiki-ken and Aiki-jo taught by Saito sensei and his direct students. It is reportedly the style of Aikido that was taught by O Sensei during the early post-WWII era (1946-55).

1928 Born March 31
2002 Passes away on May 13

Yoshimitsu Yamada, a direct student of O Sensei for more than ten years, is an 8th dan and the chief instructor at the New York Aikikai.
Yamada Sensei is well known for his clear and strong basic technique. He teaches seminars all over the world where thousands of students attend his classes. He was a key figure in the spread of Aikido throughout North and South America. He is currently a Technical Director and the Chairman of the USAF, a Technical Director of the CAF and of the FLA, and a member of the Superior Council of the IAF. He has a worldwide following, and travels continuously teaching seminars throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America and Europe. As Chairman of the USA Aikido Federation, and President of the Latin American Aikido Federation he oversees over 400 dojos in South America and Caribean, such as Argentina, Brasil, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curazao, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Yamada sensei is the author of several books and viseos on Aikido (the first one was published in 1967)

1938 Born on Feb. 17.
1956 Started his Aikido career as an uchi deshi at Hombu Dojo on the advice of his uncle Tadashi Abe Sensei.
1964 Moved to New York to become chief instructor of New York Aikikai.
1988 Yamada Sensei asked Seiichi Sugano, one of his fellow Hombu dojo uchi deshi, to join him instructing at the New York Aikikai.

His original interest in Aikido was sparked after reading a magazine artical. After 7 years as uchi deshi under O'Sensei he was sent to Australia and established the Aiki Kai Australia, a not for profit organisation. He pioneered the spread of Aikido in both Australia and New Zealand before moving to Belgium to instruct in Europe in 1979. He currently resides in the United States and teaches at New York Aikikai with Yamada Sensei. He periodically conducts Aikido seminars worldwide.
I n March of 2003 Sensei had emergency surgery to remove his leg due to complication from diabetes. Three months later Sensei taught an inspiring weekend seminar at Aikido of Woodstock. He held several question and answer sessions where he addressed many types of questions, ranging from anecdotes about O'Sensei to thoughts on the future of aikido, as well as technical details and philosophical aspects of training. He also spoke candidly about his rehabilitation process. Both days' classes also included bokken instruction. Later that week he traveled to Australia to visit family and conducting the annual aikido "Winter Camp."

Sensei continues to teach and inspire students around the world.

1939 Born in Otaru, Hokkaido on Dec. 17, 1939
1957 Sugano Sensei entered the Aikikai and became an uchi deshi about one year later.
1965 He moved to Australia in to teach Aikido.
1979 Moved to Belgium to instruct in Europe
2003 March 19th. Emergency surgery
2003 June 28-29 After three monthe of rest and rehabilitation sensei teaches weekend seminar at Woodstock Aikikai. Later that week he treaveled to Australia for their annual aikido "Winter Camp."

1938 Born in Manchuria.
1958 Kanai Sensei entered the Aikikai as an uchi deshi at Hombu Dojo.
1966 He came to the United States and subsequently founded the New England Aikikai.
2004 March 28th. M. Kanai Shihan, of the NE Aikikai passed away at a seminar in Toronto.

Chiba Sensei became an Aikikai uchi deshi in 1958. He moved to Great Britain in 1966 and was instrumental in the development of Aikido in Great Britain and Europe. He returned to Japan in 1975 and served as Secretary of the International Department of Hombu Dojo and became Assistant General Secretary of the International Aikido Federation. He moved to the United States in 1981 as chief instructor of the San Diego Aikikai. Currently acts as Chairman of the Teaching Committee of the USAF Western Region, Technical Director of the United Kingdom Aikikai and Technical Director of the Tessokai Iaido Institute.
Chiba Sensei has recently formed an international aikido federation known as the Birankai which also incorporates training in Batto-ho/Iaido. He is known for his powerful technique

1940 Born on Feb. 5th
1958 February, entered the Aikikai as an uchi deshi at Hombu Dojo.
1966 January Sensei was appointed official representative of the Aikikai for the U. K.
1976 Chiba was appointed Assistant General Secretary of the IAF.
1981 Relocated to San Diego at the invitation of USAF to establish the San Diego Aikikai and head the USAF West.

An early American practitioner who lived among the uchideshi at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo for several years in the early 1960s. Dobson returned to the U.S. in the early 1970s and resided initially in the San Francisco area where he gave frequent seminars. He later moved to the East Coast and settled in Vermont. Dobson appears in a rare 1962 film taking Ukemi for Morihei Ueshiba. He also co-authored a book; "Giving in To Get Your Way" in which aikido philosophy figures prominently.

1973 Terry Dobson and Ken Nisson founded the Bond Street Dojo (incorporated as New York Aikido Society, Inc., Inc.) is a not-for-profit organization governed by a board of directors elected from and by the membership.

Sensei Greg O'Connor began his training in traditional Japanese martial arts in 1972 with Japanese/Okinawan karate before moving onto Aikido in 1978. Sensei O'Connor has been a full-time professional Aikido teacher since 1987, devoting all his efforts to the instruction and advancement of Aikido. He is currently ranked as 6th dan (6th deg. black belt) and is certified as Shidoin (aikido teacher) by the United States Aikido Federation (New York) and Aikido World Headquarters (Tokyo).

O'Connor Sensei is the author of "The Aikido Student Handbook" (Frog Ltd./North Atlantic), and "The Elements of Aikido" (Element Books Ltd/HarperCollins).

O'Connor Sensei has traveled extensively throughout the U.S. as well as Japan to study with a great many of Master Morehei Ueshiba's original students while training at a wide variety of aikido dojos from New York Aikikai to Hombu Dojo, Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo. O'Connor Sensei has trained with a great many direct students of the Founder who are now the world's most notable Aikido teachers such as Y. Yamada, K. Chiba, M. Kanai, S. Sugano, M. Saito, N. Tamura, T. Dobson to name just a few as well as O Sensei's son, the late Kisshomaru Ueshiba and O Sensei's grandson, Moriteru, the current Aikido Doshu (meaning "Leader of the Way") and many of the most talented Aikido instructors here in the U.S. and abroad.

O'Connor Sensei is an experienced seminar teacher and leads aikido workshops and seminars around the U.S. and abroad. His diversified background includes wrestling, climbing, extensive backpacking and the study of mind expansion. He is an accomplished artist, cartoonist and graphic designer (his former profession of twenty years) as well as an accomplished certified massage therapist. In addition to Aikido he teaches Iaido (the art of live sword drawing) and practices Kyudo (zen archery) and Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging).

O'Connor Sensei serves on the USAF Board of Directors at the appointment of Yamada Sensei, USAF Chairman.