A brief history of Aikido
This is a short introduction to about a century of history. Please note that Japanese names are given in the Japanese tradition of Last, First.
Daito Ryu Aiki Jujitsu
Daito ryu Aiki jujitsu is said to have been founded by Saburo Minamoto no Yoshimitsu [1045-1127]. The art was then handed down through his descendants, the Takeda family of Kai Province (modern day Yamanashi Prefecture). Takeda Sokaku
Around the turn of the century, Takeda Sokaku inherited the style and began to teach it outside the family. Ueshiba Morihei trained with him and was granted a Menkyo Kaiden (high level certificate). The art is still taught and practiced today.
Aikido
Ueshiba was born on the 14th of December 1883. He moved with his family to Hokkaido in 1912 where he met Takeda Sokaku and started to learn from him. He started to teach Daito ryu Aiki jujitsu in 1916 in the town of Engaru in Hokkaido. On 15th September 1923 he became qualified to teach.
After his father's death, Ueshiba joined the new Omotokyo religion founded by Deguchi Onisaburo. Omotokyo was (and is) part neo-shintoism and part socio-political idealism. One goal of Omotokyo has been the unification of all humanity in a single "heavenly kingdom on earth" where all religions would be united under the banner of Omotokyo. Ueshiba said that Aikido came from his belief in this religion and encouraged others to join. Tomiki Kenji - Founder of Shodokan Aikido Shioda Gozo - Founder of Yoshinkan Aikido
In 1931, Ueshiba founded his own dojo in Tokyo and called it the Kobukan. This dojo was nick named "hell dojo" because of the hard training. Tomiki Kenji, the founder of Shodokan Aikido, and Shioda Gozo, the founder of Yoshinkan Aikido, both learned Aikido during that time.
In 1942, Ueshiba moved to Iwama as the Kobukan was emptied by the war. This is the time when the name Aikido was first used by Ueshiba. The emphasis of the art changed from a martial art to a spiritual path. Ueshiba Kisshomaru
Under Ueshiba Kisshomaru, Morihei's son, the Kobukan was reopened and then became the honbu (head dojo) of the Aikikai. To this day, the Ueshiba family teaches Aikido there.
Ueshiba Morihei died on the 26th of April 1969 aged 86. His parting words were:
Aikido is for the entire world. Train not for selfish reasons, but for all people everywhere.
Yann Golanski, 2nd Dan 7th September 2005
Source
Albright, Scott (2002) Aikido and Randori: Reconciliation of Two Opposing Forces The Crowood Press.
Shioda, Gozo et al. (1997) Total Aikido: The Master Course Kodansha Europe.
Shishida, Fumiaki & Nariyama, Tetsuro (2002) Aikido: Tradition and the Competitive Edge Shodokan Publishing USA.
Ueshiba, Morihei et al. (1996) Budo: Teachings of the Founder of Aikido Kodansha Europe.