History
Aikido
or "the way in harmony with ki" is a classic, yet modern Japanese
martial art, whose origin is traditionally attributed to the famous
twelfth century warrior-general Shinra Saburo Yoshimitsu. [The term
'ki' may be loosely translated as the cosmic spirit or the universal
force.] This martial art was transmitted in the Takeda clan till 1575,
after which it was practiced in the province of Aizu. Teaching of this
martial art
to outsiders was strictly forbidden till the latter part of the
nineteenth century, when feudal provinces were abolished in Japan.
Takeda Sokaku (or Sokaku Takeda by the U.S. convention), one of its last
fully licensed practitioners, started teaching outside the Aizu
province, calling it Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu (sometimes also known as
Yamato-ryu jujutsu). One of his outstanding students, Morihei Ueshiba,
taught it as aiki-jujutsu; he then changed the name to aiki-bujutsu,
and later to aikido. It is the latter name by which this martial art
has become best known.
Kenji Tomiki first studied judo under Jigoro Kano, the
founder of Kodokan judo, and began practicing aiki-jujutsu under Morihei
Ueshiba with the encouragement of Kano himself. In 1938, Tomiki became
the first of Ueshiba's students to receive menkyo-kaiden, the ultimate
certification in the Japanese martial arts. Kenji Tomiki
developed his efficient aikido training system applying the twin
principles of judo, "Maximum Efficiency with Minimum Effort" and "Mutual
Benefit" enunciated by Professor Jigoro Kano. Both Professors Kano and
Tomiki were outstanding educators, Kano as President of a prestigious
college (which has become the Tsukuba University) and Tomiki as
Professor at the Waseda University.
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