Morihei Ueshiba

(植芝盛平) Martial artist and founder of Aikido. Known as O Sensei ("Great Teacher") by Aikidoka.

Born December 14th, 1883, in Wakayama Prefecture (now Tanabe[?]), Japan. Died April 26th, 1969.

M. Ueshiba's Art of Aikido is heavily influenced by his study of Daito ryu[?] Aiki jutsu[?] which he was instructed in by Takeda Sokaku[?]. On the spiritual side he was influenced by Deguchi Onisaburo[?], founder of the pacifistic Omoto-kyo[?] sect. In 1927 master Ueshiba moved to Tokyo where he founded his first dojo, which still exists today under the name Hombu dojo[?]. In 1942 he left Tokyo and moved to the prefecture of Iwama[?] where the term Aikido was first used as a name for his art. His son Kisshomaru Ueshiba[?] was the official heir and maintainer of Aikido until his death in January 4th, 1999.