Morihei Ueshiba is known all over the world as the founder of aikido.
Ueshiba was born on December 14th 1883 and died in 1969. Many will only know his name and portrait, that following ancient tradition is positioned on a place of honour, the kamiza, during aikido training. Ueshiba has practiced many self-defense sports, among others jiu jitsu and sword fighting.
He excelled in all of them, but he wasn’t satisfied. He didn’t want to fight to be strong, there had to be more in life than that.

He thought about it, and realised that if you want to practice martial arts properly, body and mind have to be in harmony with each other. Because when body and mind are in harmony with each other, you have a better sense of the attack, which will give confidence in your own reaction. When this works, you’ll react better, based on inner peace and self-confidence.

He was 19 years old when he married Hatsu. They had three sons of which the best-known, Kisshomaru Ueshiba, has passed away as well in the meantime. Morihei Ueshiba is an example for the people who practice aikido. Ueshiba, a master of budo sports, has achieved a lot in his life, which makes that he is respected greatly by all aikidokas.