Aikido roots:

Aikido is quite contemporary. Its founder, O Sensei, lived till 1969. But actually iits roots go deep in medieval Japan history with Aikijutsu.

Between 800 BC et 850 BC, Prince Taijun, Emperor Seiwa's 6th son, established the base of this martial art. The Minamoto clan did perpetuate secretely the teachings generations after generations. In 1574, Takeda Kunitsuga, who was a master in Kai province, introduced those technics in Aizu area.

Before it becomes Aikido thanks to the researchs and the subtility of one man: Ueshiba Sensei, this art was secretly kept by the Takeda clan from which dreadful samurais were feared all around the archipelago.

Those technics began to be revealed since 1868 and the Meiji era (the dawn of the samurais) with Takeda Sokaku Sensei, who will be the teacher of Ueschiba Sensei.

Takeda Sokaku Sensei travelled a lot in Japan and could express his skills showing the efficiency of this martial art. He, as a true Bushi, continued wearing swords despite it was strictly forbidden.