Aikido was developed in the early 20th century by Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969). Known to his students as O-Sensei (Great Teacher), Ueshiba was a legendary master of several martial arts.

An early taste of war forged his opposition to the use of martial arts for destructive purposes and reinforced his deep spirituality. His pursuits of these passions led him to the creation of Aikido, a discipline developed to control aggression and violence, as well as help people realize their full potential as human beings.