It has been 82 years since the current Hombu Dojo was found in 1931. Aikido has been spread to 130 countries: North, Central and South America; Western and Eastern Europe; and Southeast Asia.
In 2012, the Aikikai Foundation embarked on the new phase as a Public Interest Incorporated Foundation.
The Founder, Morihei Ueshiba, created Aikido as a way to “banyu-aigo (love for all things in nature)”, after having a sense of doubt for Martial Arts which are for developing fighting skill with the ultimate goal being to win.
The Founder said it was more important to harmonize with people than to win by depending on power. Switching from ‘skills of fighting’ to ‘harmony’ is the purpose of training. Love is all “Ki (life energy)” based on “En No Ugoki (circle movement)”, “Irimi (entering)”, “DoChuSei (quietness in turmoil)” and “Chushin (immovable center)” to train our skills with each other. There is no conflict in this training. Aikido is “a way to absolute self-accomplishment”.
It goes without saying that the fabulousness of Aikido techniques and philosophical principles created by the Founder is widely acknowledged. For such accomplishment, unsparing support of the Founder’s father (Yoroku Ueshiba), the foresights by seniors who passed Aikido down correctly to the next generations, Kisshomaru 2nd Doshu’s devotion to further propagation of Aikido based on the Founder’s teaching were necessary. For myself, I have been following their paths with many people’s support. I believe that all these made a larger and greater Aikido circle today.
I will continue to strive and to cherish the spirit of harmony, eliminating the walls of country, race and religion, to make an effort to have this great Aikido appreciated by a great number of people. Also, I hope I will contribute to the society as much as possible through Aikido.
April, 2015
Moriteru Ueshiba Doshu
Source
Aikikai Foundation