Aikido's Ueshiba O-Sensei - Historical Archive Series DVD

Ueshiba Morihei (December 14, 1883 – April 26, 1969) founder of the martial art of Aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" Kaiso or Ō-Sensei, "Great Old Teacher (old as opposed to Waka (young) sensei)".

O-Sensei was the son of a landowner from Tanabe, Ueshiba studied a number of martial arts in his youth, and served in the Japanese Army during the Russo-Japanese War. After being discharged in 1907, he moved to Hokkaidō as the head of a pioneer settlement; here he met and studied with Takeda Sōkaku, the founder of Daito Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu. On leaving Hokkaido in 1919, Ueshiba joined the Ōmoto-kyō movement, a Shinto sect, in Ayabe, where he served as a martial arts instructor and opened his first dojo.

Master Moreihei Ueshiba can be seen on this video performing Aikido at its very best. Not only will you see the founder, but also his son and other great Aikido Masters, like Tohei Saito and Shioda when they were very young. This film also includes a sequence of night time shots which feature the Master demonstrating very rare sword and jo techniques in the forest.

Also included is his last filmed demonstration in 1969.