O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba
(12/14/1883 – 4/26/1969)
After he studying various sword fighting and jujitsu styles intensively, he became famous as one of the strongest men of Japan. In 1919, he turned towards more esoteric practices, and developed the “Art of Peace.” In 1942, O-Sensei named his new martial art Aikido and moved to the small country town of Iwama. There he continued to practice, teach, and refine Aikido until he passed away in 1969.