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A Brief History of Aikido Aikido is a Japanese martial art involving joint locks, balance breaking and throws. It differs from Judo in that there is (usually) no grip on the gi (jacket) and from striking martial arts such as Karate or Taekwondo in that energy is transferred through the body in order to throw, as opposed to concentrating at a specific point. Towards the end of the 19th Century, the numerous schools of ancient Ju Jitsu in Japan were, due to radical changes in Japanese society, dying out. Of the remaining styles, Daito Ryu, taught by Sokaku Takeda, and Kito Ryu, taught by Tokusaburo Tozawa, were both studied by Morihei Ueshiba (pictured above). Ueshiba possessed outstanding skill, and went on to develop his own style of budo (martial arts) between the 1920's and his death in 1969, which became known as Aikido some time around 1925. While Ueshiba held deeply spiritual beliefs regarding his Aikido based upon the Omoto religion, the techniques he taught were devastatingly effective due to the principles of timing, centered posture and receptiveness to an opponent’s intent and movement. This is essentially the "harmony [or unity] of spirit" (Aiki) of which Ueshiba spoke. Though the underlying principles of Aikido remained unchanged, elements of the application, style and teaching varied over the decades for which Ueshiba taught. As a result, there are many different approaches to teaching Aikido today. Some of Ueshiba's senior students founded their own schools of Aikido: Yoshinkan, founded by Gozo Shioda, Ki Aikido by Koichi Tohei and Shodokan, founded by Kenji Tomiki.