The Evolution of Aikido Styles: Reflections of O-Sensei’s Lifelong Journey
- Abel Villacorta
- Oct 11
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 11
On the dawn of the 2025 Aikido Summit in Denver, Colorado, we uncover the rich history and variety of Aikido that has evolved over the last century.
Today, all over the world, Aikido communities of different lineages train independently. Most do not work in harmony to support one another. Instead of using the spirit of aiki to thrive and spread the physical savvy and spiritual wisdom of aikido, most groups remain segregated, many shrinking, some even closing their doors, while others dissent, claiming their style is superior to another group.
In Colorado, we aikidoka are fortunate. We are able to come together annually to enjoy learning from a plethora of aikido lineages and pedagogical approaches forged through decades of transformation.
In this article, we recount the natural evolution of Aikido. Our humble intent is to bring awareness to the aforementioned contradiction. Through living our core values of harmony and unity, we must work together to continue to grow the art of peace.
The Metamorphosis of Aikido Styles
Morihei Ueshiba, affectionately known as O-Sensei, founded Aikido not as a rigid system, but as a living art that mirrored his own personal, martial, and philosophical growth.
Born in 1883 in Japan, Ueshiba’s life spanned dramatic historical shifts—from the Meiji Restoration’s modernization to the devastation of World War II and the post-war era of reconstruction.
His Aikido evolved accordingly, transitioning from a combative martial form rooted in traditional jujutsu to a profound path of harmony, spiritual unity, and non-violence.
Today, the diversity of Aikido styles—ranging from hard, precise methods to soft, ki-focused practices—stems directly from this evolution.
Each style was shaped by O-Sensei’s students, who trained under him at different stages of his life. These disciples captured snapshots of his teaching, influenced by their own maturity and the founder’s changing emphasis on technique, philosophy, and purpose.
As a result, Aikido’s lineages reflect not a fragmentation, but a multifaceted expression of one man’s transformative vision.
O-Sensei’s Early Life and Martial Foundations (1883–1920s): The Seeds of Combat and Synthesis
In his youth, Ueshiba was a seeker of martial prowess, driven by a desire to overcome physical weakness and societal upheaval. He trained in various arts, including sumo, swordsmanship, and spear fighting. His pivotal encounter came in 1912 when he began studying Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu under Sokaku Takeda.
This period marked Ueshiba’s early martial maturity, where he honed techniques emphasizing joint locks, throws, and neutralization of aggression through blending (aiki). By the 1920s, he had begun teaching his own synthesis, initially called Aiki-bujutsu, in places like Ayabe, where he settled after joining the Omoto-kyo religion—a Shinto-derived spiritual movement that profoundly influenced his worldview.
A key turning point occurred in 1925, when Ueshiba experienced a spiritual enlightenment during a challenge from a naval officer. He described feeling a golden light envelop him, realizing that true victory lay in harmony with the universe, not domination. This shifted Aikido from pure combat toward a philosophical art, though it retained its martial edge. [1]
Students from this era absorbed a more rigorous, pre-war style, reflecting Ueshiba’s focus on practical self-defense and technical precision amid Japan’s militaristic climate. [2]
Styles tied to this stage include Yoshinkan Aikido, founded by Gozo Shioda, who trained under Ueshiba from 1932 to 1941. Shioda’s exposure came during Ueshiba’s pre-war peak, when techniques were sharp and effective for real-world confrontations. Yoshinkan emphasizes structured kata (forms), strong stances, and precision, making it popular for law enforcement training. It captures Ueshiba’s early martial intensity, before his philosophy fully softened post-war.
Similarly, Kenji Tomiki, another pre-war student (training from the 1920s onward), founded Shodokan Aikido (also called Tomiki Aikido). Influenced by Ueshiba’s techniques and Tomiki’s own background in Judo under Jigoro Kano, this style introduces randori (free sparring) and competition—elements O-Sensei later disavowed, but which reflect the experimental, adaptive spirit of his early teachings. [3]
Mid-Life Transformations (1930s–1940s): Spiritual Integration and Wartime Reflection
By the 1930s, Ueshiba’s philosophy deepened through his devotion to the Omoto-kyo religion, founded by Onisaburo Deguchi, emphasizing universal love and the rejection of ego-driven conflict. He renamed his art Aiki-budo in 1936 and established the Kobukan Dojo in Tokyo, attracting students from military and elite circles.
However, the horrors of World War II prompted introspection; in 1942, Ueshiba retreated to Iwama, a rural area, to farm and refine his practice. Here, he integrated weapons training (aiki-ken and aiki-jo) with empty-hand techniques, developing “takemusu aiki”—the spontaneous creation of techniques as a martial and spiritual ideal.
This period represented Ueshiba’s maturing philosophy: Aikido as a way to protect life, not destroy it, aligning body, mind, and spirit with nature.
Students from this transitional phase often preserved a balanced, traditional approach. Morihiro Saito, who began training in 1946 and remained with Ueshiba until his death in 1969, founded Iwama Ryu (or Takemusu Aikido).
Saito’s long-term exposure, especially during the Iwama years, led to a style that stresses the interplay between weapons and barehand forms, with firm stances and detailed execution.
It embodies Ueshiba’s wartime retreat and emphasis on holistic training, viewing Aikido as a complete budo (martial way) rather than just self-defense.
Minoru Mochizuki, an early student from the 1930s, created Yoseikan Aikido, blending Ueshiba’s methods with karate and judo influences, reflecting the synthetic experimentation of this era. [4]
Post-War Maturity (1950s–1969): Harmony, Globalization, and Spiritual Emphasis
After World War II, with martial arts briefly banned, Ueshiba renamed his art Aikido in 1942 (formalized post-war) to underscore its peaceful intent: “the way of harmonious spirit.”
Influenced by Japan’s defeat and his own aging, he focused on global dissemination, teaching that Aikido should foster reconciliation and self-overcoming, not aggression. Techniques became more fluid and circular, prioritizing ki (life energy) flow and minimal harm.
This stage saw Ueshiba’s philosophy fully bloom, viewing Aikido as a tool for world peace, inspired by his Omoto-kyo beliefs and post-war humanism.
The Aikikai Foundation, led by Ueshiba’s son Kisshomaru (Doshu from 1969) and now grandson Moriteru, represents this era’s standardization.
It promotes flowing, adaptive movements under an umbrella organization, accommodating diverse interpretations while maintaining family oversight. This style captures the post-war softening, making Aikido accessible worldwide.
Koichi Tohei, who trained post-war and became chief instructor for the Aikikai, founded the Ki Society (now called Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido Kai) in 1971; he parted from Aikikai in 1974.
Emphasizing Ki development through breathing and mind-body unification, it reflects Ueshiba’s later spiritual focus on internal energy over physical force. [5]
Other styles, like Tendoryu Aikido by Kenji Shimizu (Ueshiba’s last uchi-deshi in the 1960s), highlight relaxed, intuitive responses, echoing the founder’s mature emphasis on freedom and natural power.
The Legacy of Diversity: A Unified Path Through Varied Lenses
The proliferation of Aikido styles—over a dozen major ones, including lesser-known branches like Kokikai or Tenshin—arises from the unique intersections of O-Sensei’s evolving self and his students’ experiences.
Pre-war disciples like Shioda and Tomiki preserved a martial core suited to turbulent times, while mid-life students like Saito guarded traditional integration during retreat.
Post-war inheritors, including Tohei and the Ueshiba family, amplified the philosophical harmony that defined O-Sensei’s final vision for aikido.
This diversity enriches Aikido, allowing practitioners to explore its depths through different entry points, all rooted in the founder’s belief that true aiki transcends technique to unite humanity.
As O-Sensei himself evolved from warrior to sage, so too does Aikido continue to adapt, proving that a single art can hold infinite expressions.
Aikido Synergy at One Dojo Boulder
One Dojo offers a refreshingly unifying approach to sharing Aikido with our local Boulder community. Three different styles of Aikido coexist harmoniously and support one another under one roof.
Here, you can enjoy classes under Aikikai Tanshinjuku, which highlight the Aikido lineage founded by Mitsunari Kanai Sensei, learn the style founded by Mitsugi Saotome Shihan, Aikikai ASU (Aikido Schools of Ueshiba) or practice the mind-body unification style of Ki Aikido founded by Soshu Koichi Tohei Sensei.