aikido

The First Gleam of Budo in a Child's mind
Founder Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe, Kii Province (now known as Wakayama Prefecture ), a south-central peninsula of the Japanese main island, in November, 1883.
Until he was 14 or 15 years old, the Founder looked quite weak with his short, thin body, but he was strong and his behavior was quite different from others. He had already had a general interest in budo since he was around ten.
When he was just twelve, his father, Yoroku , a member of the local council, was the main caretaker of the village. The so-called Toughs of the town, the hoods of his father's political opponents, would come to his house to negotiate. Sometimes they would rough up his father quite severely, The Founder said that seeing this happen so frequently seared a deep sentiment into his mind. He swore to become strong no matter what it would take, and throw out his father's attackers.
Young Days as a Soldier
In 1901 when he was 18, the Founder took the first stops in the direction of achieving his driving ambition. He had come to Tokyo because he wanted to be a great merchant. He spent busy days working on a wholesale street, and studied jujutsu of the Kito Ryu at night. Sometimes he went to hear political speeches, as well. However, within a few months he developed heart beriberi and had to return home.
On this occasion, he made up his mind to build a strong body and after recovering began walking two and a half miles every day. This continued for ten days. Then twenty. Eventually he began running. He slowly gained physical strength and became capable of lifting two straw bales of rice, while previously he had not been able to lift even one. By the time he was about twenty he began to look quite different. Although he was still short his body was much stronger than ordinary people's. But the Founder was not satisfied only to be strong. He went to Sakai to study Yagyu-Ryu jujitsu. During this time he was involved in fishery and boundary problems of his village, and helped in solving them. Through this work he became well known locally. It was also about this time that he became involved in so many activities that more than once he was a headache for his father.
He was only 157 cm tall (5'2"), but he had a tank-like structure and weighed more than 81 kilogram (180 lbs). He played seconded to no one in this troop when it came to heavy gymnastics, running and carrying.
As Japan was at war, training was twice as hard as usual. Many soldiers dropped out. The Founder used to march at the head of the troops carrying two or three persons' heavy equipment. He was considered a valuable man in the battle of Manchuria and prevented a crisis among his troops more than a few times. Hence when he was discharged from military service he was requested by his officer-in-charge to volunteer for regular service and enter the military academy. He received several visits from his company commander, battalion commander, and regimental commander, all trying to persuade him to rein list.
Although he refused to enter the academy, he did not want to return to an ordinary life. Therefore the vigorous and spirited young man became a community leader in his village of Tanabe and managed the activities of his district. Kiyoichi Takagi, then just a third grade holder in judo, visited the Founder's home town. The Founder put together a group at the Young Men's Club of the town and had Takagi teach. Takagi later became a judo 9 th dan holder. The Founder himself studied judo with great diligence.
But then, perhaps because the fatigue resulting from his military life, the Founder had to stay in bed for about half a year. He suffered from severe headaches and some strange disease. His parents were very worried. Finally, however, he completely recovered. In the spring of 1910, he applied to become a settler in Hokkaido , the northern frontier of Japan at that time. He greatly anticipated the change of air and the opportunity to work in and undeveloped land.
The Founder went to Hokkaido in March of 1911 as leader of a group of pioneers from his area and started developing the land centering around Shirataki, Mombetsu Country, of Kitami Province, Having regain his health and renewed his spirit, and being in his vigorous thirties, he devoted himself to performing his duties. His physical condition improved greatly. He became a horseback rider and would go back and forth in the mountains and fields on business, occasionally braving storms. In this way his heavy training also included developing a resistance to severe cold. Being adventurous in this way, he was elected a member of the council of Kamiyubetsu Village , Shirataki in 1911. He helped and encouraged Mayor Urataro Kaneshige on behalf of the settlers, and was in contact with the Governor's Office of Hokkaido. He organized an association for the realization of the Sekihoku line, aiming to lay a railroad into the district, and was recommended to preside over the association. His sincere efforts won public approval, and in 1912 the inhabitants of Shirataki (an area about 25 squaremiles) gave him a full vote of confidence for his activities and respectfully called him the "King of Shirataki".