The founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, was born in Japan on December 14, 1883. As a boy he often saw his father get beaten up by local thugs hired by rival politicians. His feelings were strong and he set out to take revenge; training in a variance of jujitsu, along with sword and spear fighting he became quite skilful. Even though he achieved an honourable status, and having received many certificates of mastery in the arts he trained in, Ueshiba felt highly dissatisfied. He immersed himself in religious studies and developed an ideology devoted to "the deeper meaning of life." Incorporating these principles into the study of martial art, he developed many aspects of aikido in rhythm to his ideas about the mind, body, and spirit. 
Aikido is not a "contact" art; people who enter aikido thinking that with this they will be able to beat up anybody who dares lay a hand on them are dead wrong. That is NOT the attitude the participant should have. Aikido has no tournaments, and no competitions, all aikido techniques are learned in pace according to the abilities of each trainee. Aikido is not used to have direct contact with the opponent, but to have an indestructible harmony between the two. Even though there are "atemi"(punch) in this art, almost all of the movements redirect the opponents energy in order to benefit oneself. The true self is not achieved by defeating the attacker, but in defeating the negative feelings that inhabit ones own mind. Even though this must be taken into account, the potential energy of aikido as a means of self-defence should not be ignored. Apart from the fact that aikido in competition does not enhance the spiritual side of the human being, many aikido techniques can cause serious injury. Even in training there is still a risk in been hurt if one partner does not co-operate. So in reality the only way to achieve proficiency in aikido is by untired training and soul dedication in the philosophy of O’ Sensei.
