“The Epic Sweep of Aikido History at a Glance!”

The evolution of Aikido was a development that spanned more than 50 years. The beginning and early phase of the art took place in the prewar period. The devastation of the Pacific War caused profound changes to the thinking and technique of Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba. Aikido as we know it today emerged during the 1940s and 50s while Morihei lived in Iwama. Over the years, the Founder had many talented students who played important roles in the development and dissemination of the art. This chart was created to give a bird’s-eye view of the historical arc of aikido and to put a face to many of the important contributors to the art’s establishment.

This is a beautifully presented chart designed by Stanley Pranin containing photographs and capsule biographies of some 70 of the best-known disciples of Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba. The dates and Japanese kanji characters for all names are also included, and each period is color-coded for easy reference.

Many times, aikido practitioners have little understanding of those that preceded them, or the remarkable heritage of which they are the beneficiaries. This chart, titled “The Principal Disciples of Morihei Ueshiba,” will give you an overall view of the various periods in the evolution of aikido, and the important people who learned from Morihei Ueshiba and were responsible for the dissemination of his art.