Pop Japan

A short documentary featuring the late Morihei Ueshiba, founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido, as he perfoms the movements with his students and family.

Morihei Ueshiba, often referred to as Kaiso or Ōsensei, meaning "the founder" and "Great Teacher," studied a number of martial arts in his youth but it was in 1924 when everything changed as Ueshiba claimed that he had a spiritual experience. According to him, a golden spirit sprang up from the ground, veiled his body, and changed his body into a golden one. Interestingly, after this spiritual experience, his martial arts skill has vastly improved.

Ueshiba became famous in martial arts circles, taught and promoted aikido worldwide until the 1960s.

Tags: sports, Morihei Ueshiba, Aikido, Aikido performance, aikido founder, martial arts