Aikidô has its origin in traditional techniques of martial arts that have long been handed down in the samurai (warrior) class in Japan.

Ueshiba Morihei (1883-1969), the Founder of Aikidô, started years of training on various schools of traditional martial arts when he was young. He mastered many of old schools, such as Kitô-ryû jûjutsu, Yagyû-ryû jûjutsu, Shinkage-ryû kenjutsu, and Daitô-ryû jûjutsu. Finally he became spritually awakened through his persistent effort for seeking truth, and developed these traditional techniques into a higher stage of Budô.

The Founder advocated harmonization of mankind and world peace through Aikidô practice. He stated, "The innermost secret of Aikidô is to free yourself of evil thoughts and to keep your action in harmony with the universe, that is to make yourself united with it. The sprit of the universe is a great love, which reaches to every inch of the world. So, no one can be in harmony with the universe unless he shares the same spirit. A person whose mind is inconsistent with the universe will attain only destructive techniques, but not true Budô. True Budô is a power of love, no killing each other, and a power of creation that makes everything growing and keeping alive."

Today, Aikidô has become well-known. Throughout the world, many people are pursuing Aikidô with high appreciation. This is because Aikidô does not have recourse to physical power and contention for victory. It is the way of personal growth through friendship and the mutual development of each other.

In Japan, Aikikai holds 500 or more branch dôjôs and hundreds of organizations for students and corporative workers. More than 70 countries in the world have Aikidô organizations.