I studied with O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido, between 1967 and 1969 at the Aikido Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. It was my first in-depth, extended experience with a top-level master of internal martial arts, who was able to manipulate ki (chi) powerfully and subtly.

Ueshiba’s Remarkable Ki

Ueshiba’s ability to enter, turn, attract, and then play with and lead an opponent’s chi and mind was phenomenal. In Japanese history, no martial art could be compared with it, and no one else in Japan could do anything like what he did.

In his dojo, I often heard that he spent many years in China and only afterwards returned to Japan with this miraculous ki-based aikido ability.

Ueshiba had great internal power and when I trained with him I began to expect the paranormal.

I still vividly remember that he could get behind you so quickly it was as if he had disappeared. You could have Ueshiba clearly in your sight, and suddenly he was gone. Then, with equal suddenness, he was back. Ueshiba would then fake a hit and then joint-lock and/or throw you to the ground.

Aged and Strong

When I was with Ueshiba, he was in his eighties and of small stature, yet incredibly strong.

When he was old and near the end of his life, his students would carry him into the dojo on a stretcher. He looked extremely weak and frail. However, he would suddenly gather his chi, stand up, and toss exceptionally strong men around like rag dolls.

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