Tracking the “Footprints” of Morihei Ueshiba

English Version

Who is Morihei Ueshiba? You may not know or have not even heard of him. However, to all aikido practitioners, he is the great teacher or “O Sensei”. For it was him who developed the non-competitive and non-aggressive martial art.

Pradityo Soekarno, instructor of Bulungan Aikido Dojo and Lotus Aikido Dojo, says that Morihei Ueshiba envisioned aikido as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Derives from traditional martial art of Daito-ryu Aikijutsu, Morihei Ueshiba evolved it in 1920s and referred it as Aiki Budo or Aiki No Michi.  

Then in 1940, the art is simply known as Aikido. The Japanese Government has recognized The Aikikai Foundation, Aikido World Headquaters in Tokyo, Japan, ever since.

Nowadays, Aikikai Aikido has grown and spread to all over the world. The purpose of this organization is to preserve and promote the ideals of the true aikido created by the founder.

For information, the grade in aikido is categorized into beginner (mudansha) and advanced (yudansha) level. Mudansha has six grades starts from 6th Kyu to 1st Kyu. While yudansha has 8 degrees from 1st Dan to 8th Dan.

So, how did aikido develop in Indonesia? As it is recorded in Indonesia Aikikai official website, it turns out that aikido has expanded since the reign of President Soekarno. During that period, many students received scholarships to study in Japan.

They did not waste their time in the land of the rising sun, while studying in universities, some Indonesian college students took the opportunity to learn aikido directly from its origin land. Among them are Jozef Izaak Poetiray and Mansur Idham.

The pioneers who then known as founders of Indonesia Aikikai are Ir. Jozef Izaak Poetiray, Ir. Mansur Idham, Robert Felix, J.M. Prawira Widjaya, and Ir. Gunawan Danurahardja. They were also supported by Dr. Dono Iskandar, Drs. Achmad Mahbub, Drs. Imam Kurnain, and Gatot. By their efforts, Yayasan Indonesia Aikikai (Y.I.A.) was established on October 28, 1983, as the first aikido organization in the country.

Today, the highest rank of local aikido practitioners is 5th Dan. Ir. Jozef Izaak Poetiray is recorded to be one of them.

April 18, 2010