Aikido Kinokawa

It is difficult to speak with certainty about the very early history of Aikido. Tradition suggests that it is possible to trace back the origins of Aikido to Prince Teijun, the 6th son of the Japanese Emperor Seiwa (850-880 A. D. However, the 1st important figure in the history of Aikido was a descendent of Prince Teijun, Minamoto no Yoshimitsu, who lived from 1037 to 1127. Yoshimitsu was the 3rd son in a fam- ily already famous for its military accomplishments. His father was a general in the service of the Emperor.