If you mention Aikido to most martial artists, they immediately think of Ueshiba Morihei, the founder of Modern Aikido. But he is just that, the founder of MODERN Aikido. Aikido, both in basic priciple and termniilogy existed bfore his time. I recall reading an article that stated the first known usage of the term AIKIDO was in 1749. I am still looking for further confirmation on that. What we do know is that the term Aikido was in use in the Takeda family martial arts before Ueshiba's time. Also, Nihon Goshin Aikido is another art known as AIKIDO that does not have a connection to Ueshiba or his Aikido. It too grew directly out of Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu..

Aikido is not a specific art or group of techniques owned by any one individual or organization. Universal in nature, Aikido is a combination of theories and priniciples relating to motion, physics, human anatomy, physiology and psychology applied to self defense.

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..."AIKIDO is the art of gathering and combining forces. Nowadays this weaponless martial art is often practiced as an art of self-defense based on a special strategy. By throwing and locking techniques a master is able to defend himself against any kind of attack, thus even gaining full control of the opponent. Initially the art of AIKI ("AIKI NO JUTSU") was the spiritual and strategic basis of the TAKEDA RYU martial arts. Later a special weaponless martial art was developed, it was first called "AIKI (NO) JUTSU" and now "AIKIDO". Today there are a lot of AIKIDO schools and organizations in and outside Japan, but TAKEDA RYU AIKIDO is the source of all AIKIDO and AIKIJUTSU styles."...

Although ranked more highly in other arts (Hakko Ryu, Kuniba Ryu and Keisatsu Aikido), it is Yoshinkan Aikido that is taught in the school. Kuniba Ryu is largely based on the Yoshinkan Aikido and Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu that Kuniba Soke learned from Gozo Shioda. This teaching was combined with the Karate and Judo that he also learned. We teach the Yoshinkan Aikido syllabus as presrcibed by IYAF but we include oyo and henka waza from the other styles.

My first exposure to the art of Aikido was through my studies of Junse Goshin Budo Jujutsu under Darrell Craig Kyoshi of the Houston Budokan. This Goshin Budo system is a combination of Yoshinkan Aikido and Judo, and also includes jodo and other technique.