“The ascent to beauty” is an attempt to portrait the martial art Aikido. Four high-ranking Aikidoka are interviewed during the film and give demonstrations of their skill: Ulrike Serak, a fifth Dan Aikido-master and the first woman in Germany to open an Aikido-Dojo. Max Eriksson-Ohlwein, 4th Dan, her master-student. Christian Tissier, 7th Dan and the first occidental to be awarded the title Shihan, teacher of teachers, by the Aikikai Tokyo, who was filmed during one of the seminars he gives around the world. Finally Endo Seishiro, 8th Dan, one of the last living close students of the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba himself.