|
Morihiro Saito Sensei, 9th Dan Shihan
Head of Iwama Dojo and keeper of the Aiki-jinja 
Morihiro Saaito Sensei, 9th Dan passed away on May 13, 2002, at the age of 74. He was the longest serving student of O-Sensei, having trained with him for 23 years, and since O-Sensei's passing, was the head of the Iwama dojo and the keeper of the AIki Shrine.
Saito Sensei was renowned throughout the world for his depth of technical knowledge, and his teaching of Aikido weapons. Saito Sensei had been training Aikido for more than 50 years, and is regarded as the world's technical expert on Aikido. Over more than 30 years of teaching Aikido, Saito Sensei travelled extensively around the world, conducting seminars He is the author of a highly acclaimed series of reference training manuals, and has travelled around the world conducting seminars.
Saito Sensei was born near Iwama, and was a railway worker for many of his earlier years. He originally came from a karate background, and had done some kendo, as so many Aikido practioners do. In those early years, Saito Sensei was famous for his strength and vigorous training method. Stories of him travelling to Tokyo and picking fights with gangsters, to test the Aikido techniques he learnt are told in the same breath as praise for his ability as a teacher providing clear, systematic and easy to understand instruction.
Saito Sensei has asked many of his top students, who are now instructors with their own dojo around the world, to be active in preserving the Martial Art of O-Sensei. At a recent seminar in Sydney, he spoke of some who believe weapons are not necessary in Aikido, and others who have begun to change the art to suit their own means. Saito Sensei believes that what O-Sensei left the world is a valuable legacy, and would like to see it preserved for future generations.
This is the undertaking of the Takemusu Aiki Association.
Back to Sensei Paul Chambers
|
