Aikido Masters and Lineage
Morihei Ueshiba (1883 – 1969) was regarded as one of Japan’s greatest Martial Artists. Even as an old man of eighty, he was able to disarm many foe’s, down any number of attacks and pin an opponent with a single finger. Although regraded as invinclible as a warrior, he was above all a man of peace who detested fighthing, was and any kind of violence. His way was Aikido, which can be translated “The art of peace”. Morihei Ueshiba is referred to by the practitioners of Aikido as “O’Sensei” or “The Great Teacher”.
Iwama
Morihiro Saito Sensei was born on March 31, 1928 in a small village near the Iwama dojo. He began his Aikido training when he was eighteen years old. He had practiced Kendo (Way of the sword) as well as Shito-Ryu Karate and Judo. Saito Sensei was accepted by O’Sensei as a student and this was the beginning of a very long close relationship. Due to his 24 hour on and 24 hour off working shift with the Japanese national railroad, Saito Sensei had a lot of time for training at the Ueshiba dojo. Early morning classes where devoted to prayer at the Aiki shrine followed by weapons practice. This was the period when the founder was deeply engorssed in the study of Aiki-ken and Aiki-jo and thier relationship to empty-handed techniques.
Hitohiro Saito Sensei
Hitohiro Saito Sensei was born 12 February 1957 in Iwama, he began his Aikido training at the tender age of seven under the direct tutelage of the founder, Morhei Ueshiba. He continued his training under O’Sensei until the founders death in 1969, at which time he automatically continued his training under O’Sensei’s chief disiple, his own father, Morihiro Saito 9th dan. Until his fathers death in 2002, Hitohiro Saito taught and trained constantly at the Iwama dojo.