Morihiro Saito and the Dojo de Iwama Morihiro Saito Shihan, black belt Aikikai 9º Dan, was born in the prefecture of Ibaraki, Japan in 1928.El fué one of the Aikidoistas but outstanding and more high graduation in the world.

Morihiro Saito, 9 give Aikikai passed away at the age of 74 years.

Its race of Aikido with the founder Morihei Ueshiba began, in 1946 at the age of 18 years, and was with him until its death in 1969. He was the protective guardian and of the Sanctuary Aiki de Iwama, constructed by the own founder of the Aikido, for the preservation and the equipment servicing and the spirit of the Aikido for the future generations. It was there where the founder lived from the aim of World War II and was there also where finally term AIKIDO was born, as soon as the founder evolved his art of the Aiki-bujutsu, to the Aiki-budo, finally to arrive at the Aikido or the route from the Aiki. For that reason this place is recognized like the place of the birth of the Aikido.

He is also one of the four places where they rest ash-gray of ÓSensei, along with the temple of the Family Ueshiba in Tanabe, the cemetery of the Ueshiba family in Ayabe, and the Great temple and Sanctuary of Kumano.

The modern Aikido, so and because it practices nowadays in most of the world, derives from the interpretation of famous teachers like Joy Shioda, Koichi Tohei, the own son of the founder Kishomaru Ueshiba, Kenji Tomiki, Minoru Mochizuki and so many other students of the creator of the art and not directly of the international diffusion of the Aikido by the same founder.

As of the years 50 these famous teachers introduced their own ideas and personal modifications to the art, which is comprehensible and valuable.

The reason of this is explained easily, by the later events to 2ª World war, that was the long period of optional retirement of O´Sensei in Iwama. Also it must to the fact that the son of the founder, for obvious reasons and of greater force, in that time had to dedicate completely to the education and the administration of the headquarters of the Aikikai of Tokyo (Hombu Dojo), that outside founded also by the own creator of the Aikido. Nowadays this is the seat of the Aikikai Foundation and head of the World-wide Aikido.

Almost all the old students who practiced in Iwama moved away of that Dojo, many during the war, other a little later, since the life in Iwama was very hard in that time, was food deficiency and was necessary to work the Earth to subsist.

Nevertheless, Saito Sensei was always next to the Founder in those difficult years, helping it even in the humblest works. Although it is certain, it was a full life of sacrifices, Saito Sensei had therefore the luck and fortune to spend but time that no other student with the founder, because it was during 24 years to his service.

O´Sensei trusted its devotee student completely and it taught everything to him, or from the theoretical point of view like technician. Saito Sensei was never allowed to interpret or to question what received from the Founder; simply it was limited to memorizar, to study and to help the Teacher. Morihiro Saito was the only Teacher who preserved and transmitted intact the original Aikido so and as it was taught in Iwama. What the education of Saito Sensei characterized, fué the same importance that it gave to the techniques of Tai-Jutsu (technical of free hands) and to the Buki-Waza (Technical with arms), that the study of the Ken (sword) and the Jo includes/understands (cane). This interrelation between the Tai-jutsu, the Jo and the Ken was for the founder, determinant for the study of the Aikidó and Saito Sensei based all his pedagogía on the meticulous application of these principles.

The reason of the incredible ability that reached Saito Sensei with arms actually, as well as of free hand, was in the fact that very few people had the privilege to study as much time with the founder and no as he remained next to the teacher until the end of his days.

Due to the great impression that caused to the diffusion of books and videos of the Saito Teacher, he fué constantly invited to many countries of the world to dictate to courses and seminaries, that served to enrich and to elevate the level of the World-wide Aikido.

Hitohiro Saito, black belt Aikikai 6º Dan, son and successor of Morihiro Saito, was born in 1957 in the prefecture of Ibaraki. Its martial race at the age of 7 years, learning of its father and the founder of the Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba began. The permanent main instructor in the Dojo de Iwama has been ratified by the present Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba, as and dedicates all to his life and efforts to the preservation of this legacy, that is admired and respected nowadays like a jewel of the traditional martial arts.

In Iwama annual celebrations and festividades are made, with the presence the most important personalities of the World-wide Aikido, always counting on the presence of DOSHU MORITERU UESHIBA, technical person in charge and propietary heir of the Dojo de Iwama.

Sources: Aikido of Flowery South Iwama Ryu Italy

Iwama Dojo

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