Mitsugi Saotome is the main instructor of the Aikido Shobukan Dojo in Washington, D.C. and also it serves like the instructional supervisor as than 70 dojos more affiliated the international association, Aikido Schools of Ueshiba.

The Saotome Teacher has dedicated all to his adult life to the study and the education of the Aikido. He began like special apprentice of the founder of the Aikido, Ueshiba Morihei (Or Sensei) in 1955 and continued by 15 years until the death of the founder in April of 1969.

From 1960 to 1975 the Saotome Teacher taught in the World Aikido Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. During this period he occupied many positions and he received many honors and profits. He made public appearances in many events in Japan and abroad in order scatter to the understanding and knowledge of the Aikido.

In 1975 the Saotome Teacher decided to highly leave his respected position like main instructor of the World Aikido Headquarters in Tokyo to come to the United States. When it was asked to him on his decision to leave its birthplace responded: "the eyes of the world are in the United States. This pais is a great experiment; a crucible of people of many united cultural trasfondos living, the world condensed in a nation. The goal of the Aikido and the dream of Or Sensei are that all the people of the world live united like a family, in harmonía with the others and with its atmosphere. The United States has the opportunity to give a great example."

Besides to offer national and international seminaries in a scheduled route, the Saotome Teacher has offered special seminaries, including a seminary to the U.S. Military Special Forces, a special training of the U.S. Security Forces in Washington, D.C. and has spoken before the General Assembly of the Nations United on the roll of the Aikido in the efforts by world-wide La Paz.

The Saotome Teacher has written two books published on Aikido: Aikido and the Harmony of Nature and The Principles of Aikido. Also it has made several videotapes.

Taken and translated of the site of ASU Web.

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