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The
development of Aikido from its many historic antecedents was
the life work of Morihei Ueshiba. Called the O’Sensei,
Ueshiba was considered one of the greatest martial artist
of Japan and a national treasure. O’Sensei married the
traditional martial art of Daito-ryu Aikijitsu with the philosophy
of harmony and non-aggression. Giving birth of a serious and
affective martial that ultimate goal is not to injury or taking
life. Aikido was seen by O’Sensei as a way to help reconcile
conflict and bring peace to a world ravaged by two world wars.
O’Sensei died at the age of 86 in 1969. |
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Among O’Sensei’s many students,
arguably the most dedicated was Morihito Saito Shihan. Part
man servant, part retainer the role as Uchi Deshi afforded
Morihito Saito an amazing amount of personal attention and
insight to the formulation of Aikido. He was given charge
of the Iwama Dojo and Aiki Shrine following O’Sensei’s
death. Over his 50+ years of study, Morihito Saito became
a international figure in Aikido, drawing student from around
to world. Morihito Saito is best know for canonizing the hand
and weapons forms of O’Sensei’s. Hence preserving
the art into what is now called Iwama-ryu Aikido. Saito Sensei
died in 2002. |
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Son of Morihito Saito, Hitohiro Saito Shihan
is the head of Iwama Shin Shin Aikishuren Kai Organization.
He is one of his generation’s greatest Aikido practitioners.
Having grown up in the Iwama Dojo, Hitohiro Saito Shihan has
trained directly under O’Sensei and his father since the
age of 6. |
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Pat Henndricks Sensei has developed a reputation
as a world-class instruction and gives seminars around the globe.
Fluent in Japanese Hendricks Sensei was one of the first westerns
to become Uchi Deshi in 1977. She has studied extensively with
Morihito Saito Shihan, often traveling with him as his translator.
She is one of the very few instructors to hold the Menkio Kaiden,
transmission scroll certifying her as mastery of all the Iwama
weapon forms. |
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John Nguyen Sensei has
been studying aikido since 1992. He has trained with both Patricia
Hendricks Sensei and Hitohiro Saito Shihan as Uchi Deshi and
has taught in the Univeristy of Virginia, and Aikido of Charlottesville
and Aikido of Arlington. |
