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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 known 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 Hendricks Sensei has
developed a reputation as a world-class instructor, teaching
seminars around the globe. Fluent in Japanese, Hendricks
Sensei was part of the first wave of westerners to become
Uchi Deshi. 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 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. |
