Saito Morihiro sensei

齋藤守弘先生

  • The late Saito Morihiro Sensei was a senior disciple of the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, who served the founder for 23 years, passed down the techniques and forms of the founder left in Iwama, and was the longest-serving teacher of the Aikikai who protected the Aiki Shrine and the Aiki Training Dojo(now Ibaraki Dojo), and was one of the few disciples who was able to receive weapon training from the founder. He was the only master authorized to receive the award, and he taught aikido extensively in Japan and overseas. Aikido workshops were held in Osaka from Heisei 11 ~ 13.

    ・ In 1946, he entered the Aiki training dojo in Iwama, Ibaraki Prefecture, and studied under the founder.
    ・In 1959, he became an Aikikai teacher.
    ・After his ascension in 1969, he became the head of the Ibaraki Dojo.
    ・In 1974, he gave his first overseas instruction. Since then, he has been widely instructed overseas.
    ・In 1983, he received the Martial Arts Merit Award from the Japan Martial Arts Council.
    ・In 1992, he became an Aikikai 9th dan. ・In 2002, he received an award from the Governor of Ibaraki Prefecture.
    ● Reference (Aiki News 74, 75, 88, 109, 118, 122, 130, 133)
    ● Secret Biography (January 1995 issue)