Morihiro Saito Sensei

As O'Sensei gave his students lots of room to research and refine their own Aikido, it is practised and taught differently from school to school (styles). As Aikidoka, we follow the teaching of Morihiro Saito Sensei. 

Morihiro Saito Sensei 9th Dan began studying under O-Sensei in 1946. His shift work on the Japanese railways enabled Saito Sensei, who also lived in Iwama, to learn O-Sensei's Aikido first-hand and allowed him to follow the founder of Aikido longer than any other student. 

Saito Sensei's loyalty and devotion (he also cared for the Founder and his wife) were repaid by O-Sensei with the gift of a plot of land next to the Iwama dojo. O-Sensei bequeathed him the Aiki weapons' legacy. Under the supervision of O-Sensei, Saito Sensei organised the teachings of Aikido into a more structured format. 

Before his death, O-Sensei passed on the responsibility of the Aiki Jinja (Shrine), the Iwama Dojo and the teaching of O-Sensei's Aikido to Saito Sensei.  Saito Sensei called this Iwama Aikido (Aikido according to the tradition of Iwama). It can be recognised by its focus on the accuracy of technique and posture and its use of the Aiki Ken and Aiki Jo. 

Saito Sensei studied directly under the Founder for an unbroken 23 years, longer than any other student. Saito Sensei's representative in the United Kingdom is Sensei Tony Sargeant - 6th Da Aikikai, 5th Dan Iwama. 

The Iwama style is often perceived as very "static". Many training exercises are designed to teach how to perform the technique on a resisting opponent. To achieve "Takemusu", our school attempts to blend the fluidity often present in other styles with the core principle as Saito Sensei taught them.