Iwama Style Aikido

Iwama Style Aikido studies and practices Traditional AIKIDO as taught by Morihiro Saito Sensei 9th Dan (1928-2002) an original student of O-Sensei who trained with O-Sensei every day for over 24 years.

IWAMA STYLE AIKIDO endeavours to stay true to the basic AIKIDO taught by O-Sensei, with students learning tai-jutsu (hand to hand) techniques along with and in relation to the methods of Bokken and Jo (wooden sword and staff). As O'Sensei's most loyal student Saito Sensei was the only one to receive, as a legacy, a deep understanding of Aiki ken and Aiki Jo.

Morihiro Saito Sensei passed away early Monday morning, May 13, 2002, in Iwama, Japan. His life and dedication to Aikido has touched thousands of lives and he will be greatly missed. Saito Sensei spent his lifetime teaching O-Sensei's way of Aikido. As O-Sensei's personal attendant for 24 years and heir of the Iwama Dojo and guardian of the Aiki-Shrine, Saito Sensei is a pillar in the Aikido world today.

Tributes from Chiba Shihan and Sensei Pat Hendricks can be seen here

Hitohiro Saito Sensei, son of and successor to Morihiro Saito Sensei, grew up at the Founder's Dojo and always lived there. He had O-Sensei as his first teacher and was then taught by Morihiro Saito Sensei.

In order to preserve his father's task and so preserve O-Sensei's Aikido he created Iwama Shinshin Aiki Shurenkai in 2004.