Ō Sensei 翁先生 (»Great Teacher«) created the system of self-defense we know today as Aikidō 合氣道 with roots in ancient Japanese Budō disciplines.
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As the founder’s probably longest-serving student, he trained with O’Sensei in Iwama for 23 years. His immeasurably rich technical repertoire he formed into a unique comprehensive teaching system, integrating open-hand and weapons techniques, that is the basis of our training.
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→ “Remembering Morihiro Saito Sensei” (Stanley Pranin)

Assumed responsibility for the founder’s Iwama dōjō and the Aiki Shrine following the passing of his father. In 2004 he founded the independent Iwama Shinshin Aiki Shurenkai association. Numerous students from around the globe continuously come to train at his dōjō Tanrenkan (the foundry).
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→ Saito Hitohira Sensei portrait article
→ Saito Hitohira Sensei interview 2015