IWAMA

Iwama is a small town about 100 kilometres north-east of Tokyo. It is here that O'Sensei constructed a dojo (training hall) and the Aiki Jinja, an Omoto shrine next to the dojo. It is said that during this period, from 1942 to his death in 1969 that O'Sensei, completed his development of Aikido.

Iwama training was focused on mastering the basic forms (kihon) and being able to execute techniques powerfully from solid attacks before moving on to the more advanced flowing (ki-no-nagare) movements. Also important was practice of the weapon curriculum of bokken (wooden sword) and jo (wooden staff) which O'Sensei introduced. O'Sensei called the techniques that he taught at the Iwama dojo, "takemusu aiki". Martial forms that are spontaneously generated.

During this period, O'Sensei's longest serving student of 23 years was Morihiro  Saito, who on Master Ueshiba's death assumed the position of headmaster of the Iwama Dojo and caretaker of the Aiki Jinja.

Aikido Jinja

Saito Sensei and his wife, 1980

MORIHIRO SAITO SENSEI

Saito Sensei 9th dan, was renowned as a superior exponent and teacher of Aikido who dedicated his life to passing on the Aikido taught to him by the founder, and in particular, the study of its traditional weapon technique. Saito Sensei was unique amongst Aikido teachers to have spent such a long period in association with O'Sensei and in particular to have gained such a thorough understanding of the interrelationship between taijutsu (body-art), ken (sword) and jo (staff) practice.

Because of the excellence of his teaching, his expansive knowledge of Aikido techniques and his unique position as the only student to have spent such a long period training with O'Sensei, particularly during the time when O'Sensei was completing the formation of Aikido, people from around the world travelled to the Iwama Dojo to learn directly from Saito Sensei. He reciprocated, travelling regularly to many countries to give seminars. Saito Sensei published many technical books of Aikido techniques and generously allowed his techniques to be videotaped for further study by his students.

The practice at Iwama Dojo came to be known by many students as "Iwama Style". But Saito Sensei always insisted that he was only teaching the Aikido forms which he had learnt from O'Sensei. A kind and gracious teacher, Saito Sensei passed away on 13 May 2002 aged 74. Today his many students are carrying on his legacy by continuing the practice of O'Sensei's Aikido.

All senior instructors of the Takemusu Aiki Association Inc in Australia have spent time studying in Iwama and are long term students of Saito Sensei.

IBARAKI SHIBU DOJO

Training at the old Iwama Dojo is now conducted under the auspices of the Aikikai, by a group of senior students who all trained under Saito Sensei for many years. Graded 5th dan or higher, they have shared out the teaching responsibilities between themselves. 

Information about current activities at the Iwama Dojo (including ceremonies and training) can be found here: http://www13.big.or.jp/~aikikai/e_new.html

Iwama Style Rules

Iwama Dojo, April 2001

AIKI HOUSE

Hiroki Nemoto shihan 6th dan has established an uchi-deshi programme at his Aiki House, which is located in Iwama, on the opposite side of the railway line from the Ibaraki Shibu dojo. Three training sessions each day are available, two conducted by Nemoto sensei personally and the third at the old dojo. Uchi-deshi pay ¥30,000 per fortnight for self-contained accommodation and training.

Aikido students interested in this programme can write to Nemoto sensei at: 4839-31 SHIMOGOU IWAMA MACHI NISHI IBARAKI GUN IBARAKI-KEN 319-6202.

DENTO IWAMA RYU - IWAMA SHIN SHIN AIKI SHURENKAI

Hitohiro Saito, the son of Morihiro Saito, has left the Aiki Kai organisation but is continuing the tradition by conducting training in Aikido now under the banner of the Iwama Shin shin Aiki Shurenkai. An uchi-deshi programme is available and students stay at the Shin (new) dojo in the Saito compound next to the Aiki Jinja and train at Hitohiro's Tanrenkan Dojo.

Information about Hitohiro Saito Sensei's organisation and dojo, can be found here (in Japanese):           http://www.iwamaaikido.com/#

Hitohiro Sensei can be contacted at: 53 Yoshioka, Iwama-machi Nishi Ibaraki-gun, Ibaraki-ken Japan 319-02 TEL. 0011 81 29 9456 802

or through his Australian representative, Michael Marelli Sensei at the Aiki Kunren dojo, Sydney: http://www.aiki.com.au/