Morihiro Saito
12 Episodes
Morihiro Saito (March 31, 1928-May 13, 2002), 9th Dan, was Chief Instructor of the Iwama Dojo and one of the closest students of the founder. Saito's style of aikido is often referred to as "Iwama aikido."
Building a worldwide student base, Saito’s practice of aikido spanned 56 years, from the age of 18, when he first met aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba, until his dealth in 2002.
Prior to joining Ueshiba as a live-in student (uchideshi) in 1946, he practiced kendo as a schoolboy and Shinto-ryū karate and judo as an adult. When Saito came to Iwama for training, he joined other live-in students including Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Koichi Tohei, and Tadashi Abe. This early training was quite brutal, but after persevering for several years, Saito became one of Ueshiba's closest students.
From 1946 until Ueshiba’s passing in 1969, Saito served as Ueshiba's assistant in a variety of ways at Iwama while his wife served Mrs. Ueshiba.
Before his death, Ueshiba gave Morihiro Saito the responsibility of carrying on the teaching at the Iwama dojo and the position of guardian of the Aiki Jinja located in Iwama.
Stanley Pranin, founder of Aikido Journal, was a direct student of Saito Sensei.
Morihiro Saito Interview (1978):
http://aikidojournal.com/2002/11/18/interview-with-morihiro-saito-1978/
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1:25:46Episode 1Lost Seminars: Part 1
Episode 1
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1:49:32Episode 2Lost Seminars Part 2
Episode 2
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30:29Episode 3Morihiro Saito: Aiki-ken
Episode 3
This is Morihiro Saito's Aiki-Ken (sword) instructional video. This video includes ken suburi exercises with step-by-step instructions.
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20:20Episode 4Morihiro Saito: Aiki-jo Part 1
Episode 4
This is Part 1 of Saito Shihan's jo instructional video. The video includes jo suburi movements, O-Sensei's jo kata movement, and jo awase movements.
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25:03Episode 5Morihiro Saito: Aiki-jo Part 2
Episode 5
This is Part 2 of Saito Shihan's jo instructional video. In this video, he demonstrates the 31 kumijo and the 10 kumijo (developed by Saito) and explains each movement step-by- step.
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22:51Episode 6Morihiro Saito : Jo-dori and Jo-nage
Episode 6
Morihiro Saito Shihan (9th dan) teaches Jo-dori and Jo-nage at Iwama dojo in 1988. Patricia Hendricks Shihan takes ukemi and and translates during the class.
Saito Shihan explains the differences between Hombu dojo style and Iwama style jo techniques.
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01:27Episode 7Morihiro Saito: Atemi
Episode 7
A short demonstration of various atemi techniques filmed in 1975 with Saito Sensei. This quick overview of a vast array of atemi options is a valuable overview that is informative to aikido practitioners of all levels.
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16:08Episode 8Morihiro Saito: 1973 TV Documentary
Episode 8
This TV documentary film was shot by NHK in 1973 on location in Iwama. The video was filmed when Saito Shihan was the chief instructor of Iwama Dojo and guardian of the Aikido Shrine. He held this role from 1969 until his death in 2002. His mastery of empty-handed and weapon techniques is legend...
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Morihiro Saito 1974 San Francisco Seminar: Part 1
Episode 9
This long-lost film was made in 1974 in San Francisco and Oakland, California on the occasion of Morihiro Saito’s first American seminar. He was 46 years old and in his prime and traveling abroad for the first time. Saito Sensei made a lasting impression for his technical and teaching skills and ...
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Morihiro Saito 1974 San Francisco Seminar: Part 2
Episode 10
This long-lost film was made in 1974 in San Francisco and Oakland, California on the occasion of Morihiro Saito’s first American seminar. He was 46 years old and in his prime and traveling abroad for the first time. Saito Sensei made a lasting impression for his technical and teaching skills and ...
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30:59Episode 11Second Friendship Demo: Morihiro Saito
Episode 11
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Morihiro Saito: 1985 Friendship Demonstration
Episode 12
This video features a demonstration by Morihei Saito Shihan.
Morihei Saito Shihan started aikido in 1946 at Iwama Dojo. He served as a Chief Instructor from 1969 until his death in 2002. Saito Shihan is one of aikido’s most prominent figures, expert in taijutsu and the aiki ken and jo. In th...
