It was with great pleasure that Shin Shin Aikido Copenhagen hosted an international seminar with Hitohira Saito Sensei in April 2017.

The seminar took place at a former Japanese folk high school in the countryside outside of Copenhagen. Twelve (12) different countries were represented and made up a great big group of uchi-deshi training, eating and drinking together.

Sensei explained many important points, especially regarding irimi-nage and ken-tai-jo and 3 people successfully passed their shodan and sandan test.

Next time Sensei is in Europe will be the 10th of November in Paris, France. Sensei also reminded us that Waka Sensei will come to Stuttgart, Germany, 23-24 of September.

We wish to thank Sensei and all the participants for a wonderful seminar and look forward to seeing him again.

Sigurd Wiingaard Uldall

2017 Hitohira Saito Sensei Indonesia Third Koshukai

Saito Sensei’s Third Indonesia Koshukai was held on March 25th – 26th, 2017. The Koshukai took place in Alam Sutera Sport Center, Serpong – Tangerang. The exciting event was attended by 80 Aikidokas from various countries, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Canada. Tireless Kiai and spirit were burning during the 2-days event!

Saito Sensei started the 1st day koshukai with bukiwaza, in which sensei gave detailed explanation on the importance of basic ken gamae and ken no suburi. Furthermore, Saito sensei also cover step-by-step ken no awase and its connection with kumitachi.

Fundamental techniques such as tai no henko, morote dori kokyu nage, shomenuchi ikkyo marks our second day of koshukai. The training proceeds with kotegaeshi, shihonage and iriminage. The main message that Sensei tries to convey is the importance of keeping shite’s balance while breaking uke’s balance so as to seize the techniques’ momentum.

During our dinner, sensei explains how aikido training should be treated similarly as spiritual training. The purpose of spiritual training is to cleanse our body and soul; the same should be applied to Aikido training. It is therefore important to train every step entailed in the kihon-waza, down to the point where it gets into your bones. Last but not least, sensei also said that the ultimate purpose of our Aikido training is to unite people, regardless of religions and race.

Thank you sensei for the teaching!
Arigatou gozaimashita Sensei!

On the 3rd of March 2017 Mr. Saito Hitohira Kaicho, opened the demonstrations of Private Security High School in Bratislava.
The Demonstrations were attended by his Excellency, the Japanese ambassador in Slovak Republic, Mr. Jun Shimmi, General JUDr. Tibor Gaplovksy, Col. Ing. Miroslav Ištván (Guard of Honour Commander of the Slovak president), Col. JUDr. Vladimír Vyskoč – National Antidrug Unit) and many other prominent guests. His Excellency and Saito Sensei were given Private School Plaque of Thankfulness.

Currently, there are about 250 students in 10 classes. Demonstrations were made by each class separately, which were judged by his Excellency Jun Shimmi a Saito Hitohira Kaicho. The two best classes were appreciated by the triumphal cup and individual students by medals. A pedagogue, the former representing member of judo and teenager club Kurilla Budokan, also attended the demonstrations. Afterwards, Sensei was invited for dinner at the Residency of His Excellency the Japanese Ambassador and spent there couple of hours in a very interesting and pleasant conversation.

The next day, 4th March, started the first day of the seminar, which was attended by 94 participants from 9 countries, Italy, Germany, Austria, UK, Russia, Turkey, Spain, Czech Republic and Slovakia. The atmosphere was excellent and very friendly. Sensei explained a lot of important details.

The Saturday evening was completed by a banquet on the ground of the Private Security High School. Hopefully, all the participants had the same great feeling and experience as we did.
Our great “Thank you” goes to the Sensei for his precious time and patience as well as to all the participants for creating that great atmosphere. We are looking forward to the next seminar under the direction of Sensei in 2019 in Bratislava, which will be the time of the 30th celebration of the foundation of our club.
We are very pleased by the positive feedback of shihan Alessandro Tittarelli, shihan Sergey Botov, Thomas Podzelny, Alexey Obvintesev and many others.

Pictures will probably say more about the atmosphere of the seminar…

Kurilla Budokan Team

More pictures of this important event, can be found here.

The world-famous master, Hitohira Saito Shihan, head of the Traditional Aikido school in Japan – visited Murmansk to instruct a seminar.

Sensei was invited by the Zapolyarniy fans of martial arts. This seminar was to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first aikido clubs in the region.

It was the first time that Saito Hitohira Sensei came to Murmansk. The Russian masters recognized and appreciated his high level of training.

According to Saito Hitohira Sensei, the purpose of those who decide to study Aikido, is to achieve internal, spiritual purification.

For this seminar, there was a participation of Aikido lovers from different Russian cities: Moscow, Saint-Petersburg. Ivanovo, Apatity and Murmansk.
During this seminar, we practiced a variety or techniques, such as, Taijutsu: Morote dori – kokyu ho;
Ikkyo, nikyo and sankyo (osae waza, nage waza);
Shiho nage; yokomenuchi – irimi nage, kotegaesi. Ninin dori and sannindori – kokyu nage; Bukiwaza:
Ken suburi;
Ken awase, 1-7,
Kumi tachi 1,2,3,4, with variations;
Jo suburi – 1-21;
31 no kata;
13 no kata and 13 kata awasе; We also practiced kumi jo – 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9 For the special keiko, we trained Ken tai jo – 1,2,3,4

After the seminar, Sensei visited the aquarium with sea animals and an aboriginal settlement in Murmanska- Pomerania.

Thank you Sensei, for this wonderful seminar.

Alexandr Kravchuk

120 participants joined this fourth international seminar in Rennes. It has been a real pleasure to welcome Sensei and people from many various countries. People from Italy, Germany, Iran, Portugal, Morocco, Belgium, England, Switzerland, United States, Japan and of course France joined this seminar.

The visit of Sensei in Rennes, started on Thursday with a great moment as we meet up with a professional sculptor. Sensei was invited to make a “performance” by sculpting a bloc of clay with a theme of his choice. So that the sculptor and Sensei worked on different bloc of clay with a common theme. Sensei realized for his first experience a beautiful sculpture of a Dragon’s head. We all were amazed by how Sensei felt the sense of it and how he gave to the clay the shape of a dragon’s head. We shared a great moment.
Seminar started on Friday. Sensei had very kind regards on each one of us and was really involved in making adjustments to people’s moves and explaining us the sense of the techniques. He lays the emphasis upon his research on Ô sensei’s Aikido and gave many explanations upon how Aikido spread around the world in different ways. He also focuses on the importance to improve ourselves in our daily practice by using different key exercises.

After training, we had on Saturday a user-friendly party with sensei at the dojo.
The atmosphere was really close to an uchi-deshi party in Iwama and thanks to sensei, the represented dojos performed a specific song… So we had a very chilled out atmosphere and we all enjoyed this particular and privileged time.

This seminar really reinforced the strong links between the different Dojo and Aïkidoka. SAITO Hitohira sensei really rallied everybody under his incredible Aikido and showed us the importance of being all together to practice and feel such powerful instant. Sensei showed us beyond doubt that Aikido unifies people. During this seminar we felt very close to that old saying of Ô sensei:
“The Art of Peace begins with you. Work on yourself and your appointed task in the Art of Peace. Everyone has a spirit that can be refined, a body that can be trained in some manner, a suitable path to follow. You are here for no other purpose than to realize your inner divinity and manifest your inner enlightenment. Foster peace in your own life and then apply the Art to all that you encounter.”
Arigatou gozaimashita, sensei.

Olivier Eberhardt
Rennes – France.

In keeping with the long tradition of Iwama Aikido in Sonoma County, Dennis Tatoian and Takemusu Aikido of Sonoma (TAOS dojo group) were proud to host Hitohira Saito Soke for another great seminar in late October marking the third annual International Seminar for Aikidoka of all ages and skill levels from around the globe and United States.

Keiko this year focused on Bukiwaza and emphasized the importance of serious practice and the fundamental basics of the Aikiken and Aikijo curriculum of O’Sensei’s weapons practice that was codified into a uniform system of training by the great Morihiro Saito Shihan.

Sensei was quite gracious in his demeanor and spirits were high on the mat, which was full of many good friends who were all happy to train together and receive instruction from one of the world’s foremost practitioners of Aikido.

Many thanks to all our friends from local and far away dojo as well as cross-country and international travelers who made the long journey to wine country. We all eagerly look forward to next year’s seminar Octorber 13-15, 2017. Mark your calendars and join us!!!

Julian Shay