Thank you very much to the many people that participated in Nagoya seminar.

Hitohira Saito Shihan was glad that the representatives of affiliated dojos and new students participated in it.

At present there are 38 affiliated (organizations) who are learning aikido all over the world and who are members of Dento Iwama Ryu Aikido, " Iwama Shinshin Aikishurenkai."

It is our wish to keep on spreading Aikido through Japan and throughout the world.

We are deeply grateful to the people who participated this seminar.

The Secretariat

From April 20th to the 22nd - 2012, Saito Jukucho will be teaching an international seminar in Spain. This will be Saito Sensei's first seminar in Spain and it will be in the city of Santiago de Compostela. Santiago is a very famous city for the apostle St. James is believed to be buried here. Since the 9th century that thousands of people go on pilgrimages to this city (the Way of St. James). The old part o the city is also considered an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Well worth the visit.

The group of Aikidoka from Santiago is led by José Veiga a long time student of Morihiro Saito Shihan and also of Hitohira Saito Shihan. This will definitely be a wonderful seminar and we believe that everybody should attend without fail.

Please refer to the Facebook event: I Seminario Internacional Aikido Dento Iwama Ryu
or check Santiago's page: Asociación Galega de Aikido Dentou Iwama Ryu
Come and join us! You will definitely enjoy this seminar taught by the world's top authority on traditional Aikido, Hitohira Saito Jukucho.

2011 November,
The seminar in the Slovak Republic

From November 16th to the 22nd, I was (teaching) at the seminar in in Bratislava, the Slovak Republic.
This is the fourth time I have been there. When I arrived, the temperature was zero, so I was firm. At night the temperature dropped below 5 degrees.
In this country BUDO is thriving as well as all sports. It happened that at the same time as the seminar, there was an international fencing competition and Ice Hockey trainings being held. Athletes from around the world stayed at same hotel as me, so there was an atmosphere full of excitement.
This seminar was held for the second time at a high school gymnasium. It lasted for 3 days, from Friday to Sunday and we had a total of 10 training sessions. I focused particularly on training weapon's techniques. There were people from 15 countries and new faces, too.
In seminars, when practicing weapon's techniques, I am always very strict on teaching that we should always consider a real fighting situation. If you do not do this you will not have a good form and it will be dangerous.
It is important to learn a stable TAI SABAKI (body movements) and to eliminate wasted movements, irrespective of speed and strength. I taught them about the difference between KEN SABAKI (body movements with Ken) and TAI SABAKI (body movements), and the difference of the body's angle with Jo, by showing (explanatory) drawings.
Lastly, I said, "The current practice is made under the strict thought of the Founder and Morihiro sensei. As there is no shame in it, please try to practice."
During my stay I could feel firsthand the old Slovak culture and its buildings. I am deeply grateful to the people who joined in the seminar, and to Stefan Kurilla sensei and his students, who organized it.
21st, Dec., Early morning at Hotel in Austria
Saitou Hitohira

The movie "Moneyball" starring Brad Pitt has been released.
This film is made based on the life of a real person who re-organized a baseball team utilizing the statistics and analysis data and revived a lowest rank baseball team.
Me too, I always analyze the current techniques and I am always thinking whether this is or that is good, whether it makes sense in a real fighting situation. My questions for my Sensei and Senpai(s) and this film overlapped and it reminds me the struggle and determination when we became independent. This year, the Japan Earthquake and many natural disasters have occurred around the world. Despite all this I hope that next year will bring lots of happiness for everybody.
2011/11/14
Saitou Hitohira

CALENDAR FOR JAPAN - 日本の予定

January 1st :
1月1日 GANTAN - Celebration of the New Year's Day
January 8th :
1月8日 KAGAMI BIRAKI
March 10th to 11th :
3月10・11日 秋田 - AKITA - Seminar
April 14th to 15th:
4月14・15日 大阪 - OSAKA - Seminar
April 29th :
4月29日 大祭 -Tai Sai - 守弘先生偲ぶ会 - Morihiro Sensei Shinobukai -(Memorial day)
June 2nd :
6月2日 演武会 - enbukai - Demonstration (Still a plan)
December 8th to 9th:
12月8.9日 名古屋 - NAGOYA - Seminar

An article posted on the Wikihow How to Enter an Iwama Ryu Dojo explains in a simple way the steps to enter an Iwama Ryu dojo. This article is accompanied by some photographs of Dento Iwama Ryu and finishes by advising the practitioner to become an uchideshi of Saito Sensei in Iwama. Really, without this last step, to understand Aikido is a bit difficult. The experience of living, training and learning with the master in his own house is extremely enriching and important.
In this web site please refer to the above section "Information" to find out more on how to become an uchideshi here in Iwama, under Saito Shihan.

Hitohira Saito Jukucho taught a successful seminar in Bratislava, the capital and the main city of the Slovak Republic, located on the banks of the Danube River.
There were 13 countries that participated in this interesting seminar: Check Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and United Kingdom (England and Scotland).

According to Tittarelli Sensei, whom we thank for providing us with this information, this was a very interesting seminar. For taijutsu, Sensei taught kokyu nage, irimi nage, kote gaeshi, koshi nage, shiho nage, sumi otoshi, ikkyo kara rokyo made.
For bukiwaza, Sensei taught the Aikiken suburi, happo giri ( basic and also roku and shichi no suburi no katachi"..) and the kumi tachi. For Aikijo Sensei taught Jo suburi, the 13 no kata, 31 no kata, 31no jo awase, the kumi jo (1, 2, 3, 4-1, 4-2, 5, 6, 7, 8) and some interesting variations.
During this seminar there were two special keiko: one with "ninin dori, sannin dori and yonin dori" and the second with "ken tai jo" with many variations.

Indeed we can see that this was an extremely interesting seminar. The need to go to as many seminars as possible and learn directly from the ultimate and last source of traditional Aikido is here apparent. If we do not make an effort to participate in these seminars, we will not learn what Sensei has to teach. By this seminar we can clearly see that there is a world of information on Aikido inside Sensei to which no one has yet had full access. Please find some time to participate in as many seminars as possible from now on. You will not regret it!

During this seminar Stefan Kurilla Sensei, long time student of Morihiro Soke and Hitohira Jukucho, was promoted to Rokudan. Congratulations Kurilla Sensei! All the Slovakia Aikido is to be congratulated on this occasion!

Recently the Hiden Magazine - Japan - has published two DVDs of Hitohira Saito Jukucho.
These DVDs do not yet have English subtitles however the images are clear and Sensei's explanations are simple and yet very precise. Those accustomed to come to Iwama as uchideshi or who frequently study under Sensei at international seminars, will find Sensei's explanations very clear and easy to understand.
There are two DVDs: one Taijutsu and one Bukiwaza.
Taijutsu DVD: there are Suwari waza and tachi waza techniques.
Sensei starts by teaching tai no henko and ki no nagare with lots of very important information and teachings.
Suwari waza includes very clear explanations of ikkyo to gokyo. Those who are studying for Dan tests will find this an extremely useful and precious source of information in the absence of Sensei.
The Tachiwaza chapter includes fantastic explanations and demonstrations of Kokyu-nage, Shiho-nage, Kote-gaeshi, and Irimi nage.
Sensei patiently teaches with detail both yudansha and beginners often serving as uke to teach important points.
One must definitely have this DVD taught in a serious and detailed manner by Sensei.
Contents:

Tai no Henko
Morote-dori Kokyu-nage
Suwari-waza
● Shomen-uchi Ikkyo
● Yokomen-uchi Nikyo
● Yokomen-uchi Sankyo
● Yokomen-uchi Yonkyo
● Yokomen-uchi Gokyo Ura-waza
● Shomen-uchi Kokyu-nage
● Suwari-waza Kokyu-ho 1

Tachi-waza
● Ryokata-dori Kokyu-nage
● katate-dori Shiho-nage
● Yokomen-uchi Shiho-nage
● Muna-dori Kote-gaeshi
● katate-dori Kote-gaeshi
● katate-dori Irimi-nage
● Shomen-uchi Irimi-nage
● Yokomen-uchi Irimi-nage
■ Suwari-waza Kokyu-ho 2

The Bukiwaza DVD is divided into Ken no Keiko and Jo no Keiko.
The Ken no keiko includes ken suburi, shihogiri, happogiri, awase and ichi no kumitachi with variation.
The Jo no keiko includes Roku no jo, the Jo suburi kihon, shiho tsuki - seldom seen - harai no keiko and ju-san no jo.
As in the Taijustu DVD the Bukiwaza DVD is filled with precise explanations of the main movements of the aikijo.
Contents:

Ken no Keiko
● Suburi
● Shiho/Happo giri
● Awase
● Ichi no Tachi
● Sayu no Henka

Jo no Keiko
● Roku no Jo
● Jo Suburi Kihon
○ Tsuki Go-hon
○ Uchikomi Go-hon 　
○ Katate San-bon
○ Hasso-gaeshi Roppon
○ Nagare San-bon
● Shiho-tsuki　
● Harai no Keiko
● Ju-san no Jo

Please refer to the following links to order these important DVDs:
Hiden Magazine:

Hiden Magazine:

• FEBRUARY 9~15 : Philippines
• MARCH 23~25 : Reno- USA
• APRIL 20~22 : Santiago de Compostela-Spain
• MAY 18~20 : Ivanov-Russia
• JUNE 22~24 : Pordenone, North Italy
• JULY 27~ : Philippines
• AUGUSTO ~6 : Philippines
• OCTOBER 4~6 : Sicily - South Italy
• OCTBOER 12~14 : Montevideo - Uruguay
• NOVEMBER 2~4 : Rennes -France