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

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.

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

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

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!

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:

After 30 hours of traveling from Narita and stopping in Los Angeles and Lima-Peru, Sensei finally arrived in Santiago de Chile. From then on was a 15 minute flight across the Andes to the desert City of Mendoza. Upon arrival, Fabián Bochaca and Fernando Licciardi, long time collaborators of Ariel Perez in Mendoza - and the organizers of the seminar - were waiting together with José Silva, brother Mario Silva, Sergio Bengoa and Esteban Hamada.
From the airport Sensei went to stay at a thermal hotel just outside Mendoza. Next day was reserved for relaxing in this superb environment with water falls and natural hot water, in the middle of the first andes mountains.

This was the first time Saito Sensei ever set foot in Argentina. Sensei had already been in neighbor Chile but this was the furthest Sensei ever flew from Narita.
On friday, the tatami was already full of people who came from Buenos Aires, La Plata, Uruguay, several cities from Chile, Brazil, Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
During the seminar Sensei taught with great detail and patiently corrected all students one by one. Even though there were lots of beginners which naturally absorbed most of Sensei's attention, many yudansha were constantly corrected and so the general mood of the seminar was that everybody was really learning, not just practicing.

During the seminar Sensei was also very busy examining many students for shodan, for nidan and for sandan. Even though not all succeed to pass for their next level, it was a pleasure to see how everyone's spirit was so high and with a strong will to learn.
It was a great lesson that every one who watched the examinations learned from Sensei. It became clear that the requirements for passing an Iwama Shin Shin Aikishurenkai examination are very hard to fulfill.
All were very happy for the great amount of information that they got from watching Sensei grade, specially for there all people from shodan, nindan and sandan. In other words, we were all able to understand the requirements for each level.

The traditional seminar party was very entertaining for we had about 25 minutes of Argentinean folklore music and dance.

Next year we are counting on traveling again to south America, but this time to the city of Montevideo, Uruguay. Please come and join us for another seminar directed by Saito Shihan.

You can see some pictures of this event on the facebook of Aikido Iwama Mendoza

Saito Shihan arrived in Portugal on late at night on the 31 of August. At the airport there were about 20 people waiting to welcome Sensei. Outside it rained heavily but still these people waited until Sensei came out from the baggage claim. It is always a great pleasure when we Portuguese see our master Saito coming out of that door.
The following day Sensei was already in Santo André in a country house. In order to relax from the long trip, we took Sensei on a short sight seeing trip, around the country side.
The seminar started on the 2 of September, in the afternoon. To our surprise there were almost 100 people on the tatami waiting for Sensei.
However on saturday the number greatly increased and we had some difficulties training in doors so many training sessions were outside the dojo.
People came from Portugal, neighboring Spain, Italy, France, England, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Russia, Morocco, Chile and USA.
The seminar was absolutely spectacular as we had the chance to learn in utmost detail all the ken and jo suburi, and the sections of the 31 kata kumijo and 13 kata awase. Even the great numbers of beginners could easily follow Sensei's teachings.
On the special keiko, a training session reserved for higher learning, Sensei taught us several form of drawing the sword, according to Aiki principles. All the participants were delirious with this information which gave all of us new material to study and to think about.
At the party every body introduced themselves and José Veiga sang "Besa me Mucho" and Ivo Ricardo sang the famous "Sen no kaze ni natte". We were sad to see Sensei go so soon and all of us are now eagerly waiting for Sensei's next seminar in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, which will be programed by José Veiga.

At Portugal Aikishurendojo's facebook, you can see some of the pictures of this seminar.

From the 24th to the 26th of June, Hitohira Saito Jukucho was in Modena, land of the Ferrari in Italy, to teach a spectacular seminar.
More than 200 people participated, from 40 different countries. Famous teachers from all over the world were also present to learn from Hitohira Saito Jukucho.
This seminar was organized by Mr. Fabio Luppi and his students from Modena, who belong to Italy Iwama Shin Shin Aikishurenkai. Everybody is welcome to see the pictures of this fantastic seminar at http://www.aikidomodena.it/.
Sensei was hosted at Mr. Fabio Luppi's home where he could quietly rest with the company of the Luppi family and Mr. Alessandro Tittarelli from Ancona and Mr. Tristão da Cunha form Portugal.
All the participants trained with vigor and seriously despite the tremendous heat that was felt on these days.
On the free time Sensei and all the participants had the opportunity to visit Ferrari shops and museums as well as to taste the most famous Balsamic Vinegar from Modena in exquisite dishes.

Modena Aikido is deeply thankful to Sensei for coming from so far away to teach. Everybody enjoyed and learned a lot from this seminar.

In response to the overwhelming devastation in North Coast of Japan, Aikido Gathering will be held following the date and place below. All fees will be donated to the Japan Relief Fund.

There will be no restriction in terms of what type or style of Aikido youare associated to.
The purpose of this gathering is to support the victims and their families of the people affected by the recent disaster.

Place: Wakayama Tanabe City Budo-kan
Address: 44-8 Mera, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture

Date: June 4th, 5th 2011

June 4th (Saturday) - 3:00pm-5:00pm Taijyutsu
June 5th (Sunday)- 10:00am-12:pm (Ken, Jyo)

Fee: 1hr/1000yen

Please bring your own weapon for Sunday gathering.
Accommodation fee is not included.
People who need accommodation, please contact ahead of time.

If you have any questions in regards to the event, please contact
Hisako Saito
Tel: 029945-2224 (after 8:20pm)

Also, we would like to thank each and every one of you who has sent us warm message praying our well being.

At Iwama, Aiki Shrine Festival has been cancelled but Shinobu-kai will be held on April 29th (Friday) as per scheduled.

We would like to take this opportunity to give our prayers for the victims and their families.

Shinobu-kai

Date: April 29th (Friday), 2011

Place: Shin-Dojo

Time: 11:00am -

Hitohiro Saito
Iwama Shin-Shin Aiki Shurenkai