Aikido Grand Master Saito Demonstration

http://www.dojoearthquakerelief.org/
Shihan (top level expert) Saito demonstrates Aikido swordsmanship in this older footage. Saito Sensei, along with Gaku Homma Sensei (now often referred to as Homma Kancho) were the last students of the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba O Sensei, and were the last people to see him alive. Saito passed away in 2002. Homma Kancho continues to teach at his Nippon-Kan Dojo in Denver, Colorado, USA.

This was almost definitely recorded at the Iwama dojo, where modern Aikido was developed. That and several other historic dojo were damaged in the 2011 mega-earthquake and subsequent tsunami that rocked the East coast of Japan. If you would be interested in helping repair these vital pieces of Japanese heritage, please visit the following link and donate:
http://www.dojoearthquakerelief.org

A letter from Takemusu Aikido Association President, Bill Witt Shihan:

The recent earthquake in Japan was truly devastating in the northern Honshu area.
The town of Iwama, which is now part of Kasama City, is located about 200 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake. The quake was so violent that there was some damage to structures in Ibaraki Prefecture and in Iwama.

The Ibaraki Shibu Dojo (Iwama Dojo) was seriously damaged by the tremors and is unusable at the present time. Part of the roof has collapsed. Doshu has visited and determined that it is possible to rebuild and is developing plans to do so with the emphasis on making both the roof and foundation of the building significantly stronger.

The Iwama Dojo is an important part of our aikido heritage. O-Sensei moved to Iwama in 1943 and developed his post-war version of aikido there which we learn today. Saito Sensei was an important influence in passing O-Sensei's aikido to us and maintaining the traditions of the dojo. It was Saito Sensei's open acceptance of foreign students that so many of us were afforded the unique opportunity to train and study in such an important spiritual center of aikido.

Having the Iwama Dojo, O-Sensei's house, and Aiki Shrine standing in their original configurations will provide the connective experience to the Founder for future students who wish to train there. We would like to offer our help in the rebuilding effort. We are requesting your donation to aid in this project.
Your participation is greatly appreciated.

Respectfully yours,
Bill Witt
President
Takemusu Aikido Association, Inc.

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[nikimasseurforhealth]

@ jaffrey if you never stady for real about Aikido ,

so ...bester not brabrabra about what you just see on youtube and you never stady .

cos anytime ,stupid brabra to thing them never understud for real them more loo like donkky!!!

warning from love

Ps. to anyone who misunderstanding about Aikido as well!!!

[Mindwerkz]

@nikimasseurforhealth I completely agree. I also think anytime ,stupid brabra to thing them never understud for real them more loo like donkky! That's freaking amazing. It's like we had a telepathic moment there. =D

[JeffreyJamesLippold]

Nice video, looks like they have good concept on positioning. However, the sensei could have been caught with a fake overhead to sweeping leg strike. Just an observation.

[Mindwerkz]

I'll tell you the same thing the Hakamakai tell me when I point out such things: While concepts from Aikido can compliment fighting arts splendidly, Aikido itself isn't about fighting. It's about peeling away the layers of yourself like an onion until you find your true center.

[iamdragonborn]

@comedyjohne In Aikido, one learns by experiencing through the body. This alone would only result into physical experience, even after ten years of practice. If one continues practicing for many years, of course, the body becomes strong. However, the level of understanding can still be doubtful.

Everything is learned physically as a result of experience, but to display what has been learned, some verbal expression and other methods become necessary.

[ajraab82]

@1ToNJaB katate dori ikkyo

[Grappler1911]

@tasrocket Gun fighting is a martial art Teppo Jutsu.If you think I've fired hundreds of thousands of rounds practicing drills and skills for my health or to peel my inner onion revealing inner peace and unicorns you'd be wrong.I practice with firearms,empty hands and weapons to improve my war skills "Martial/war Skill/art".

This is a good video of men that can fight.Less posing,more skill and less sanctimonious attitude in older Japanese clips than modern American JSA.

[firstwave2]

Aikido, is a product of the Samurai .

[duchessofpercy]

@1ToNJaB Walking... then falling. I am not being a jerk here. In all seriousness, we work on how to walk on balance all the time.. The next thing we learn is how to fall without geting hurt. When you watch an Aikido demonstration it often looks fake. That is due to the uke (the fall guy) knowning how to fall without crashing to the mat and getting injured, and in doing so it looks like they are jumping into the throw. I suppose they are in a way. Yet if they did not SERIOUS injury would ensue

[ThomasWinkworth]

They must of been smoking some hard Chinese purple haze when they made this martial art

[shihandtshell]

Aikido is like all arts a piece of a puzzle. This one is great to learn and will last you into your senior years. Has far has he could of been caught with a fake. Shows that you have no understanding of what it's all about. However I hope that you will take the time to look into one of these classical arts.

[ArukiI]

Beautiful - Thanks for sharing.