Honolulu, Hawaii – Oahu
Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei in 1961, directly before leaving for Hawaii Hiroshi Kato Sensei by the door next to Kisaburo Osawa Sensei Hiroshi Kato was born in Tokyo on March 24th 1935, and entered Aikikai Hombu Dojo in 1954 at the age of 18. He was one of the early post-war Aikido students at Aikikai Hombu Dojo, but chose to work as a printer rather … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Shihan Hiroshi Kato – Part 2
Hiroshi Kato Sensei (1935-2012) Hiroshi Kato was born in Tokyo on March 24th 1935, and entered Aikikai Hombu Dojo in 1954 at the age of 18. In 1975 he formed an informal practice group at the Suginami Ward Koenji Gymnasium near his home, and in April 1987 he established the Suginami Aikikai (杉並合気会) dojo in the Suginami Ward of Tokyo, Japan as a branch dojo of the … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Shihan Hiroshi Kato – Part 1
Masatake Fujita sensei on the cover of the April 2000 Aiki News Masatake Fujita (藤田昌武) was born in Japanese occupied Manchuria in 1937. Returning to Japan after the war, he enrolled as a student at Aikikai Hombu Dojo – some of that story is told in Part 1 of the interview that is concluded below. Fujita sensei summarized his technical approach to Aikido in this … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Shihan Masatake Fujita, Part 2
Masatake Fujita taking ukemi for Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba Aikikai Hombu Dojo, 1969 Masatake Fujita (藤田昌武) was born in Japanese occupied Manchuria in 1937. Returning to Japan after the war, he enrolled as a student at Aikikai Hombu Dojo – some of that story is told in the first section of the interview below. Fujita sensei is famous for his powerful techniques. Here is what … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Shihan Masatake Fujita, Part 1
Shoji Nishio sensei (西尾 昭二) and Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei Shoji Nishio was one of the major post-war students of Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei. Born in 1927, he entered Aikikai Hombu Dojo in 1952, becoming one of the early students of the post-war era. A multi-talented man, he was also a student of Karate (5th Dan Shindō jinen-ryū), Judo (6th Dan Kodokan Judo) … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Shihan Shoji Nishio