Also known as

Hitohira Saito · 斎藤 仁平

Description

Japanese aikido instructor and founding headmaster of Iwama Shin-Shin Aiki Shuren-kai (ISSASK). Son of Morihiro Saito, he began aikido under Morihei Ueshiba at age seven, became official instructor at the Iwama dojo in 1986, and after his father's death separated from the Aikikai in 2003 to found ISSASK. Known since 2009 as Hitohira (仁平) Saito.

Teachers (2)

• 
  Ueshiba Morihei

  sports_martial_artsAikidō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Hitohiro Saito began learning aikido from Morihei Ueshiba at the Iwama dojo at age seven, corroborated by Wikipedia, the Aikido Blog biography and the Aikido Journal interview

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  location_onIwama Dojo badge (1964–1969)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Hitohiro Saito began learning aikido from Morihei Ueshiba at the Iwama dojo at age seven, corroborated by Wikipedia, the Aikido Blog biography and the Aikido Journal interview

  “At age seven, he started to learn aikido from Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido, who cared for him as a grandson. After Ueshiba died in 1969, he continued his practice with his father.”

  — Wikipedia contributors. Hitohiro Saito - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “he started studying Aikido under Morihei Ueshiba at the age of 7 and continued learning from his father Morihiro SAITO Shihan after the Founder's death in 1969.”

  — Stanley Pranin; Sonoko Tanaka. Interview with Hitohiro SAITO Sensei (Aikido Journal 113). Aikido Journallink history info
• 
  Saitō Morihiro

  sports_martial_artsIwama Ryu Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Hitohiro is the son of Morihiro Saito and continued his aikido training with his father after Ueshiba's death, later succeeding him at the Iwama dojo; documented across Wikipedia, the Aikido Blog and saitosensei.com

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  Uchi-deshi location_onIwama Dojo badge (1969–2002)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Hitohiro is the son of Morihiro Saito and continued his aikido training with his father after Ueshiba's death, later succeeding him at the Iwama dojo; documented across Wikipedia, the Aikido Blog and saitosensei.com

  “The younger Saito became an official instructor of the Iwama dojo in 1986 and remained so until 2004 when he separated from the Aikikai organization and formed his own group.”

  — Wikipedia contributors. Hitohiro Saito - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

  “In 1986, in a special ceremony, Hitohiro Saito Sensei was officially appointed as a teacher at the Iwama dojo. In the same year, he began to teach overseas.”

  — Eric Savalli. (2009). [EN] SAITO Hitohira Sensei link history info

Students (1)

• 
  Tristão da Cunha

  sports_martial_artsIwama Ryu Probable

  Probable

  His own dojo's bio states that after Morihiro Saito's death in 2002, he continued with successor Hitohiro Saito, who awarded him the 6th, 7th and 8th dan grades and the Shihan title; no independent source corroborates it

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  location_onIwama Dojo badge (2002)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  His own dojo's bio states that after Morihiro Saito's death in 2002, he continued with successor Hitohiro Saito, who awarded him the 6th, 7th and 8th dan grades and the Shihan title; no independent source corroborates it

  “Depois de Morihiro Saito falecer continuou com o seu filho e sucessor, Hitohiro Saito Shihan. [...] Desde então voltou várias vezes ao Japão para ser uchi deshi de Hitohiro Sensei.”

  — Mestre Tristão da Cunhalink history info

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Morihiro Sensei was still alive and healthy when his son gave me the title of Shihan of the Tanrenkan. I was 5th Dan back then.”

  — (2011). Interview with Tristão da Cunha Sensei link history info

Honours (1)

• receipt_longKaicho (Jukucho) Probable

  Probable

  Hitohiro Saito is the founding headmaster (Kaicho/Jukucho) of Iwama Shin-Shin Aiki Shuren-kai, the organization he formed in February 2004 after separating from the Aikikai

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Title (2004)

  granted by Iwama Shin-Shin Aiki Shuren-kai

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Hitohiro Saito is the founding headmaster (Kaicho/Jukucho) of Iwama Shin-Shin Aiki Shuren-kai, the organization he formed in February 2004 after separating from the Aikikai

  “Hitohiro Saito is the founder and leader of a traditional Iwama style aikido organization. It is named Iwama Shin-Shin Aiki Shuren-kai [...] By February 2004 he had formed his own organisation (ISSASK).”

  — Wikipedia contributors. Hitohiro Saito - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

Sources

Identifiers