1.
Arts et Combats: Sensei, how did you come to study a martial
art?
Hitohiro Saito Sensei : I
started practising Aikido because I was bore into
a family where my father, Morihiro
Saito served Morehei Ueshiba, the founder
of Aikido and who had studied with him for many
years. It is for this reason that I became a student
of O' Sensei when
I was a child. I really didn't have the choice
of another art, anyway I continue a very Japanese
tradition..
2.
Arts et Combats: What was the atmosphere like in the
dojo in the presence of O' Sensei?
Hitohiro Saito Sensei : I have
many memories, amongst other things I remember that
the founder, someone who was very generous, gave
my family the land on which to make ourselves a home
and so it was that our house was built next to his.
We lived together. I must say that I always carry
in my heart the memory of O' Sensei, he was someone
who shined brightly, he had an immense presence.
3.
Arts et Combats: Sensei, how should an Aikidoka behave
In the dojo?
Hitohiro Saito Sensei : The
dojo is considered by ail as a sacred space. On entering
one bows straight away to ail the participants who
are in the dojo with the sentiment of gratitude to
those with whom one will practice. Then one salutes
the Kamisama and before starting the training one
says "Oneai Shimasu". This is a request
to study together with gratitude and with a heart
as pure as when it first started beating. At the
end of the course one bows to the Kamisama to
give thanks because it let us train together in the
dojo. Then there is a last bow which has three profound
implications: the first concerns the exchange to
which we have been a party. The second marks the
recognition and appreciation which one has for the
teaching given by the teacher and for the partner
with whom we have worked. The third sense of the
salute concerns the wish that one will be able to
repeat this experience
4.
Arts et Combats: You are a master of great experience,
can you speak to us of the deep meaning of Aikido?
Hitohiro Saito Sensei : With
Saito Sensei we are Father and Son. The founder was
the master of Saito Sensei. As a consequence, since
I was born, I have naturally become the student of
the founder. I have therefore received the teaching
and the philosophy of Morehei
Ueshiba, principally towards the end of his
life, during which time he achieved an immense serenity.
The meaning of Aikido is told in its entirety in
the message which the founder passed on in his words
and actions. Aikido is "The way to peace between
human beings".
5.
Arts et Combats: Sensei, Is Aikido evolving with regard
to the martial art developed by Morehei Ueshiba and what
are the specialities of your teaching?
Hitohiro Saito Sensei : The
Aikido which is presented today does not, in my view,
constitute an evolution, in fact it is a regression
with regard to the Aikido that was presented by the
founder. I can say that in form and in depth, my
teaching corresponds to that of O' Sensei, just as
he was doing it before his death.
6.
Arts et Combats: Morehei Ueshiba regularly spoke of the
notions of Misogi and Kanagara no michi as being fundamentals
of Aikido. Are they still essential today?
Hitohiro Saito Sensei : Aikido is
a union between the material and the spiritual worids,
this idea and those which come from the Omotokyo
religion have the same resonance. Study this teaching
and follow this path, it is like trying to climb
a mountain when one knows that one will never reach
the summit!
7.
Arts et Combats: What is the Importance of the study of
arms In Aikido, Is It necessary to practice other martial
arts in order to better understand Budo?
Hitohiro Saito Sensei : In the study
of Aikido the most important part is the study of
basics (Kihon) and the Suburi as
taught by the founder, it is important to study these
in depth. Despite ail that observing other styles
of martial study may be positive in the study of Budo.
It is not necessary however to practice them. The
Aikido of the founder as it is practised in Iwama is
a union of the principles of Taijutsu, of the Ken
and the ]o. His Aikido is therefore complete and
sufficient as it is.
8.
Arts et Combats: Sensei, do you consider Ikkyo to be the
first technique of Aikido and If so, why?
Hitohiro Saito Sensei : Ikkyo
means the first teaching. It was the first thing
taught by the founder. All the elements
of Aikido are contained in this technique.
As a preparation for Ikkyo one intensively practices Tai
no henko and Morote dori kikyu ho with
an attitude of non resistance and non combat. By
harmonising with ones partner one neutralises his
force. This is the foundation of our art.
9. Arts et Combats
: Which techniques do you prefer?
Hitohiro Saito Sensei : No particular
one. They are all difficult to fully acquire and I
have no preference. It seems to me that they are all
essential and inseparable.
10.
Arts et Combats: Sensei, in what way is Aikido also an
art of health?
Hitohiro Saito Sensei : Aikido
is executed without physical effort. The essential
aim in Aikido is to obtain and preserve harmony and
balance both internally and around one, to not enter
into combat. The techniques of Aikido are not a superficial
thing they also contain a spiritual element. This
is the symbiosis of the material and spiritual worlds,
in this sense it is a balancing element of benefit
to the health of all.
11.
Arts et Combats: Sensei, through your teaching what message
about Aikkido do you want to transmit to the world?
Hitohiro Saito Sensei : Through
my teaching I would like the whole world to see what
a marvellous being O' Sensei was. That which I teach
is not my Aikido but the exact teaching of the founder
as passed to me by my father Morihiro Saito Sensei.
This is exactly what I wish to communicate. If we
ail practice together in harmony, the little circle
that we form will grow and change the face of the
world. The Aikido of Iwama is the path which will
bring us peace in the world. We must not be mere
spectators but must practice together. The technique
of O' Sensei is the technique which God taught him.
But it is for each of us to do their utmost. We must
not fight amongst ourselves. Together we can be guides
towards peace.
Interview by Jean Paoli
and translated by Sonoko Tanaka and Daniel Toutain.
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