--Morihei UESHIBA O-Sensei - founder of Aikido

Morihei UESHIBA O Sensei (1883-1969)
Morihei UESHIBA O-Sensei the founder of Aïkido practised several martial arts such as Daïto-ryu, jujutsu and Kashima Shinto-ryu... Later he developed Aïkido.
In 1942 he settled his school in Iwama in the district of Ibaraki where he would hone to perfection the art he had created for the next 27 years.

--Morihiro SAITO Sensei - Immediate disciple of the founder

Morihiro SAITO Sensei (1928-2002)
Practiced for tweny-four years alongside the founder, who awarded him the 9th Dan. He is the disciple who practised under O-Sensei's authority for the longest time. His master entrusted him with the charge of his Dojo at Iwama as well as the responsibility of Aïki-jinja which is the shrine dedicated to Aïkido.

--Jean-Marc SERIO - Immediate disciple of Morihiro Saito Sensei

Jean-Marc SERIO
Jean-Marc SERIO, 6th Dan of the Tokyo Aïkikaï (Roku Dan) and 6th Dan of Iwama Takemusu Aikido (Roku Dan), state diploma teacher, was Saito Sensei's close disciple for more than ten years, from 1991 to 2002.