1969. Saito Sensei works on morote-dori with two uke, including Komatsuzaki and the spectacularly worn hakama.
Morote Dori
Author: david_yoshinaga
Saito Sensei and Bill Witt
Saito Sensei vanquishes newly minted shodan Bill Witt. More of this exchange on the Bill Witt page.
At Honbu Dojo
1969, Honbu Aikikai, Tokyo. Jo demo. At this time, he was teaching Sunday classes in Honbu which always included buki-waza, or “weapons training”.
Photo: Stan Pranin
Seiza
1969. Saito sensei in formal seiza. This is a popular photo to display on dojo shomen and at seminars.
Photo: Bill Witt received this photo personally from Saito Sensei
Personal Favorite
1960’s. Stan Pranin: “This photo was a personal favorite of Morihiro Saito Shihan. In the 1970s and 80s when I was training in the Iwama Dojo he would sometimes bring out this photo to show students the correct position to assume. He attached great importance to this exercise and said that O-Sensei would always teach tai no henko at the beginning of classes. Do you?”
Photo: unknown source
Original Jinja
1953. Saito Sensei in front of the original Aiki Jinja.
Photo: Aikido Journal
Families
c. 1953. Left to right: Hatsu Ueshiba, Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Morihei Ueshiba, Koichi Tohei, Kisshomaru’s wife Sakuko, Morihiro Saito
Photo: Aikido Journal
Marriage Photo
The Saito’s marriage photograph. January 1952
Photo: Aikido Journal