Iwama – Page 5 – Morihiro Saito Sensei

Throw

1973. Saito Sensei throws Umezawa-san. Sugawara-san watches from the left.

Photo: Mary Bartlett, then known as Mary McDonald. She was in the first group of gaijin (international visitors).

The First Group

1973. The first group of gaijin to train in Iwama

In front: Bruce Klickstein, Ulf Evanås(as a white belt), Mirko Takac, David Alexander, Morihiro Saito Sensei, and Bill Witt

In back: Lars Anderson, Sam Bertz, Cheryl Martinez, Hans Goto (as a white belt), Darrell Bluhm, Kathy Bates, and Mary Barlett née McDonald

Photo: David Alexander

1973. Iwama. “Kazunari”. Relaxing after the monthly visit of Honbu Aikikai for the “juyoka matsuri”, or “Celebration of the 14th of the month”. Mrs. Saito (okusan) shows how to keep baby Kazunari happy with “beer for tots”. Kazunari later lived in the house next door to the Saitos. Corri Geffen is in front.

Photo: David Alexander

Bukiwaza

1973. David Alexander and Saito Sensei workout with ken bukiwaza one freezing winter day in the dojo (notice that the windows are open). During this winter, there were few people training — just David and the local Iwama regulars.

Photo: David Alexander

Toss

1969. Saito Sensei tosses Bill Witt a respectable distance

Bokken Vanquish

1969. Saito Sensei with bokken vanquishes Bill Witt with bokken

Bokken

1969. Saito Sensei works with a bokken against Bill Witt’s bokken. Back then, the dojo wainscoting was still blonde; now it has become dark and polished by countless daily “soji o shimasu”

High Wrist Strike

1969. Saito Sensei strikes high to Bill Witt’s wrist. On the shomen is the board with O-Sensei’s ink brushing–before it was smeared by accident by a nameless uchi-deshi.