Rare video: Morihiro Saito demonstrates outdoors in Iwama in 1964

“The Early Phase of Iwama Aikido Technique”

This rare film captures Morihiro Saito Sensei performing taijutsu, and basic Aiki Ken and Jo movements outdoors in the fields of Iwama. Saito Sensei is a young 36 years old, and this film represents some of the earliest surviving footage of this master. Saito Sensei’s performance of various basic techniques is somewhat different from that of his later years. The same can be said of his Aiki Ken and Jo suburi and kata, which predate the sharpness and sophistication of his later technique. Interestingly, you will notice that the 31-jo kata has a different ending in this film!

Click here to view the video Morihiro Saito demonstrating taijutsu and Aiki Ken and Jo techniques in 1964 in Iwama