Description
For fifteen years until the Founder’s passing in 1969, Saotome Shihan ( master level teacher) lived as his personal disciple, studying under his guidance the practice and philosophy of Aikido. In 1975 Saotome Sensei left a highly respected position as a senior instructor at the World Aikido Headquarters in Tokyo to come to the United States. When asked why he made this decision he replied, “I meditated on O Sensei’s (Great Teacher) spirit for three days and three nights and I felt it was his wish that I should go. This country is a great experiment, a melting pot of people from many different cultural backgrounds living together, the world condensed into one nation. The goal of Aikido and O Sensei’s dream is that all the peoples of the world live together as one family, in harmony with each other and with their environment. The United States has the opportunity to set a great example.”
The Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU) was founded as the membership organization that affiliates all of the Aikido dojos under the instruction of Saotome Shihan and his students. The name of the organization reflects a commitment to the vision of O Sensei and not the cultivation of a style or territory. Since its establishment, there have been over 1,000 black belts awarded to ranked members of ASU. ASU is affiliated with Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.
Here is some more info about the Shrien dojo and there are now expanded training opportunities there !
The Aiki Shrine is located in Southwest Florida, on the site of the former private ranch of Mitsugi Saotome Shihan and Patty Saotome Shihan. Saotome Sensei built this shrine as a place where advanced students could study the highest and most spiritual ideals of O Sensei’s vision. The Aiki Shrine was built to recreate and preserve the deep sense of spirituality and connection to nature that he recalled of the original Iwama Shrine from his years serving and living with O Sensei as uchi deshi. In 2016, Saotome Sensei transferred ownership of the Aiki Shrine to ASU to preserve as a lasting and physical legacy, and to unify future generations of ASU students and instructors through a living heritage and lineage to the spirit of O Sensei.
A New Future for the Aiki Shrine
The Aikido Schools of Ueshiba organization has accepted responsibility for the care, maintenance, and preservation of the Aiki Shrine, and the development of its future. The daunting task of securing the preservation of the Aiki Shrine was the undertaking of a dedicated, small group of Aikido visionaries, leaders and donors. Under the blessing of Saotome Sensei, the ASU leadership is developing an ambitious plan for the Shrine, which will include unique training events throughout the year which will be open to ASU members.
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