ABOUT SAOTOME SENSEI

One of O Sensei's senior students, Mitsugi Saotome Shihan trained for 15 years as an elite, live-in apprentice (uchi deshi). Following the founder's death in 1969, Saotome Shihan held the post of senior instructor at O Sensei's Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan, which is Aikido World Headquarters.

In 1975, Saotome Shihan decided to come to the United States and spread the word of Aikido. He founded the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba, an international association of more than 70 Aikido dojos, of which Chicago Aikikai is a member.

Now teaching at the Shobukan Dojo in DC and his home in Florida, Saotome Shihan continues to serve as the supervisory instructor for the ASU. He is also the author of three books: The Principles of Aikido, Aikido and the Harmony of Nature, and Aikido: Living by Design. In 2003, Saotome Shihan celebrated his 50th year in Aikido.

As the leading ASU dojo in the Midwest, Chicago Aikikai regularly hosts both Saotome Shihan and Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan, 7th dan, for special training seminars. Chicago Aikikai and the ASU organization are affiliated with Aikido World Headquarters, Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan.