Saito Sensei vanquishes newly minted shodan Bill Witt. More of this exchange on the Bill Witt page.
Saito Sensei and Bill Witt
Category: 1960’s
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