Mitsugi Saotome

At the age of 16, Mitsugi Saotome began his martial arts training in judo. At the age of 18, he entered the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo in order to train under Ueshiba. Records provided personally from Kisshomaru Ueshiba, to the Saotome family from Hombu Dojo, detail a first degree black belt in 1957, and second degree black belt in 1958.{{Cite web|last=Hodges|first=Roy|date=2021-06-23|title=Uchi-Deshi Life: An Introduction to Mitsugi Saotome Sensei|url=http://shugyokai.org/2021/06/23/uchi-desh-life-an-introduction-to-mitsugi-saotome-sensei/|access-date=2022-02-05|website=修行会|language=en-US}} Kisshomaru Ueshiba goes on to confirm that Mitsugi Saotome became an uchi-deshi (live-in student at the dojo) in April 1959, receiving subsequent promotions to sixth degree black belt (Shihan) in January 1968, and remained uchi-deshi until the founder's death in April 1969. Mitsugi Saotome trained at Hombu Dojo for a total of 15 years.{{cite web |last1=Gold |first1=Josh |title=The Principal Disciples of Morihei Ueshiba |url=https://aikidojournal.com/2018/12/23/the-principal-disciples-of-morihei-ueshiba-an-update-to-a-classic/ |website=Aikido Journal |date=23 December 2018 |access-date=17 February 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Dukowicz |first1=Zacc |title=Living by Design: A Biography of Mitsugi Saotome Shihan, Senior Student of O'Sensei and Founder of the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba |url=https://asu.org/saotome-shihan-biography/#:~:text=In%201954%2C%20when%20Saotome%20Sensei,taught%20by%20Seigo%20Yamaguchi%20Sensei. |website=Aikido Schools of Ueshiba |date=13 July 2020 |access-date=17 February 2021}}

He was very well respected as an instructor, receiving many honors. As a senior instructor in Aikido he was the Chief Weapons Instructor at Hombu. He held that position until 1975.{{cite web |last1=Gold |first1=Josh |title=Interview with Mitsugi Saotome |url=https://aikidojournal.com/2002/11/18/interview-with-mitsugi-saotome-1/ |website=Aikido Journal |access-date=17 February 2021}}

At this time Saotome began to give great thought and contemplation as to his future purpose. After many days of consideration, he was said to have felt the hand of divine spiritual intervention. This was instrumental in his decision to relocate to the United States. He felt that the US was at a point of development that embraced new ideas, and that this would be an ideal environment to spread the message of peace and harmony implicit in the study of aikido.{{cite web |title=Mitsugi Saotome Shihan (Bio) |url=https://asu.org/senior_instructors/mitsugi-saotome-shihan/ |website=Aikido Schools of Ueshiba |date=12 August 2013 |access-date=17 February 2021}}

Saotome was asked about his decision to move to the US:

"I meditated on Ōsensei's 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 Ōsensei'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."{{cite web |title=ASU Student Handbook: Aikido and the Beginnings of ASU |url=https://asu.org/student-handbook/aikido-and-the-beginnings-of-asu/ |website=Aikido Schools of Ueshiba |date=6 September 2016 |access-date=17 February 2021}}

After relocating to Sarasota, Florida in 1975,{{cite news |last1=Dietz |first1=John |title=Many Sarasotans Learning Aikido Through Master |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sarasota-herald-tribune-may-12-1975-p-18/ |access-date=17 February 2021 |publisher=Sarasota Herald Tribune |date=12 May 1975}} Saotome founded an organization known as Aikido Schools of Ueshiba. He has continued to serve as chief instructor for the organization, which rejoined the Aikikai and resumed its association with Hombu Dojo (world Aikido headquarters) in 1988.{{cite journal |last1=Gold |first1=Josh |title=History of Aikido in the United States |journal=Aikido Journal |date=27 August 2011 |url=https://aikidojournal.com/2011/08/27/history-of-aikido-in-the-united-states/ |access-date=17 February 2021}}

Saotome is especially skilled in the use of traditional Japanese weapons, including the wooden staffs jo and bo, and the wooden sword bokken. He has also developed a system for working with two swords in aikido. Saotome feels that learning the movements and skills associated with proficiency in these weapons not only increases speed and agility, but harmony with one's partner. Saotome Sensei has been described by Aikido Journal as "One of the most highly regarded of contemporary aikido masters. His style of aikido is minimal and powerful. Razor sharp technique with superb control."{{cite web |last1=Gold |first1=Josh |title=The First Aikido Friendship Demonstration (DVD) |url=https://aikidojournal.com/2017/11/04/the-aikido-friendship-demonstrations/ |website=Aikido Journal |access-date=17 February 2021}}

Mitsugi Saotome currently resides in the state of Florida in the US. He continues to teach seminars at the Aiki Shrine Dojo in Myakka City, Florida,{{cite web |title=ASU Aiki Shrine |url=https://asu.org/about/aiki-shrine/ |website=Aikido Schools of Ueshiba |date=26 November 2013 |access-date=17 February 2021}} and at locations throughout the United States.{{cite web |last1=Gold |first1=Josh |title=Mitsugi Saotome Seminar: An Outsider's Perspective |url=https://aikidojournal.com/2017/11/08/mitsugi-saotome-seminar-an-outsiders-perspective/ |website=Aikido Journal |date=9 November 2017 |access-date=17 February 2021}}

{{reflist|1}}

• {{cite book

| last = Saotome

| first = Mitsugi

| title = Aikido and the Harmony of Nature

| publisher = Shambala

| date = 1986

| location = Boston

| pages = 251

| isbn = 0-87773-855-6 }}

• {{cite book

| last = Saotome

| first = Mitsugi

| title = Living by Design

| publisher =

| date = 2004

| location = Susan Perry

| pages = 109

| isbn = 0-941736-16-4 }}

• {{cite book

| last = Saotome

| first = Mitsugi

| title = The Principles of Aikido

| publisher = Shambala

| date = 1989

| location = Boston

| pages = 223

| isbn = 0-87773-409-7 }}

• {{cite book

| last = Saotome

| first = Mitsugi

| title = A Light on Transmission

| publisher = Cedar-Forge Press

| date = 2015

| pages = 164

| isbn = 978-1936672981 }}

• {{cite book |last1=Saotome |first1=Mitsugi |title=Takemusu Aiki (DVD) |date=22 May 2014 |publisher=Aikido Today Magazine |url=https://www.amazon.com/Mitsugi-Saotome-Takemusu-Aiki-DVD/dp/B00KI0WII4/ |access-date=17 February 2021 |ref=ASIN B00KI0WII4}}
• {{cite book |last1=Saotome |first1=Mitsugi |title=Sword of Aikido (DVD) |publisher=Aikido Today Magazine |url=https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Aikido-Shihan-Mitsugi-Saotome/dp/B002BB4DXQ/ |access-date=17 February 2021 |ref=ASIN B00004STBH|date=1 March 2000}}}
• {{cite book |last1=Saotome |first1=Mitsugi |title=Oyo Henka Aikido (DVD) |publisher=Aikido Today Magazine |url=https://www.amazon.com/Oyo-Henka-Aikido-Mitsugi-Saotome/dp/B07D5P1ZDC/ |access-date=17 February 2021 |ref=ASIN B07D5P1ZDC}}
• {{cite book |last1=Saotome |first1=Mitsugi |title=Staff of Aikido (DVD) |publisher=Aikido Today Magazine |url=https://www.amazon.com/Mitsugi-Saotome-Staff-Aikido-DVD/dp/B08SJNHK18/ |access-date=17 February 2021 |ref=ASIN B08SJNHK18}}
• {{cite book |last1=Saotome |first1=Mitsugi |title=Two Swords of Aikido (VHS / DVD) |publisher=Aikido Today Magazine |ref=ASIN 0941736555 |date=2 March 2000|isbn=0941736555 }}
• {{cite book |last1=Saotome |first1=Mitsugi |title=Two Swords of Aikido (DVD) |publisher=Aikido Today Magazine |url=https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Aikido-Shihan-Mitsugi-Saotome/dp/B002BB4DXQ/ |access-date=17 February 2021 |ref=ASIN B002BB4DXQ}}

• [http://www.asu.org/ Official Aikido Schools of Ueshiba site]
• [http://www.aikido-shobukan.org/ Aikido Shobukan Dojo site]

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Category:1937 births

Category:Living people

Category:American aikidoka

Category:Japanese emigrants to the United States