INSTRUCTORS

PROFILE OF HIROSHI KATO SENSEI.  Born in Tokyo in 1935, Kato-sensei began Aikido training in 1954 at Hombu Dojo, under the instruction of the Founder, O’Sensei. Introduced to the Aikikai Hombu Dojo through his mother’s network of connections when he was 19, he trained there daily as well as spending long hours perfecting his internal practice. Working during the day as a printer, he attended classes at night. (For this reason he was unable to be an uchideshi, and does not appear in early photographs with them.) He has continued to train regularily there, although in recent years he primarily attends Doshu’s Friday class and special events.

After his first 10 years at Hombu Dojo, Kato-sensei occasionally had chances to personally serve the Founder. He has been attending Doshu’s class for three generations: the Founder, the second Doshu, and the current third Doshu. He received his first 6 black belts from the Founder and his next 2 black belts from the second Doshu.

His self-training in Aikido has been ascetic. In his early years, he often used to practice weapons by himself through the night, greet sunrise the next morning, and then go to work again. To this day, he frequently visits mountain shrines and stays up all night practicing weapons and meditating.

Kato-sensei regards O’Sensei with utmost respect and considers him to be his only teacher. He states that the Founder didn’t teach him directly, rather that he learned from the Founder. He has had the extraordinaly experience of having been uke for the Founder, and has described it as being thrown by a god, and that he still can’t fully figure out how he was thrown. Even now he continues to realize new and very real implications of what the Founder told him many years ago. He is still pursuing Aikido through the Founder’s image, as according to Kato-sensei, “To me, the Founder is not dead. He is still alive in my mind and in my heart.” Before every class, Kato Sensei comes early to the dojo and meditates.

In 1965, an informal practice group named Yagyu-kai was formed under his guidance and direction. Most of the members were black belt holders and he enjoyed teaching, hard training, and lively conversation after practice.

In 1987, he formally estabished Suginami Aikikai as a branch dojo under Aikikai Hombu Dojo. The former Yagyu-kai was then incorporated into Suginami Aikikai.

Several years ago, he retired from his work as a printer and now teaches Aikido full time.

In 1994, he received 8th dan and in the same year, he began to teach Aikido in the US. Currently he travels to teach Aikido at his branch dojo in California and in Texas twice a year. He also offers seminars at other Aikikai affiliated dojo as a guest instructor.

From 1999 through 2001, he received commendation for his contribution of promoting Aikido in Houston from the Mayor of Houston, Texas.

In 2001, “ Suginami Aikikai” received commendation from the Governor of Tokyo as an Excellent Organization. This year, he also began to teach Aikido at the OASIS Sports Center in Tokyo. That program continues, and is expanding.

Reflecting its depth and maturity as a dojo, there are now quite a few high level yudansha (8th, 7th, 6th . . . dan) in Suginami Aikikai, and new members are steadily joining. As in his early days, he enjoys intense training with everyone. Members both in Tokyo and abroad have been enjoying brisk international exchanges, as visitors from various dojo come to train with him in Tokyo.

Truly “everyperson’s aikidoist,” Kato-sensei exemplifies one who has persevered in his own practice, was recognized, and rose to high rank on his own merit. Like most of us “normal people,” he is a person who worked a regular job and trained in what spare time was availible, persevering by training hard and never giving up.

Succinctly, Kato-sensei is a superb and creative guide in establishing “Wa” ( harmony), both in spirit and in Aikido.

References:
- Suginami Aikikai Home Page: http://isweb35.infoseek.co.jp/sports/kawatok/aikido/
Both in English and in Japanese
- Aikido Newspaper, vol. 488, published by Aikikai on September 10th, 2001
Introduction of Suginami Aikikai – in Japanese
- Aikido Tankyu, Vol. 28, published by Aikikai July 25th, 2004
Kato-sensei’s interview – in Japanese

Randy Shupe is the owner of the American Aikido Academy of Self Defense in San Angelo, TX. His dojo is a member dojo of the SAA and Randy is a student of Dr. John Riggs. He participates regularly in seminars with Kato Sensei and Dr. Riggs conducts regular training sessions with him and his students in San Angelo and Midland TX. Randy started his Aikido training with Aikikai affiliated Patrick Cassidy in Fresno, CA and later studied under Ed Frances of the San Angelo Dojin Aikikai. Randy tested for his shodan in October 2006.