Dojo History

We follow the tradition of Morihiro Saito Sensei (Iwama, Japan) and his representatives Ute and Mark van Meerendonk (both graduated 6th dan).

Morihiro Saito Sensei (1928 - 2002) learned from and lived with O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba in Iwama since 1946 until O-Sensei's death in 1969. He then became head of Ibaraki Dojo in Iwama. Additionaly, he taught aikido to people all over the world and wrote a series of unique books on aikido techniques. He wanted to preserve O-Sensei's aikido in its unchanged, traditional form.

A Present from Iwama to Frankfurt

Ute and Mark van Meerendonk started with aikido training in the 70. With the recommondation of Volker Stanzel, their sensei, they were allowed to visit Saito Sensei in Iwama in the year 1981. They stayed as uchi deshi with Saito Sensei for over two years in Iwama. Back in Germany and being fond of the power and logic of the Iwama aikido, they founded the first "Takemusu Aiki Dojo" in Frankfurt. As Mark's worklife changed in 1985, Ute and Mark moved their dojo from Frankfurt to Schwickartshausen. Every last saturday of the month the training is open not only to their usual aikidoka but to every aikidoka from the takemusu style.

Changes

The Frankfurt dojo continued under the lead of Dirk van Meerendonk, Mark's brother. The dojo moved from the Frankfurt Judo Club to the university clinic in 1990. Since 1995 the dojo is managed by Gerd Bastiné.

Growing

Besides Ute and Mark van Meerendonk in Schwickartshausen, other dojos sprang from the source of Frankfurt: Peter Heurich in Hanau, Achim Wichert in Frankfurt-Bockenheim, Usch and Andreas Wiemann in Bad Nauheim and Jörg Herwig and Gabi Gentschew in Sprendlingen.

First Seminar with Saito Sensei

In 1987 Mark and Ute organised the first international Seminar with Saito Sensei in Germany. Aikdoka from all over the world came to visit and train with Saito Sensei. In the time following, Takemusu Aikido spread in Germany and Europe: Lots of new Takemusu Aiki Dojos were founded.

Succession

Saito Sensei layed out his plans for a successor: To him, most important was the preservation of O-Sensei's aikido, as it was taught in Iwama. Therefore he named his successors in Europe: Ulf Evenas (7th dan) and Paolo Corallini (7th dan). For Germany he named Ute and Mark van Meerendonk (6th dan). On November the 15th in 2003 the "Takemusu Aiki Association Germany" (Bundesverband Takemusu Aiki Deutschland) was founded, with Mark and Ute van Meerendonk as presidents. Goals of the association are to support and spread Takemusu Aikido through practice and public communication.

"Takemusu Aiki Association Germany": www.takemusu-aiki-deutschland.de

"Takemusu Aikido Europe": www.takemusuaikidokyokai.org 

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