Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 February 2026, Saito Morihiro Nidaime (Yasuhiro) Sensei led an international Traditional Iwama Aikido – Dento Iwama Ryu Aikido seminar at the Le Cupole gymnasium in Turin, which attracted a large number of participants from Italy and the rest of Europe.
The international event was organized by Takemusu Aikido Torino, the well-known Traditional Aikido dojo of the Iwama School active in Turin at the Ginnastica Reale di Torino, with the support of the association Iwama Budo Kai from Trieste. It was strongly desired by Stefano Di Carlo Shihan – a direct student of both the great masters Saito Morihiro and Saito Hitohira, and now of Saito Morihiro Nidaime – who personally invited Yasuhiro Sensei on the exact occasion of the tenth anniversary of his first international seminar led in Turin in February 2016.
The seminar drew a large number of participants, mostly belonging to the Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shurenkai – the international organization led by Saito Hitohira Soke with headquarters in Iwama – but not only; it has been attended by aikidoka from Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Thailand.
The seminar was structured, as usual, with different sessions of bukiwaza (practice with traditional weapons) and taijutsu (empty-hand techniques). Saito Sensei guided the very large group with attention, care, and dedication, focusing on the fundamentals of techniques and frequently referencing the teachings of the Founder of Aikido, O-Sensei Ueshiba Morihei, often citing many kuden and occasionally reading and commenting on passages from the 1938 book “Budo.” Saito Morihiro Nidaime’s unmistakable technical abilities are combined – as his direct students and regular seminar attendees well know – with great communicative and teaching skills that always allow both advanced students and beginners to practice with joy and satisfaction.
The program focused on the study of suburi and kimusubi no tachi for Aikiken; the study of suburi and sanjuichi no jo kata for Aikijo; basic movements such as katatedori tai no henko and morotedori kokyuho and then ikkyo omote and ura, nikyo, sankyo and iriminage from various attacks and the study of kokyunage for taijutsu; finally followed by several jo nage in bukidori.
Sensei was accompanied by Miki Nakajima Sensei and was assisted in translation from Japanese to English by Emi Isomura, and then into Italian by Stefano Di Carlo Shihan.
Many dojocho (dojo leaders) of dojo affiliated with Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shurenkai and many shihan (masters holding at least a 6th dan) were present on the tatami alongside the organizer Stefano Di Carlo, including Alberto Boglio (Italy), Stefan Kurilla (Slovakia), Volker Hochwald (Germany), Thomas Podzelny (Germany), Julien Dubergey (France), Jose Vega (Spain), and Danilo Di Teodoro (Italy).
During the seminar, some Dan exams were successfully taken, andIwama Shin Shin Aiki Shurenkai rank diplomas were awarded at first, second, and third Dan levels. Additionally, the 5th Dan was conferred on Roberto Santoro sensei and Dejan Solc sensei.
As is tradition, Saturday evening was reserved for a fraternal social dinner at a well-known restaurant in central Turin, which successfully served more than 120 guests. The occasion was an excellent opportunity to strengthen friendly relationships among practitioners from the various countries.
During a break between keiko (practice sessions), Stefan Kurilla Shihan announced that Saito Morihiro Nidaime will be hosted again in Europe in February 2027 in Bratislava, Slovakia.
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