Dojo Lineage
We have a direct lineage to the founder of aikido.
O’Sensei
Founder of Aikido
O’Sensei was born Morihei Ueshiba on December 14, 1883 in Tanabe, Japan. He trained in several martial arts as a young man but eventually trained in Daito Ryu under Sokaku Takeda.
O’Sensei was a very spiritual person and after meeting the founder of the Omoto-Kyo sect of shinto, Onisaburo Deguchi, started following his teachings.
In the 1930’s he decided to move into the country, to a town of Iwama where he started a small dojo. This dojo is known as the Iwama dojo. He built a shrine there and this is when he gave his art the name aikido.
O’Sensei continued to teach aikido until his passing on April 26, 1969. His legacy still carries on.
Morihiro Saito Sensei
Long time Student of O’Sensei
Morihiro Saito Sensei was born March 31st 1928. He grew up in a small farming town in Ibaraki Prefecture. As a boy in school he learned kendo, it was like a gym class, other students learned judo.
He trained in judo for a little while, until he heard about a “old man doing strange techniques up on the mountain near Iwama.” So in 1946 at the age of 18 Morihiro started training in this martial art with Morihei Ueshiba Sensei.
Morihiro and his wife Sata were given a plot of land on the property of the Iwama Dojo to build a home. They also started taking care of O’Sensei and his wife. For 23 years Morihiro remained a student and care taker of O’Sensei while also working for the Railway.
When O’Sensei passed away he left Morihiro in charge of the Iwama Dojo and was designated guardian of the Aiki Shrine. He continued to teach aikido as he was taught in Iwama by O’Sensei to students from all over the world.
In 2001 Morihiro was diagnosed with cancer and died May 13th 2002.
Patricia Hendricks Shihan
CAA Division 1 head, Long time student of Morihiro Saito Sensei, Noah’s current teacher
Patricia Hendricks Sensei was born on September 25th 1955. She grew up in Atlantic City, NJ. In 1974 she heard about a guy teaching aikido out of his garage and decided to go check it out. Stan Pranin became her teacher then.
In 1976, she moved up to Oakland to be closer to UC Berkeley and started training at the Aikido Institute of Oakland. Better known as the Oakland Dojo. Bill Witt Shihan was one of the teachers she was training with at this time.
In 1976/77 she jumped on a plane and by herself went to Iwama, Japan to train with a master teacher, Morihiro Saito Sensei.
Two weeks after she arrived Saito Sensei tested her for Shodan. She ended up staying a year and half. Training with some of the early uchideshi of Saito Sensei.
By 1983 Sensei started teaching aikido at a Kaijukempo dojo in San Leandro. In 1984 the teacher there left and gave the dojo over to Hendricks Sensei.
In 1987, as a Yondan, Sensei embarked on a 6 month teaching tour throughout Europe. Saving up money to go to Japan to train again as a long term uchideshi. Hendricks Sensei was uchideshi long term from 1987 to 1989. During her stay she was awarded Godan from Saito Sensei and he presented her with all 5 weapons scrolls along the Menkyo Kaiden (total transmission) certificate for weapons.
In 2012 Hendricks Sensei was awarded 7th Dan by Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba and in 2014 he awarded her the title of Shihan (Master Teacher).
Hendricks Shihan continues to teach in her dojo and around the world. She has taught in places like USA, Argentina, Chile, Germany, England, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, Turkey, Italy, and Canada. She continues to pass on the knowledge and tradition that she learned in Japan from her teacher Morihiro Saito Sensei. Helping to keep his legacy alive.
Jim Sullivan Sensei
Noah’s First Teacher
Jim Sullivan Sensei has ranking in, 5th dan Aikido, 3rd dan Aiki Weapons, 2nd dan Shotokan Karate and 1st dan Kendo.
Sensei Jim holds a PhD in Exercise Physiology and coaches track and field. He has been practicing martial arts most of his life and has coached at a number of universities including: Southern Illinois; Mankato State; Minnesota State, Akita, Japan; Stanford; Penn State and the University of Tennessee.
After many years of studying Judo, Taekwondo and Karate, he began training in Aikido in 1996 with Shigeru Kawabe in Akita Japan. He acquired his Aikido 4th dan through the World Aikido Federation (Aikikai) headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. He served as uchideshi (live in Student) nine times in Iwama under Morihiro Saito and later Hitohira Saito. When teaching he focuses on traditional Iwama style Aikido with an emphasis on principles of budo, health and fitness. He is a member of and serves on the Board of Directors for the Iwama Takemusu Aikikai, founded by Chief Instructor Mark Larson and created by Morihiro Saito Shihan.