O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba (1882-1969) - Founder of Aikido

Aikido was founded in Japan by Morihei Ueshiba, honorifically referrd to as O'Sensei. As a youth, Ueshiba studied many different martial arts and weapons styles. Although he became strong and won many matches, he was troubled by the idea that winning at someone else's expense was not really winning, and as a result he searched for a martial art which would divert harm from one's self without inflicting permanent injury on an aggressor. In this way, Aikido was born as the"Art of Non-Resistance."

 

Morihiro Saito Sensei - (1946-2002)

9th Dan, Student of O'Sensei Saito Sensei began training under O'Sensei Ueshiba in 1946, and continued to train directly under him until the founder's death in 1969. Before passing away in 2002, Sensei turned over the responsibility of teaching at Iwama to his son Hitohiro. Presently, Hitohiro has formed an organization called Iwma Shin Shin Aiki Shurenkai, in which he seeks to preserve the teachings of his father. The old Iwama Dojo is now under the Instruction of Nemoto Sensei, a long time student of both Morihiro Saito and O'Sensei.

 

Aikido of Arlington

Aikido of Arlington, established in 1989 by Sensei Don Lyon (1952-1996), practices Aikido in the Iwama tradition. Sensei Lyon held the rank of 4th Dan (Yondan) in Iwama style Aikido and Aikido weapons, and traveled to Japan, where he studied under Saito Sensei. Upon the passing of Sensei Lyon, his Sempai (senior student), Yvonne Thelwell, took over the teaching duties of the Arlington dojo. Sensei Thelwell has been an uchideshi in Iwama, Japan and trained under Morihiro Saito Sensei. She holds the rank of Yon Dan (4th degree black belt).

Sensei Thelwell is assisted by former instructor of Aikido of Charlottesville,John Nguyen (sandan), plus other yudansha: Paul McMahon (nidan),Sean Palka(shodan),Clyde Paton(shodan),and Alim Needham(shodan).