The last time I was in the dojo was after the second Doshu had passed away. There was a total renovation of the Aiki Jinja. All the old Sempai were there to help, many of whom I hadn’t seen since the first times I had been there.

I helped Sensei, together with the long-term uchi-deshi, to lay out the decorative stones in the original Jinja area. I remember him leading the arrangement of how the stones were to be spread, and seeing him enjoying the way the different colored stones made just the pattern effect he wanted. This last trip gave me so many wonderful memories; it was the last time I saw Sensei before he passed on.

Saito Sensei is an inseparable and extremely important part of my life. He was the best teacher one could ever ask for, a master of Aikido, a gentleman and a warm and gracious person. But he also changed my life in so many other ways. I would not have met my dear wife and have my two beautiful children had I not come to Iwama the first time. I would not have the heartfelt connections to Aikidoka from all over the world had it not been for Sensei. And I would not have all the wonderful aspects of Aikido he so generously taught me, his student, to work on developing, learning and passing on to others.

I wish to keep a piece of Iwama, and thereby my beloved Sensei, close to me; to try to carry on the traditions of the Iwama dojo, both in terms of training as well as in spirit. I have therefore chosen to use the name that was right in front of me all along: Copenhagen Aiki Shuren Dojo.