Hiroshi Kato (Aikido)

Nihongo|Hiroshi Kato|加藤 弘|Katō Hiroshi, born in Tokyo,1935) is a world renowned Aikido Master (8th Dan). He lives in Tokyo, Japan and travels around the world to spread his knowledge about the Art of Aikido. Sensei Kato is a former student of Morihei Ueshiba. Since 1975, Sensei Kato has been teaching in his Dojo "Suginami Aikikai" (affiliated to Aikikai World Headquarters) located in the Ogikubo district and has over 100 committed students.

Early life and training

Kato-sensei began Aikido training in 1954 at Aikido World Headquarters (Hombu Dojo) under the instruction of the Founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba otherwise known as O’Sensei. Introduced to the Aikikai Hombu Dojo through his mother’s network of connections when he was 19, he trained there daily as well as spending long hours perfecting his personal practice. Working during the day as a printer, he attended classes at night. (For this reason he was unable to be an uchideshi, and does not appear in early photographs with them.) He has continued to train regularly for over 52 years at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo although in recent years, he primarily attends Doshu’s Friday class and other special events at Aikido World Headquarters.

After his first 10 years at Hombu Dojo, Kato-sensei occasionally had chances to personally serve the Founder. He is grateful for those opportunities to have had personal interaction with O'Sensei. Even now he continues to realize new and very real implications of what the Founder told him many years ago. He is still pursuing Aikido through the Founder’s image, as according to Kato-sensei, “To me, the Founder is not dead. He is still alive in my mind and in my heart.”

Kato sensei has been attending Doshu’s class for three generations: the Founder, the second Doshu, and the current third Doshu. He received his first 6 black belts from the Founder and his next 2 black belts from the second Doshu.

His self-training in Aikido has been ascetic. In his early years, he often used to practice weapons by himself through the night, greet sunrise the next morning, and then go to work again.

Kato sensei's Aikido has a measure of personal spirituality to it. Before every class, Kato Sensei has the practice of coming early to the dojo to meditate. Since he was young and to this day, he frequently visits mountain shrines and stays up all night practicing weapons and meditating.

Kato-sensei regards O’Sensei with utmost respect and considers him to be his only teacher. He states that the Founder didn’t teach him directly, rather that he learned from the Founder. Kato sensei believes that others cannot teach us Aikido, it is something we must learn by ourselves and with the help of others. He sums this up by saying, "Aikido is not something to learn from others, but to learn by oneself. Ideally, the practice should be for oneself, and it should be rigorous and sternly self-disciplined, by one’s own choice."

Teaching and Achievements

In 1965, an informal practice group named Yagyu-kai was formed under his guidance and direction. Most of the members were black belt holders and he enjoyed teaching, hard training, and lively conversation after practice.

In 1987, he formally established Suginami Aikikai in Ogikubo, Suginamiku, as a branch dojo under Aikikai Hombu Dojo. The former Yagyu-kai was then incorporated into Suginami Aikikai.

Several years ago, he retired from his work as a printer and now teaches Aikido full time. In 1994, he received 8th dan and in the same year, he began to teach Aikido in the US. Currently he travels to the U.S. to teach Aikido at his branch dojos in California and in Texas twice a year. He also offers seminars at other Aikikai affiliated dojos as a guest instructor.

From 1999 through 2001, he received commendation for his contribution of promoting Aikido in Houston from the Mayor of Houston, Texas. In October 2006, he was recognized for his Aikido contributions by a proclamation of Hiroshi Kato Day from the Mayor of Midland Texas. In 2001, “ Suginami Aikikai” received commendation from the Governor of Tokyo as an Excellent Organization. This year, he also began to teach Aikido at the OASIS Sports Center in Tokyo. That program continues, and is expanding.

Reflecting its depth and maturity as a dojo, there are now quite a few high level yudansha (such as 8th, 7th, 6th dans) in Suginami Aikikai, and new members are steadily joining. As in his early days, he enjoys intense training with everyone. Members both in Tokyo and abroad have been enjoying brisk international exchanges, as visitors from various dojos come to train with him in Tokyo.

Truly “every person’s" aikidoist, Kato-sensei exemplifies one who has persevered in his own practice, was recognized, and rose to high rank on his own merit. Like most of us “normal people,” he is a person who worked a regular job and trained in what spare time was available, persevering by training hard and never giving up.

Succinctly, Kato sensei is a superb and creative guide for his students in establishing “Wa” (harmony), both in spirit, in daily life and in Aikido.