Sensei Bjorn Saw
Aikido Alive UK's head teacher Bjorn Saw Sensei (5 dan Aikikai) has one of the longest experiences of traditional Iwama Takemusu Aikido in the UK, having begun his Aikido training in 1974 with Saito Sensei's then representative in Europe, Takeji Tomita Shihan (7 dan) at Takemusu Aikido Scandinavia in Stockholm, Sweden. Bjorn Sensei then spent several years training under the late
Morihiro Saito Shihan (9 dan) in Iwama, Japan, from 1987 to 1993. Manchester Instructor
Ulysses Sengupta (2nd dan Takemusu Aikido Aikikai) is a lecturer in architecture at UoM & MMU. He started practising Iwama Aikido over 16 years ago and remains a student of Sensei Bjorn Saw of Aikido Alive London. Ulysses maintains regular training in the Iwama tradition with friendly like minded people and has initiated the UoM & MMU student led club/societies which train three times a week (Taijutsu & Bukiwaza). Aikido (εζ°ι) is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba. Individuals gain different things from practice. Some enjoy the martial, physical and technical aspects of one of the most sophisticated martial arts ever developed, while others engage more with aspects of concentration and moving meditation. It is a personal journey with many possibilities. Unlike most other martial arts Aikido emphasizes techniques that the practitioners of the art can use to defend themselves, while also protecting their attacker from serious or permanent injury. This unique philosophical perspective results in a high degree of complexity and precision which unfolds through training over time. Blending...
Blending with the Uke (attacker) is of special emphasis within the teaching of Aikido Alive, this ties in both philosophically and physiologically with merging and redirecting the force of an attack rather than opposing it. This requires very little physical strength if correct technique is developed strictly from the beginning. A matter of specific emphasis in the Iwama tradition. Space and Multiple Attackers
Aikido is unique in that it emphasizes various exercises to understand and train the body and mind to work with the potential of being surrounded at all times. At senior levels Aikido is practiced with multiple attackers, but even at the most basic level practice incorporates spatial awareness and the awareness of ones position in relation to others around us.
