Morihiro Saito was born in
Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, on 31 March 1928. Growing up in a poor farming village in the 1930s and early 40s, he recounted having the same interest in historical heroes such as
Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi and Goto Matabe as most other Japanese boys. In the Japanese schools at that time, the martial arts of
kendo and judo were taught to students, and Saito chose to study kendo. In the years immediately following the end of
World War II, the carrying of weapons of any kind, as well the practice of martial arts, was prohibited by the
GHQ. As a result, Saito felt he should study some kind of unarmed self-defense technique, and began training in Shinto-ryū karate at the
Shudokan in
Meguro. After a short time, his work with the
Japanese National Railways transferred him to
Iwama, and he was forced to find other martial arts training. Thinking judo would be a useful complement to his kendo and karate skills, he began training at a judo dojo in
Ishioka. In the summer of 1946, however, Saito heard stories about an "old man doing strange techniques up on the mountain near Iwama." It seemed that people were confused about what martial art, exactly, this old man was practicing, but one judo instructor said the man was teaching "Ueshiba-ryū Judo." It was at this time, at the age of 18, that Saito joined Ueshiba for training, which already included then live-in students
Kisshomaru Ueshiba,
Koichi Tohei, and
Tadashi Abe. This early training was quite brutal, but after persevering for several years, Saito became one of Ueshiba's closest students. Much credit is given to the fortuitous work schedule Saito had with the Japanese National Railways, where Saito worked 24 hours on, 24 hours off. As a result, Saito had the unique opportunity to train with Ueshiba in the practice of the sword and short staff, which occurred early each morning before the other students arrived. Although other students such as
Koichi Tohei trained with Ueshiba for more years than Saito did, Saito's work allowed him to train almost as an
uchideshi, for long periods as the only student. From 1946 until Ueshiba's passing in 1969, Saito served as Ueshiba's assistant in a variety of ways at Iwama while his wife served Mrs. Ueshiba. During Saito's period as a deshi he taught classes in the
Iwama dojo.
Ueshiba's death Before his death Ueshiba gave Morihiro Saito the responsibility of carrying on the teaching at the Iwama dojo and also the position of caretaker of the
Aiki Jinja located in Iwama. ==Training methodology and philosophy==