PROFILE OF HIROSHI KATO SENSEI.  Born in Tokyo in 1935, Kato-sensei began Aikido training in 1954 at Hombu Dojo, under the instruction of the Founder, 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 internal 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 there, although in recent years he primarily attends Doshu’s Friday class and special events.

After his first 10 years at Hombu Dojo, Kato-sensei occasionally had chances to personally serve the Founder. He 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 (nidai 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. 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. He has had the extraordinary experience of having been uke for the Founder, and has described it as being thrown by a god, and that he still can’t fully figure out how he was thrown. 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.” Before every class, Kato Sensei comes early to the dojo and meditates.

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 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 teach Aikido at his branch dojo in California and in Texas twice a year. He also offers seminars at other Aikikai affiliated dojo 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 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 (8th, 7th, 6th . . . dan) 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 dojo 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 in establishing “Wa” ( harmony), both in spirit and in Aikido.

Kato sensei received a proclamation name October 6, 2006 as Hiroshi Kato Day in the city of Midland, TX.

References:
- Suginami Aikikai Home Page: http://isweb35.infoseek.co.jp/sports/kawatok/aikido/
Both in English and in Japanese
- Aikido Newspaper, vol. 488, published by Aikikai on September 10th, 2001
Introduction of Suginami Aikikai – in Japanese
- Aikido Tankyu, Vol. 28, published by Aikikai July 25th, 2004
Kato-sensei’s interview – in Japanese

John H. Riggs, Aikikai 4th dan (yondan), Shidoin, Dojo Cho and founder of Aikido of Midland, Midland, TX

Dr. John H. Riggs is a practicing chiropractic physician. He has been involved in the martial arts since the late 1960s when introduced to karate in the U.S. Air Force. He first discovered Aikido when looking for a karate class at the Torrance YMCA in Southern California while attending undergraduate college.

• Moved to Memphis, Tennessee (May 1995) to run a chiropractic clinic and started teaching at Memphis Aikikai, as co-dojo cho with Gary Chase Sensei. Together, he helped Gary affiliate Memphis Aikikai with World Headquarters Aikikai, Hombu Dojo through the Aikido Association of America in 1996.
• Has served as Aikido head instructor (dojo cho) at Ta Ch'U Academy of the Martial Arts, Heart of Texas Martial Arts Academy (Waco, TX), Aikido Club of Austin (YMCA, Austin, TX), Memphis Aikikai (Memphis, TN)
• Successfully trained nine black belt candidates two of which are now nidan and another sandan.
• Attended 40 plus seminars over the years with many high ranking Aikido instructors, including: Kato, Saotome, Ikeda, Toyoda, Doran, Yamada, McGourik, Phong, Carlile, Strozzi-Heckler, Heiny, Toribio, and Sato, to name a few. Ongoing study through seminar participation, reading and studying video tapes and CDs of various master level instructors.
• 2004-5:  participated in the development of the Shudokan Aikido Association and helped develop bylaws, test committees, and test requirements.
• Other Martial Arts background also includes following:

  • Tae Kwan Do (Moo Duk Kwan) under Bernard Franquez (1972/3) to green belt. Bernie is deceased.
  • Shotokan Karate while in the Air Force for a short time.
  • Kali Lua Do (stick fighting) under Norm Van Wye in Moreno Valley, CA to red belt (level III).
  • Tai Chi Chuan in two different Tai Chi classes, one at a community center and another at UC Riverside (about 1994) under Harvey Kurland.

Aikikai Membership No. 130237, IAF Registration R486