Wellsprings Aikido Linerage
Aikido and founder.
Aikido is a modern Japanese martial art which is split into many different styles including Iwama Ryu which is the style we practice. It was originally developed by Morihei Ueshiba, as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy and religious beliefs. Ueshiba’s goal was to create an art which practitioners could use to defend themselves while also protecting their attackers from injury.
Aikido is often translated as “the way of unifying (with) life energy or as “the way of harmonious spirit”. According to the founder’s philosophy, the primary goal in the practice of aikido is to overcome oneself instead of cultivating violence or aggressiveness. Morihei Ueshiba used the phrase masakatsu agatsu katsuhayabi” (正勝吾勝勝速日, “true victory, final victory over oneself, here and now”) to refer to this principle.
Morihirio Saito Sensei.
Morihiro Saito (斉藤 守弘 Saitō Morihiro, March 31, 1928–May 13, 2002) was a teacher of the Japanese martial art of aikido, with many students around the world. Saito’s practice of aikido spanned 56 years, from the age of 18, when he first met aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba, until his death in 2002.
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.
Saito’s instruction of aikido is particularly remembered for its emphasis upon the basics of aikido, and especially upon the relationship between the armed and unarmed aspects of the art. Saito believed that the basis of all empty-handed, sword, and staff techniques was the mastery of aikido’s basic posture (hanmi). Saito believed that once the correct posture was mastered, the next step was to develop a proper kiai (sometimes translated as “spirit shout”).
Wellsprings has Lewis Bernaldo de Quirós as our main Technical Director.
Lewis Bernaldo de Quirós trained full time under the late Morihiro Saito Sensei (9th Dan) from 1986 until 1993 in the Iwama Dojo in Japan. Since returning from Japan he has taught Aikido on a full time basis and to date has conducted well over 300 international seminars.
Before beginning his training in Aikido, he trained for 10 years in both Judo and Karate (Shotokan Karate under the direction of Keinosuke Enoeda Sensei, 9th Dan, in London).
Since his return from Japan he has dedicated himself entirely to teaching Aikido and to date has given more than 300 international seminars. After his return he maintained regular contact with his teacher, through seminars participating both as an assistant and as a translator, until the death of Morihiro Saito Sensei in 2002.
Lewis received the 5th Dan Aikidai degree from Morihiro Saito Sensei in 1999 and the 6th Dan Aikidai degree from Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba (Hombu Dojo in Tokyo) in 2009. In January 2024 Lewis was awarded 7th dan at the Kagamibiraki Grading in 2024.
He is the senior instructor and examiner on behalf of Hombu Dojo of a European network of Dojos (Traditional Aikido Europe) committed to developing, researching and transmitting the style of Aikido known as Takemusu Aikido, which was transmitted directly to Morihiro Saito Sensei from the Founder of Aikido Morihei Ueshiba during his more than 23 years as a direct student at the Founder ’s Dojo in Iwama Japan.
Lewis is the Technical Director of Traditional Aikido Europe (TAE) .
