CAPITAL CITY AIKIDO
What Is Takemusu Aikido?

The Founder considered Takemusu Aikido to be the highest form of Aikido.

Takemusu contains two Japanese characters (Kanji): Take (Bu), "Martial", and Musu, "To be born".

These two characters combine to refer to martial movement spontaneously created, without active thought, resulting in a pure Aikido technique. He felt that one's training went through four major periods of development: Basic Technique, Flexible Technique, Flowing Technique, and finally Takemusu Aiki. He considered this final form of Aikido to be attainable by anyone through practice.

The Takemusu Aikido Association is an association of dojos, clubs, and individuals who have a common interest in Aikido. It functions for the mutual benefit of its members, serves as a center of support to its members, and promotes Aikido nationally and internationally. The Association is recognized as a qualified Aikido organization by the Aikikai Foundation, the Hombu, in Tokyo, Japan. It seeks to work cooperatively with other Aikido organizations nationally and internationally. This recognition enables the Association to obtain from the Aikikai Foundation internationally registered and recognized ranks for qualified students of its members.

The Association follows the teaching and training philosophy of Morihiro Saito, Shihan. Saito Shihan's method of training and teaching has greatly influenced the senior members of the Association. We have all trained for various lengths of time with him and feel his training methods, style of Aikido, and long personal association with the Founder have significant value to our own progress in Aikido. We have found that this view has strengthened our relationships with each other and gives us a common purpose.


Morihiro Saito




Morihiro Saito

Born March 31, 1928, he passed from this earth May 13, 2002.

He was our shihan, our sensei and our dear friend.

In lifelong pursuit of the mission bequeathed to him by The Founder, he touched thousands of lives. His vision is his legacy to each of us; may we pursue it with the strength and grace that he did.