Our Lineage

We can trace our lineage directly back to O’Sensei’s home and the dojo where he trained in Iwama, Japan.

O’Sensei Morihei Ueshiba     12/14/1883 – 4/26/1969

Morihei Ueshiba studied various sword fighting and jujutsu styles. O’Sensei was famous as a highly skilled martial artist, and even though he was a short, thin man he was known for his strength.

In 1942, in the middle of World War II, O’Sensei moved to the small country town of Iwama and named his new martial art AIKIDO, which he continued to practice, teach, and refine until he passed away in 1969.

Morihiro Saito Shihan     3/31/1928 – 5/13/2002

9th Dan Aikikai. An Iwama native, Morihiro Saito started training in Aikido in 1946. For 23 years, he was a student and close confidant of O’Sensei. Then, after the founder’s passing, Morihiro Saito Shihan was put in charge of the Iwama Dojo and became the guardian of the Aiki-Shrine.

He published many books of Aikido techniques. He also organized and preserved a huge number of O’Sensei’s empty hands and weapon’s techniques. Many of today’s teachers from around the word came to live in his dojo and learn from his clear and structured way of teaching.

Patricia Hendricks Shihan

7th Dan Aikikai. In 1975, Patricia Hendricks Shihan started her Aikido career in Monterey, California. Since 1977 she has often traveled to to the Iwama Dojo in Japan where she was a live-in student under Saito Sensei. Since founding her own dojo, Aikido of San Leandro, she has mentored hundreds of students (who come from all over the world to live and train in her dojo). She also travels extensively (Europe, South America, US) giving seminars.

Hendricks Sensei holds the highest degree of Aiki-Ken and Aiki-Jo Certification. As she was one of Saito Shihan’s top representatives in the world, you can find YouTube videos of her as his uke (partner) in many demonstrations. She speaks fluent Japanese and often translated for him around the world and in Japan.

Hendricks Sensei is one of the three Division Heads in the California Aikido Association, (CAA) which is directly affiliated with the home dojo (Hombu) in Japan.

She also serves on the the International Aikido Federation (IAF) Board.

Louis Jumonville Shihan

6th Dan Aikikai. Louis Jumonville Shihan is the Dojo Cho, and Chief Instructor of Hikari Dojo. Hikari Dojo was located in Contra Costa County for over 20 years. In 2020, Jumonville Shihan moved Hikari Dojo to Sunderland MA where he opened his beautiful new dojo (http://www.hikaridojo-aikido.com/)

Jumonville Shihan has been training in the martial arts for over 40 years. He spent a total of 6½ years continuously as a live-in student, first in Japan with Saito Shihan for 1½ years, then for 5 years at Aikido of San Leandro Dojo, under Hendricks Shihan.

In 1991, at the founder’s Iwama dojo,  Saito Shihan presented Jumonville Sensei with the 3rd and 4th level Aiki-Ken and Aiki-Jo Transmission Scrolls. These scrolls authorize him to teach the Aiki-staff (bokken) and Aiki-sword (jo).

Hikari Dojo students who remained in Contra Costa County, have formed a new dojo called: AikidoContraCosta.