Announcements – Page 2 – Aikido Schools of Ueshiba

Covid relief funding

Here is an article that might be helpful to some ASU dojos. This round of funding is more flexible then the first PPP. January 10,…

Gary Small January 10, 2021

2021 Kagami Biraki Promotions

The following ASU instructor promotions were recognized by the Aikikai Hombu (World Aikido Headquarters) at their annual Kagami Biraki celebration: Godan Lewis Cuffy Don Hebert…

Guy Hagen January 10, 2021

Memoriam

Today, it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Sensei Patricia Saotome. She passed quietly in her sleep this morning. We thank…

Guy Hagen September 20, 2020

Living by Design: A Biography of Mitsugi Saotome Shihan, Senior Student of O’Sensei and Founder of the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba

Mitsugi Saotome Shihan is one of the oldest living students of the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba Sensei, commonly known as O-Sensei. Saotome Sensei studied…

Zacc Dukowitz July 13, 2020

Condolences: Thurston Carleton

It is with great sadness that ASU shares news of the passing of Thurston Carleton, 6th dan, Aikido Shobukan Dojo Board member, and longtime contributor to…

Guy Hagen April 14, 2020

Message From Saotome Sensei

I hope that all Aikidoka everywhere in the world stay safe. Aiki is the ability to recognize circumstances around you and adapt. For example, I…

Guy Hagen March 30, 2020

ASU Dojo-Cho Videoconference: Responding to the Coronavirus Outbreak

ASU will be hosting a special videoconference to help member dojos respond appropriately to the current COVID-19/Coronavirus outbreak. All ASU dojo-cho are encouraged to participate.…

Guy Hagen March 16, 2020

2020 Kagami Biraki Promotions

The following ASU instructor promotions were recognized by the Aikikai Hombu (World Aikido Headquarters) at their annual Kagami Biraki celebration: Godan Yondan Dwayne Bolt Philadelphia, PA…

Guy Hagen January 12, 2020

2019 Kagami Biraki Promotions

The following ASU instructor promotions were recognized by the Aikikai Hombu (World Aikido Headquarters) at their annual Kagami Biraki celebration: Nanadan Rokudan Godan Yondan Raso Hultgren…

Guy Hagen January 13, 2019

2018 Kagami Biraki Promotions

The following ASU instructor promotions were recognized by the Aikikai Hombu (World Aikido Headquarters) at their annual Kagami Biraki celebration: Rokudan Godan Yondan Brian Canin Stephen…

Guy Hagen January 14, 2018

Aikido Schools of Ueshiba

2 weeks ago

A truly wonderful posthumous tribute to Wendy Whited, who did so much for our organization and for aikido. … See MoreSee Less

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Yes..Yes…Yes !!! 🙏🙇🙏

Omg she was one of the best instructors and one of my biggest supporters!!!

Amazing and well deserved. Wendy was an outstanding teacher. I had the pleasure of training and testing with and under her many times in my training. She was and still is a big influence in my life.

🏖️ Winter Intensive 2027 – Hotel Registration Deadline
Wednesday, December 9, 2026
Rooms at the Sirata Beach Resort are expected to fill quickly, so we strongly encourage you to reserve your room as soon as possible.
Our special room block is listed as:
“Aikido Schools of Ueshiba 2027 Room Block”
👉 Reserve Your Room at the Sirata:
Sirata Beach Resort — ASU 2027 Room Block
Make your reservation, pack your dogi, and get ready for a great week of training, friendship, and community! 🥋🌴
See you at Winter Intensive 2027!
#aikido #aikidoaikikai #budo #aikidoschoolsofueshiba #martialartstraining #martialarts #MartialArtsCommunity #aikidolife #iloveaikido #aikidoseminar #aikidoka … See MoreSee Less

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Aikido Schools of Ueshiba mourns the passing of Warren Little, October 16, 1929 – September 19, 2026. He died Saturday evening at his home in Missoula, Montana.

Warren was one of the first members of Aikido Shobukan Dojo, and he was instrumental in setting the organization up in those early D.C. days. He lived in a camper parked behind the dojo, and students who came in alone on Sunday mornings remember him watching from over the top of his newspaper, calling out "Train harder! Harder!" before going back to his coffee.

He had found the martial arts long before that, training in judo in Washington DC in 1952 alongside Donn Draeger. He gave decades of service to this country as a Special Agent of the FBI, and later to the State of Montana.

He was devoted to Saotome Sensei and to ASU from the beginning, and he showed it the way he showed everything, by turning up and doing the work. He once took Sensei and Patty on their honeymoon, into the backcountry of his beloved Montana, and he loved to tell how the newlyweds discovered he had packed exactly one tent, and that he fully intended to sleep in the middle of it.

What Warren gave aikido was support, and he gave it for the better part of fifty years. He worked for years to see that Montana had somewhere good to train, and he was behind Aikido of Missoula from its early days and a member of Mountain West Aikido in Livingston and Billings later on. The door of his own second floor studio carried an image of O Sensei etched in glass.

Those who knew him best remember the generosity most. Warren was always the first to pick up a shovel and start digging, and he never waited to be asked. He had a heart of gold, a real sense of humor, and opinions he was glad to share.

He was promoted to yondan in October 2016, four days after his eighty-seventh birthday.

In his last years he could no longer train. He came anyway, and he still put on his gi.

Sensei was deeply impacted by the news of his passing. With tears in his eyes, he exclaimed in Japanese:

"Warren! Warren was such a great help… oh but it’s a natural thing that time passes, and isn’t time passing?! We must take care of each other while we can! Warren and I shared so many fond memories..!"

Aikido of Missoula will hold a memorial class for Warren on Friday, September 25, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm.

Rest well, Warren san, we miss you already but know you lay in peace. … See MoreSee Less

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Warren Sensei taught me proper pins prepping for my shodan test in the early 90's! Fond memories of an aiki icon.

Warren Sensei taught me how to teach forward rolls to frightened beginners. He was a guiding light.

Warren Sensei demonstrated the importance of showing up for training! Every time he came to Bozeman Aikido he encouraged each and every one of us to train more diligently. And he was always passing out ASU patches. Warren gifted Bozeman Aikido with several art works from his collection. We fondly remember Warren Sensei as the grandfather of Aikido in Montana. RIP Warren, happy trails❣️

Wow, such a surprise to see Warren's face pop up! I met him almost 20 years ago while attending a Saotome seminar in Montana. I forget people easily, but never forgot him. Sometimes when I've thought of him lately I've thought that he was probably gone already, but I'm glad to hear that he made it almost to 97. RIP Sensei.

I knew Warren from seminars and when I was in Missoula we spent the afternoon at his home before the seminar started. A great man. 😞 What did he say at the end of a seminar . . .

Om mani päme hum, Om mani päme hum, Om mani päme hum…… may his journey be peaceful and may he have a very fortunate rebirth.

My condolence of whole pamily…Philippines 🇵🇭.

Rest in peace! Well done!

Sorry for your loss of such an important member of your community.

That’s a tragedy to hear. When I read this, I imagined him clapping loudly once, decisively, to close the seminar.

Sending love and light.

Truly an inspiration to me and all who knew him, he will be missed

He will be missed

I remember Warren so well from the early 80's Sad news.

My sincere condolences.

Sincerely Condolences…! 🙏

RIP Warren Sensei. I trained with my son Iliad at ASU in 1998-2000.

Thank YOU very much, Warren. Such a spirit of shugyo, and such a good Aiki friend.

My condolences to his family

May he rest in peace 🙏

Beyond the path, go to the stars!. God blessed you.

🙏☮️ a beautiful Sensei and soul

Thank you for this. Warren was a good friend who made those around him feel better. BTW, Warren's birthday is October 21. On to the next adventure, old friend!

Sorry for your loss.

Our Prayers & Deepest Sympathy to the family….

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Category: Announcements

Covid relief funding

2021 Kagami Biraki Promotions

Memoriam

Living by Design: A Biography of Mitsugi Saotome Shihan, Senior Student of O’Sensei and Founder of the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba

Condolences: Thurston Carleton

Message From Saotome Sensei

ASU Dojo-Cho Videoconference: Responding to the Coronavirus Outbreak

2020 Kagami Biraki Promotions

2019 Kagami Biraki Promotions

2018 Kagami Biraki Promotions

Official ASU Board Communications

Board of Directors Update (December 2023)

Memoriam

General ASU News

Thoughts on my visit to Myakka City Shrine Dojo

Saotome Sensei: Three Types of Aiki

What Aikido Means To Me?

Upcoming Seminars and Events

Social Updates