Shinshin - to believe in gods
"Since O-Sensei believed in gods, he started every morning with reading norito (prayers for the gods). Then he did cleaning and farming, afterwards he trained. In the evening he read again norito and trained. Then the day was over. By reading norito and praying, O-Sensei attained enlightment. I use the name shinshin to ensure that we consider the value of the heart."

shuren - serious practice

"I want to continue the training O-Sensei gave to my father and me. My father fullfilled this task until he passed. Now I have to continue this heritage to teach interested Aikidoka in a serious daily practice. It was very important for O-Sensei to teach the basic forms every day and so did my father for decades. In Iwama we don't practice based on something we watched, we practise something wich is defined very clearly in every single step. You can't learn this within one or two years, it takes a long time."

juku - school

"You shouldn't attach your heart too much to a place, a certain thing or money. You need money to live and you might have a good place and dojo, but you shouldn't be attached to it too much and fight on account of this. Keep your mind free and and don't become stiff. Last year I was able to leave a very important place, because I wasn't too much attached to it. To be able to continue walking on the path, you shouldn't be too much attached to things, othervice there is no progression anymore."

nisshin geppo - daily progress

"You have to be patient an practice step by step. You should always feel like a beginner until the end of your life. This way to train always existed in Iwama. I will continue that and I will always keep it in mind when I practice with others."

With best thanks to Horst Schwieckerath, Aikido Journal 3/2004 Interview with Hitohira Saito..