 Masuda Seijuro est né en 1936 et il est entré au Hombu Dojo en 1962. Il a pris sa retraite il y a maintenant quelques années après plusieurs opérations chirurgicales de la colonne vertébrale. De petite taille mais doué d’une force peu commune, il pratiquait la musculation avant de s’intéresser à l’Aikido et il avait, à l’époque, formé l’écrivain Mishima Yukio aux rudiments du body building.
Ses cours du mardi soir étaient particulièrement populaires et généralement suivis d’un diner à la célèbre tonkatsuya Yamakura près du dojo. Toujours d’humeur joyeuse, il aimait chuchoter dans les oreilles de ses uke tout en démontrant des techniques particulièrement efficaces et souvent douloureuses. On oubliait vite le côté enjoué pour mieux se concentrer sur la projection ou l’immobilisation souvent paralysante qui suivait.
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I dont have much chance to practice in his class. The evening class full of lovely ppl, n I will never forget them especially Masunaga sensei, n Betty Kozuki n the whole group which i hv lost contact due to my work. Hope those who knew these ppl contact me that is more than 20 years ago. love to visit Tokyo n see Sensei again nrxt year
Sensei Masuda Shihan was my sensei in Tokyo from 1974 to 1977 when I was working in the British Embassy.. He had.a small class at the American Embassy compound and i can attest (with agony) to his whispering in one’s ear whilst he. applied a painful pin. The message was normally rightly deserved. If he saw you inflicting pain on your uke then he would always use you next as his uke. I learned fast. He was nevertheless a joy as a sensei and I couldn’t have wished for a better teacher in the art of aikido. I returned to Tokyo 12 years later on a flying visit and went to his Tuesday day class; he recognised me immediately and announced to the class that a « super-guest » had arrived – quite embarrassing but wonderful to be remembered. Thank you for your patience with me, Sensei. A grateful student – Vincent Sumpter