The Saito Family Art - "It's a Family Tradition"
Introduction of the highly kept secret Shorinjin Ryu Saito Ninjitsu Family Martial Art, for the first time outside the Providence of Fukushima Valley Japan from the Saito Clan was on April 6th 1964 in Redwood City California by 10th degree 8 times over making him Grand Master at 8 levels of mastery, Hachi Dan (8th degree) Ninjitsu Master Mark Saito Sr.
Grand Master Mark Saito Sr. is the only living Ninjitsu Master alive to this date. Mark undertook a life long study with his grandfather Hanshichi Saito, who migrated to Hawaii from Japan in 1906. "In 1932 I was four years old. My grandfather Hanshichi Saito migrated to Hawaii from Fukushima Valley, Japan in 1906 - 1910. At that time he brought along mom and my uncle. My mom's name was Un Saito from Fukushima Valley and my uncle was Mark Saito from Fukushima. They grew up on the Eva side of Oahu. For one reason or another Grandpa Hanshichi divorced and my mother lived with her mom in Eva. Hanshichi Saito resides in Aiea Plantation.
In the old days people traveled by train, it used to be steam train, believe it or not. They used to come to Honolulu by way of the train. My job was to get to Hanshichi who worked on the plantation. Thousands of people migrated from the Philippines, from Japan and from China. People lived on the farms and plantations. Now it was so long ago, that the housing is too old and they are all torn down. For many years I was taught by my Grandfather Hanshichi, which was a top secret, NINJITSU MASTERY!
I have many stories about Japan and Hawaii in the old days; Fukushima Valley where the Saito clan is from, the War Lords of Japan, the legend of my people and the gift of the Shorinjin Ryu is NINJITSU MASTERY. There are fourty seperate Martial Arts studied. My stories include my training with other Masters such as Mikami Kendo Gakko taught swordsmanship in Kapahulu, Professor William Chow taught Kenpo Karate at the Temple on Nuuanu Ave. , Professor Okazaki taught judo and massage training in his back yard on the platform. Goza Shioda and Ueshiba, both are Masters with whom I've trained. I've trained with Thomas Makiyama who taught Yoshikan Aikido, Professor Yamaguchi who taught Tsuyoi Karatedo of Okinawa and many others. I've trained with only the best, all along, secretly training with my Grampa, Hanshichi Saito. Nobody could touch him. I've many stories to share with you. "
Tomotso Saito who is my cousin was a physic healer. He was a Kamikazi pilot in the war, crashed his plane at Pearl Harbor and broke all of the bones in his body. The doctors told him he will never walk again. When I met him in Japan, I saw him walking on his own dressed in a beautiful suit. He had self healed himself. He had helped heal over 5000 patients. Tomotso Saito's father was the prime minister of Japan during the Tokugawa Dynasty. All of the most revered and trusted body guards were from the Saito clan of Fukushima Valley Japan. At one time in Japan's history, all of the Saito's where related. During America's attack on Japan there were two Saito Ninjitsu temples lost in the atomic bombing. One in Hiroshima and the other in Nagasaki. All of the scrolls and varioues documents of the Tokugawa Dynasty were destroyed.
Shorinjin Ryu Saito Ninjitsu is unlike any other form of Ninjitsu, The Art, a combination of 40 different Martial Arts teaches that all of the physical fighting adds up to just 1% of Ninjitsu Mastery. This is where all other Martial Arts stop. I have visited many dojos and have seen a lot of quality Martial Arts. The advanced levels of other Martial Arts lead to the next technique and again the next. It ends there. Our family Martial Art teaches the other 99%, which is Mind and Spiritual.
Master Maui Saito has studied with his father, Grand Master Mark Saito Sr., for more that 35 years. The Saito Japanese heritage dates back over 2000 years and Master Maui's Hawaiian Heritage dates back to the ancient warriors of old. The self-defense teachings of this ancient Art will be taught here at its highest level, for the very first time. The ancient wisdom of these Hawaiian and Japanese warriors is alive today for those with the heart and the desire to learn the Spirit of the Art, Shorinjin Ryu Maui Saito Ninjitsu.
"I practiced the same Dances, the same forms for over 35 years seeking perfection. Each year the Dances have unveiled a new gift, a new level of awareness, like the growth circles on a tree. Every layer adding wisdom, every layer adding heart and spirit. We were taught that as we defend ourselves, we do not fight alone. The warriors of ancient times and our ancestors stand with us in a time of need and in our everyday lives. We were taught to fight with Spirit. The question is 'what is Spirit?”
The answer will evolve as you study Shorinjin Ryu Maui Saito Ninjitsu. Come join Master Maui on the journey.
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