加藤弘師範　自主稽古風景　本部にて　1971年／Kato Hiroshi Shihan　Private training at Honbu 1971

加藤弘師範　八段　 Hiroshi Kato Shihan, 8th Dan 1935年、東京生まれ。 1954年、合気会本部道場に入門。 Born in Tokyo in 1935. In 1954, he joined the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. 開祖・植芝盛平翁から内弟子になるよう言われたが、外弟子として本部に通い、1968年には開祖から六段を允可された。 Although the founder, Morihei Ueshiba, asked Kato Shihan to become an uchi-deshi (live-in student), he chooses to be a soto-deshi (commuting student) at the headquarters. In 1968, he was awarded 6th dan by the founder. 若い頃はこの動画(当時36歳)のようにパワフルで激しかった加藤師範の合気道は、後年にはより柔らかくより螺旋の動きを体現した合気道へと深化していった。 それはまるで受けと取りとの間に空気のクッションでもあるかのように、相手を柔らかく吸収し、傷つけずに転がす事もできれば、激しく叩きつける事も放り投げる事もできる、正に活殺自在の合気道であった。 In his younger years, as seen in this video (when he was 36 years old), Kato Shihan's Aikido was powerful and intense. However, in later years, his Aikido evolved to become softer and more embodied with spiral movements. It was as if there was an air cushion between the attacker and defender, allowing him to softly absorb the opponent, and throw the opponent without causing injury or forcefully slamming or tossing the Uke. It truly became an Aikido of complete control over life and death.