Passing of Seiichi Sugano Shihan

From NY Aikikai website:

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Seiichi Sugano Shihan (8th dan) on Sunday, August 29, 2010.

RIP Sugano Sensei
A great master has passed away.
Condolence to his family.

Indonesia Aikikai

It is indeed a sad reality to lose an invaluable connection to the Aikido of the Founder, a sensei both respected and admired.

Condolences to the family, friends and supporter of Seiichi Sugano Shihan, and prayers to all who mourn his loss.

Perhaps it is time for the greater Aikido community to come together at last, and pledge to continue Sugano Sensei's magnificent purpose of applying Aiki Principles for the benefit of all, regardless of politics, agendas and prejudices.

Thank you, Sugano Sensei, for the magnificent example you gave us.

This is indeed very sad news... Sugano Sensei touched many lives, and was a great example of dignity and endurance. Deepest condolences...

Very sad to hear of the passing of Sugano Seiichi Shihan. He was my first contact with Aikido in Australia. Condolances to all who knew him. He will remain with us all in AiKi.

Onegaishimasu. RIP Sensei, I will dedicate 108 mae ukemi to your memory today.

In gassho,

Mark

Condolences to Sugano sensei's family and friends.
I have never had the pleasure of meeting sensei and had always hoped to one day.

RIP sensei

Very sad news indeed with the passing of another direct student of OSensei, they become fewer and fewer each year.
My condolences to Sugano sensei's family and students.

Henry Ellis
http://kenshiroabbe.blogspot.com/

Posted 2010-08-30 08:13:20 by Jun Akiyama
News URL: http://www.nyaikikai.com/

The New York Aikikai website has announced, "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Seiichi Sugano Shihan (8th dan) on Sunday, August 29, 2010."

My condolences go out to all of his friends, family, students, and loved ones.

If people wish to share stories about Sugano sensei, please share them in the thread below in his memory.

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Rest in peace.

Sad, sad news indeed.

I visited New York Aikikai the day Sugano Sensei returned to the mat after his surgery in 200(3?), and remember that slipper going flying.

Though I was not lucky enough to be thrown by him, his smile is what I will remember the most, and of course his fantastic technique.

My condolences to all who knew him, both on and off the mat.

we were brought up in a very disciplined dojo under akira tohei, shihan. i remember the last time sugano sensei was here. we had a great seminar, as expected, learned alot, as expected, and took sensei out for a good meal. as was customary, we would carry his bags, get the door, etc.

after we ate, sugano sensei got up to leave, and my sempai went to bring the car out front to drive him home. a couple of us also moved ahead, to get the door and see him out. i remember bowing to sensei as he walked out the door.

'oyasumi nasai, sensei,' i said as he walked past me towards the car. 'ok, see ya.' he answered. hahaha. he was very spiritual, and very down to earth.

see ya, sensei. we will truly miss you

I will speak for all the students of Suffolk Aikikai, Our Prayers are with Shihan Sugano and family, we will miss you and your great teachings.

Only recently Tamura sensei passed away, and today another great man has left us. It's a double blow for our dojo as we followed both of them. Unfortunately I cannot say I have followed them as intensively as sensei did..... if only........

Great persons always leave behind great wakes, I hope through practice I can ride their magical waves for as long as I can.

My deepest condolences go to all near Sugano sensei.

It's sad to see these people (Sugano and Tamura) die so relatively young.. This is quite the blow to the Belgian federation, since it was founded by Sugano Shihan and followed his teachings closely, and to one of my teachers, who knew him personally and invited him to teach at his dojo at least once a year.

Time for the next generation?

My condolences.

I remember Sugano sensei's visit to Toronto years ago.. I was only 5th or 4th kyu then, with no idea who he was besides an uchi-deshi of o-sensei from NY Aikikai.. I remember his ear to ear smiles THROUGH HIS BEARD every time he spoke.. How gently spoken he was, but how solid his posture was.. The aikido world is poorer for now losing Sugano sensei, and (recently) Tamura sensei.. BUT the afterlife just became a better place to be with both shihans there..

AikiWeb System wrote: Posted 2010-08-30 08:13:20 by Jun Akiyama If people wish to share stories about Sugano sensei, please share them in the thread below in his memory.

Well, I did meet Sugano Sensei once, when he did a seminar in Birmingham, at Gregg Faulkner's invitation.

Sugano Sensei was nice and calm and he invited me to take ukemi for him a few times. I remember his technique as very smooth and nice, but very effective and I never felt I could avoid or stop anything he did. He did some throws with the jo, too, that were very clean and smooth and it was fun to be thrown by him.

I remember that he criticized my ukemi because it was based on judo ukemi, having come through Mochizuki Sensei. I don't recall if he said that kind of ukemi could lead to injury or if he was talking about judo leading to injury, but he said that injuries we get in youth will come back to haunt us in old age.

I do believe that he meant well and he illustrated well that his aikido was intended for all people to practice safely together and improve together.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that Sugano Sensei struck me as a real gentleman and I enjoyed taking ukemi for him and talking with him. I remember that he had a very gentle face and eyes and I got the sense that he was really sincere and wanted to help people, including me, even though I was not remotely in his line of aikido. He was very handsome and cultured without being the least overbearing or arrogant. Aikido has lost a great representative in him. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and all those who loved him.

In gassho.

David

I never had the chance to meet or train with Sugano sensei, but have always admired his technique.
A great man and Aikidoka
A big loss to the Aikido world, condolences to Sugano sensei's family and students.

RIP Sensei you will always be remembered...!!

A sad loss for Aikido as we lose another direct link to O-Sensei.

I only got to train under Sugano Sensei on two occasions back in 1997, but he was the teacher of my teacher at that time, so he had a significant bearing on my aikido.

Condolences to his family and direct students.

Very very sad.

I remember a true gentleman who always practised in a joyous manner. RIP Sensei - yet another to carry in my memory

It seems we are losing more and more sensei from that generation. It just urges us to train with those who are alive while we still can.

Rest peacefully, Sensei.

As we say good bye to the tier one level students of O Sensei, I am encouraged to seek out those remaining and at least attend a seminar in attempt to move closer to OSensei's Aikido.

peace

from the NY aikikai site:

MEMORIAL FOR SUGANO SHIHAN WILL BE HELD WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 8TH, 2010, AT THE BEACON HOTEL, 2130 BROADWAY, FROM 6:00PM - 8:30PM. THE EVENT WILL BE HELD IN THE FUNCTION ROOM. EVERYONE IS INVITED.