From AikiWiki - AikiWeb Aikido Information
8th dan. Born in Tokyo in 1935, Kato-sensei began Aikido training in 1954 at Hombu Dojo, under the instruction of the Founder, O’Sensei. He has been attending Doshu’s class for three generations: the Founder, the second Doshu, and the current third Doshu.
In 1987, he formally estabished Suginami Aikikai as a branch dojo under Aikikai Hombu Dojo. The former Yagyu-kai was then incorporated into Suginami Aikikai. He has several branch dojos in California, Texas, Mexico and Indonesia. Periodically, he teaches seminars as a guest shihan in the U.S., Mexico, Brazil and other countries.
Truly “everyperson’s aikidoist,” Kato-sensei exemplifies one who has persevered in his own practice, was recognized, and rose to high rank on his own merit. Like most of us “normal people,” he is a person who worked a regular job and trained in what spare time was availible, persevering by training hard and never giving up.
Kato sensei also has an extensive weapons system with the jo and bokuto.
