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[edit] Seiji Tomita

Born 10 March 1938, Ujiyamada, 8th dan Osaka Aikikai Foundation. First taught Aikido by Tanaka Bansen, Saito Morihiro, Tohei Koichi, Ueshiba Morihei in 1956.

This Japanese Master had the privilege of studying under the guidance of the founder of Aikido, O Sensei Morihei Ueshiba, in Osaka, at the dojo of Master Bansen Tanaka, where secret skills were taught. He was also able to learn another dimension from Master Koichi Tohei (founder of the Ki society) and Master Morihiro Saito (Iwama) to reach the very essence of budo. All three are distinguished students of the Founder.

Seiji Tomita shihan (8th dan) is the Chief Instructor and founder of Ban Sen Juku (Western Branch of the Osaka Aikikai Foundation).

Master TOMITA also studied iai under Grandmaster Masao Omoori (Eishin ryu) and Master Ogura Shinpu (Hooki ryu). He incorporates iai in his aikidotraining and calls it Aiki Iai, which is unique to Ban Sen Juku. Furthermore Master Tomita has contributed greatly to the advancement of the art by founding the Taiwan Aikikai in 1960 and by establishing the central Aikikai seat for the Kansai region in Osaka on request of his teacher TANAKA Bansen in 1969. In Kyoto he founded the Kyoto Aikido Association in 1971. In 1986 he went to the United States to teach aikido and in 1988 he settled down in Belgium to establish his school Ban Sen Juku, where he teaches aikido and iai up to this day. He regularly teaches in Belgium, United Kingdom, Spain, France, Tahiti, Taiwan and Signapore.

For further information please visit : http://www.bansenjuku.org