Magyar verzió / Hungarian version

Mitsuteru Ueshiba
Aikido Seminar Budapest
October 23–25, 2026

• January 2, 2025
• Ferenc Németh
• October 26, 2026

The seminar ended on October 25, 2026. Below you can read my report on the weekend; from the original invitation we have kept the background information and the program.

The weekend in review

Friday: youth training on Tüzér Street

The youth training at the Honvéd Judo Hall lasted only an hour, but perhaps that is exactly what made it special. It wasn't crowded, and Waka Sensei personally helped many white belts. I could see that for some of them it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. With so little time, he could only pick out and demonstrate a few techniques.

Zsolt from our dojo came with me, and he was lucky: Sensei demonstrated a technique with him as well. According to Zsolt, he worked very gently and with great sensitivity, even though from the outside it all looks far more decisive.

Saturday: 300–400 practitioners at MOM Sport

On Saturday we were already training in the big hall, with an estimated 300–400 aikidoka on the mat. The hall was large, but not many more people would have fit in. After a tenkan warm-up, Waka Sensei started with a strong opening: shomen uchi irimi nage. Then we went through the basic techniques.

Despite the crowd, he explained the main building blocks of the techniques clearly and understandably. During practice he stopped at several spots; small groups quickly gathered around him, and the lucky ones got to try the current technique with him.

He closed the day with a demonstration, shifting up a few gears in speed 🙂 It was clear that these were well-rehearsed movements. A truly spectacular demonstration.

Sunday: ushiro and morote dori

On Sunday perhaps slightly fewer people came. That day he also showed techniques from ushiro and morote dori attacks. The seminar brought together participants from 19 countries, a truly international gathering. It was noticeable that some people follow Sensei wherever they can; he gladly called them up as uke and chatted with them.

Photos

Photos and videos could only be taken by the event's official photographer. A group photo was taken, and every dojo had the chance to have a photo taken with Sensei. We will share the pictures here as soon as we receive them.

Through European eyes: the attendant student

A student came with Sensei from Japan and served as uke most of the time. Off the tatami he also looked after Sensei: he brought and set out his slippers and took his bag from him. To European eyes this may look unusual, almost excessive humility. In Japanese tradition, however, this is the role of the attendant student (otomo). Serving the teacher is part of the training and is considered an honor.

What didn't happen

Two conversations had been planned around the weekend: a podcast and an interview for an aikido book in the works. In the end, neither took place. It's a pity, as we would have loved to hear from Sensei off the tatami as well; such opportunities are rare. I hope it works out next time.

Meeting old friends

I met many old friends whom I see only very rarely. Our conversations also produced ideas for working together that are genuinely forward-looking. That alone makes it worth attending a big seminar like this: we learn not only from the teacher but also from each other, and this is often where new collaborations begin.

Background of the visit

Invited by Aikikai Hungary, Mitsuteru Ueshiba, head of the Aikikai Hombu Dojo and great-grandson of aikido's founder Morihei Ueshiba, visited Hungary on October 23–25, 2026.

This was not Waka Sensei's first visit: on June 14–16, 2019 he taught a seminar at the very same venue, MOM Sport, which remains one of the most memorable events of the Hungarian aikido community. The 2026 visit was therefore also a homecoming of sorts, and it was no coincidence that Saturday's program closed with an anniversary dinner and party.

The Legacy of the Esteemed Ueshiba Family

Before discussing Mitsuteru Ueshiba's work, it's worth recalling the path aikido took during the twentieth century. The creator of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba (1883–1969) – often referred to simply as "O-Sensei" (Great Teacher) – dedicated many years to creating a martial art where traditional Japanese techniques, spiritual development, and the pursuit of a peaceful path all take center stage. Thanks to his work, aikido gradually spread worldwide, becoming one of the most popular Japanese martial arts.

The family legacy was passed down through generations. Morihei Ueshiba's son, Kisshomaru Ueshiba (1921–1999), took over the leadership of the Hombu Dojo, followed by his grandson, Moriteru Ueshiba (born 1951), the current Aikido Doshu. The youngest adult representative of the Ueshiba family, Mitsuteru Ueshiba, is known as "Waka Sensei" or "Young Teacher": in keeping with the iemoto tradition, he is expected to succeed his father as Doshu and to carry forward the family traditions in the coming decades.

Who is Mitsuteru Ueshiba?

Mitsuteru Ueshiba was born on June 27, 1981 in Tokyo. He grew up in the atmosphere of the Hombu Dojo, absorbing the fundamentals of practicing and teaching aikido from the very beginning. From a young age, it was natural for him to spend a significant part of his time on the tatami, mastering the refined movements of aikido step by step.

Since April 2012 he has been the head (dojocho) of the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, responsible for the daily operation, classes and teaching staff of the headquarters dojo in Tokyo. This is why the official invitations refer to him as "Hombu Dojocho". He also regularly leads the major Aikikai events, such as the annual All Japan Aikido Demonstration featured in the video above.

As a young teacher, he gradually took on an increasingly important role in the life of the Hombu Dojo, assisting his father, Moriteru Ueshiba, and traveling regularly to international seminars where he meets aikidokas from all over the world. In 2020 he published a book on the fundamentals of aikido, which puts progress built on correct basic practice at its center. Meeting the demands of the modern era, he places great emphasis on preserving the traditional lineage in every class while remaining open to innovation. His teaching methods display a youthful momentum and persuasive power that many find inspiring.

Mitsuteru Ueshiba's Teaching Style

Those who have attended Mitsuteru Ueshiba's seminars or seen him teach highlight his approachability and openness. International reports often describe his style as "graceful yet powerful," emphasizing smooth, precise timing over raw physical strength. In his interpretation, the coordinated work of uke and tori—the attacker and the defender—is particularly prominent, making his aikido highly flexible and flowing.

Although an event of this size is not the place for detailed, individual biomechanical corrections, Waka Sensei focuses on the roots of the movements. His aim is not simply to teach forms, but to show the principles behind them, the importance of breathing and the redirection of the attacker's energy from a broader perspective.

It is worth knowing that Hombu Dojo seminars usually move at a brisk pace: little explanation, lots of practice and frequent partner changes. Those who arrive with an open mind and change partners freely get the most out of such a weekend, because working with practitioners of different builds and from different schools is the real value of an international seminar like this.

Venues

• Main Event (October 24–25): MOM Sport Uszoda és Sportközpont (1123 Budapest, Csörsz u. 14-16.)
• Youth Training (October 23): Honvéd Judo Terem (1134 Budapest, Tüzér utca 56.)
• Anniversary Dinner & Party (October 24): NOVOTEL Budapest City (1123 Budapest, Alkotás u. 63-67.)

The weekend program

If this has sparked your interest in aikido, see where and when we train. Beginners are always welcome on the tatami!