Having resided in Japan for more
than 10 years, Juerg Steiner was a student of Hikitsuchi
Sensei 10th Dan (now deceased) and Anno
Sensei 8th Dan the current dojo-cho of the Kumano Juku Dojo
in Wakayama Ken Japan. Juerg has been active in Aikido for almost
30 years and has a wealth of knowledge in the art form due to his
very close exposure to O'Sensei's uchideshi. Anno Sensei's contribution
for his work to spread & embody the spirit of Budo was recently
acknowledged by the Nippon Budokan. We understand this to be a very
high honour as the annual citation is provided to only one person
in the nine arts (Judo, Kendo, Sumo, Karate, Aikido, Shorinji, Naginata
and Jukendo). Hikitsuchi Sensei was also acknowledged 18 years ago.
It has been commented that it is not usaul for citations to be offerred
to members of the same dojo, perhaps this is indicative of the respect
given to the Kumano Juku Dojo. |