Legacy
O’Sensei Morihei Ueshiba
O’Sensei Ueshiba developed Aikido through his life.
After his brief participation in the war, Morihei Ueshiba withdrew from public life and settled in the rural town of Iwama, in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, around 1942.
In Iwama, O’Sensei built the Aiki Shrine (Aiki Jinja), considered the spiritual heart of Aikido, and established the Iwama Dojo beside it.
Morihiro Saitō 9th Dan
Among O’Sensei’s most devoted students in Iwama was Morihiro Saitō, who began training under him in 1946 and continued for about 24 years.
After the passing of his teacher, Saitō Sensei continued his life in Iwama, safeguarding the legacy left by O’Sensei.
Among some of the deshi, travelling to Iwama to derectly learn from Saitō Sensei was Paolo Corallini. They met in Iwama in May 1984.
Paolo Corallini Shihan 7th Dan
Paolo Corallini has been practicing the Art of Aikido since 1969 and during his career he has held numerous positions in this art at national and international level.
During his visit to Iwama in May 1984, Paolo met Saito Sensei and formed a very strong bond with him. Since then Corallini Sensei went to Japan 46 times and has been one of the most prominent guardians of Aikido tradition.
Saitō Sensei visited Italy 17 times at the invitation of Corallini Sensei for seminars, starting in 1985 each year until 2001.
In year 2000 Paolo Corallini invited group of Bulgarian deshi to Italy.
Georgi Zarkov Sensei 6th Dan
Georgi Zarkov Sensei Is a graduate of the Bulgarian Sports Academy with Masters in Martial Arts, founder of the Takemusu Aikido Association Bulgaria, and the Bujutsu Academy, Sofia.
He met Paolo Corallini in 2000, and became one of his most devoted students, preserving the Takemusu Aikido legacy in Bulgaria.
Zarkov Sensei went to Italy from 2007 until 2010 as UchiDeshi to practice Aikido under the close supervision of Paolo Corallini Shihan. In 2008 he was accompanied by one of his Bulgarian deshi, Svetoslav Kostadinov.
Svetoslav Kostadinov 3rd Dan
Svetoslav Kostadinov practices Aikido since 1995.
He bagan his Aikido Journey in Bulgaria, under Kamen Radev Sensei in Aikido Club Shumen. Years later he received invitation by Georgi Zarkov Sensei to join him in Italy and train under the supervision of Paolo Corallini in 2008.
Svetoslav was Assistant Instructor for many years when he taught classes of all age groups.
He was awarded Sandan from Paolo Corallini Shihan in Italy in 2024, and founded Takemusu Aikido Association Scotland in 2025.