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Iwama style is a name often used about the aikido in the lineage of Morihiro Saito, a close disciple of the founder of aikido Morihei Ueshiba for 23 years. Iwama style can be found both within and outside of the biggest aikido organisation Aikikai. A major non-Aikikai branch is Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shurenkai, headed by Saito's son Hitohiro Saito.
Iwama style includes the study of traditional Japanese weapons in order to understand "hand" Aikido. Iwama stylists often claim that they do the aikido that is closest to that of the founder. Some others argue that Iwama style is Morihei Ueshiba's aikido of the 1940s and 1950s, when he lived and practiced in the Japanese village of Iwama and there taught Morihiro Saito and others.
See also: Iwama Ryu
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