Hagen Sensei is the dojo cho (head instructor) for the USF Aikido Club, and holds the ASU Aikido rank of yondan (4th degree black belt). He has been training in martial arts since 1980, holding rank in several styles including shodan (1st degree black belt) in Shorin-Ryu Karate and ranks in competition Kodokan Judo, Jhoon Rhee Karate, Shotokan Karate, Kendo, and Yoshinkai Aikido. He has studied Taoist Tai Chi and Lokhupbafa for over ten years under a direct student of Master Moy Lin-Shin, and has added Vinyasa Ashtanga Yoga as a strengthening and healing aspect to his studies in 2006. He has been teaching since 1996, and currently instructs both the Monday and Wednesday Aikido classes.
Hagen Sensei has a clear, second-generation lineage to O Sensei Morihei Ueshiba. He has a direct relationship with and is a personal student of O Sensei‘s principal spiritual heir. As one of O Sensei’s longest uchi deshi, Saotome Sensei for many years lived with O Sensei and his wife, prepared their meals and cared for them, and shared in all aspects of O Sensei’s personal, spiritual, and martial life. He has authored a number of books and videos, and is admired around the world for his embodiment of formless, martial power. He founded many dojos in Japan and served a senior instructor role at the Aikido Hombu dojo before coming to America and founding the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU). ASU is one of the largest Aikido organizations in North America with over 125 member dojos; there have been over 1,000 black belt members of ASU. Sensei Hagen attends several of Saotome Sensei’s seminars each year, where he is often used as one of Sensei’s demonstration ukes.
Hagen Sensei is also a personal student of John Messores Sensei. Messores Sensei is one of Saotome Sensei’s longest and highest ranking U.S. students, having been a member of the original Sarasota Aikido dojo that brought Saotome Sensei to the U.S. Sensei Messores is a recipient of the Ueshiba Juku designation, and is founder and senior instructor of the Ji On Juku Aikido Academy of Warrior Spirit in Largo, Florida. Messores Sensei is known for his focus on martial clarity and sincerity. It is through years of instruction and relation with Messores Sensei that Hagen Sensei became a student of Saotome Sensei.
