Soke Del Saito

INTERNATIONAL SHURIWAY KARATE & KOBUDO SOCIETY

SOKE DEL SAITO - SAITO-HA SHITO-RYU

Del Saito, Saito-ha Shito-ryu Soke, is one of the most highly respected karate-do instructors today. His expertise in Shito-Ryu Karate-do has made a great impact on many karate-ka throughout the world.

Saito began his martial arts training at an early age in on the North Shore of oahu, Hawaii.

Del Saito received his karate training from Soke Kenzo Mabuni (Seito Shito-ryu), Sensei Chuzo Kotaka (Kotaka-ha Shito-ryu), and Sensei Al Kahalekulu (Chito-ryu).

In 1990 and again in 2004, he was presented the AAU's Outstanding Service and Leadership Award. In addition, Del Saito Sensei serves on the AAU National Executive Committee as the National Executive Director. He is also the AAU Governor for Oregon.

Soke Del Saito

Awarded the Most Outstanding Instructor Award, Del Saito also has been honored with the Hanshi (Master Instructor) title by Kenzo Mabuni Soke. So impressed was Soke Mabuni with Del Saito’s Karate-do knowledge and organizational skills that he gave his blessing to pursue the vision of Shito-ryu independently, without the constraint of any of his personal organizations. Del Saito is the only instructor that Kenzo Mabuni Soke allowed to be independent.

And so, as Del Saito approached his 60th birthday, he felt it was time to initiate his own ha, the Saito-ha Shito-ryu Karate-do. By doing so, he is also making a commitment to endure struggles that leads to excellence. No doubt, the path ahead will be challenging, however the encouragements and support reassures him that his decision to begin his own ha is prudent.

Over forty years of teaching karate has lead to a strong traditionalist approach with an openness to new ideas and concepts for growth. Teaching karate for more than technique, he attempts to help people find themselves, to discover their creativity and their capacity for overall growth through karate-do. He believes that there is much growth in each person and sees his purpose as that of nourishing the seed so that his student's potential may be reached.

Training Experience

Kodokan judo in Hawaii, 1961 - 1962
Chitose-Ryu Karate-Do, Hawaii, 1962 - 1974
Kotaka-Ha Shito-Ryu, 1974 - 1999
Eishin-Ryu Iaijutsu, 1996 to present
Seito Shito-ryu, 1998 to present
Saito-ha Shito-ryu, launched in June 2008

Organization Affiliations

Member of the AAU National Executive Committee, 2002 - 2004
Director & Chief Examiner of Shito-Ryu, Traditional Karate-do Organization, 2000 - present
AAU Region 12 Director, 1987 to 1989; 1995 to present
AAU National Treasurer, 1989 - to 2000
AAU Secretary Treasurer, August 1998 to 2000
Oregon AAU Karate Chairman, 1989 to July 1993, July 1994 to present
Oregon AAU Martial Arts Chairman. 1992 to present
Oregon AAU Vice Chairman, 1992 - July 1993
Oregon AAU President, July 1993 to 2004
Member of the Nihon Karate-Do Kai, 2000 to present
Member of Nippon Kobudo Jikishin Kai-USA 2000 to present
National AAU Karate Executive Director, 2000 to present
Director, Del Saito's Martial Arts Training Center, 2000 to Present
Oregon District Governor, September 2004 to present
Governor's representative for Zones C & D and member of the National AAU Board of Directors, 2006 to present
Dento Karate-do Rengo Kai, launched June 2008

Community Affiliations

Past Board Member of the Grants Pass Family YMCA
Director of WAG (Wipe Away Graffiti)
Past Board Member, Crime Stoppers of Josephine County
President, Grants Pass Asian Cultural Society, 2001 to present
Member of Grants Pass Elks Lodge, 2006 to present

Awards

North Shore's 'Man of the Year' Award, 1969
National IKF Outstanding Instructor Award, 1986
National AAU Outstanding Service Award, 1990
Oregon AAU Leadership Award, 1990
AAU Rookie Newsletter Editor of the Year, 1994
Inducted into the International Karate Hall of Fame, 1994
AAU Communication Award, 1995
Inducted into the AAU Hall of Fame as 'Man of the Year', 1997
Recipient of the 'Ten-Year Service' award, 1997
Inducted into the AAU Hall of Fame as 'Instructor of the Year', 1999
President's National Leadership award, 1997
President's National Leadership award, 2004

Books

Karate-Do, The Way of Shito-Ryu, By Del Saito 1991, ISBN 0-9631274-0-3
Karate For the Modern Warrior - Coming Soon!

Courtesy of Soke Del Saito www.saitoha.com

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