Preserving the Legacy | Bill Witt, Hans Goto & Bernice Tom Sensei on Aikido and Saito Sensei

Preserving the Legacy – A Conversation on Aikido, Iwama & Saito Sensei A conversation with Bill Witt Sensei, Hans Goto Sensei, and Bernice Tom Sensei, three senior Aikido teachers whose journeys were deeply influenced by their training with Morihiro Saito Sensei. Recorded at Aikido By the Bay™, this conversation explores their experiences in Aikido, their memories and impressions of Saito Sensei, and the lessons they have carried forward through decades of practice and teaching. More than a discussion about technique, this interview is about transmission, how Aikido is passed from teacher to student, how understanding evolves over a lifetime of practice, and how the experiences of one generation become part of the foundation for the next. This interview has taken on particular significance following the passing of Bernice Tom Sensei (1946–2026). Her warmth, humor, dedication to Aikido, and generosity as a teacher touched generations of students. I feel fortunate that we were able to capture this conversation and preserve a little of her voice, laughter, and perspective. In memory of Bernice Tom Sensei. 1946–2026 Aikido By the Bay™ San Mateo, California Preserving the art. Honoring the teachers. Passing it forward.