Shihan Hager, Hachidan (8th degree black belt), has practiced Aikido for 36 years. He studied under Roy Y. Suenaka Sensei for 18 years, who in turn studied directly under Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido. Shihan Hager is currently the highest ranking instructor in the Kishinkai (New Mind, Spirit, Heart) Style, and a Technical Advisor in Aikido for the Associated Schools of Martial Arts, which is recognized internationally for its excellence in martial arts.

Scott Hager began his study of Aikido in February 1986 under Roy Y. Suenaka Sensei. Hager Sensei has been the dojocho (Chief Instructor) of three successful dojos, and former students have opened successful dojos around North Carolina. He opened Aikido of Asheboro in 2002, one of the oldest dojos of any type in Asheboro and Central North Carolina. Hager Sensei chose to leave Wadokai Aikido in 2005 and joined other dojochos from Wadokai to form Kishinkai (New Mind, Spirit, Heart) Aikido.

Hager Sensei was previously a wrestler for many years and briefly studied Judo before starting Aikido. He continued with what Suenaka Sensei taught him: Aikido has a spiritual foundation, but O’Sensei taught that it also needs to work as a martial art. Many practitioners of Aikido seem to have forgotten that. That has meant that he and his students have studied their art and its principles and reassessed techniques based on those principles to ensure they are effective while still preserving the Founder’s goals for the art. Suenaka Sensei awarded Hager Sensei the Title Shihan (Senior Instructor) in 1997.

Roy Y. Suenaka, Sensei, began his Aikido study with his brothers and father in 1953 with Koichi Tohei’s visit to Hawaii. This was the first time Aikido had been taught in the United States and its territories and the first time it was officially taught outside of Japan. Suenaka Sensei continued his study of Aikido directly under Aikido’s founder, Morihei Ueshiba, O’Sensei, at the Aikikai Hombu in Tokyo, beginning in 1961. That same year, Suenaka Sensei received an Aikido Menkyo Kaiden (master-level proficiency) teaching certificate from O’Sensei and opened the first successful Aikido dojo in Okinawa. He was awarded the rank of Hachi-dan (8^th degree) in 1977. Suenaka Sensei retired from the military to Charleston, South Carolina, in 1972 and started a successful dojo there. Hager Sensei began studying with him there in early 1986 and later became one of Suenaka Sensei’s shihans (senior instructors). Suenaka Sensei was the founder of Wadokai Aikido. Suenaka Sensei always said that he was teaching the Aikido he was taught by O’Sensei.

Of note, Suenaka Sensei also studied privately with Matsumura Seito and Hakutsuru Shorin-ryu Karate-Do with the renowned Grandmaster Hohan Soken. He was awarded a Hachi-dan in this art. Suenaka Sensei practiced many fighting arts and earned black belts in kendo and judo/jiu-jitsu at the Kodokan, where he studied under the famed Meijin Kazuo Ito. He was also a Golden Gloves Boxing Champion.

Morehei Ueshiba O’Sensei was the founder of aikido. The title “O'Sensei '' means great teacher or founder. He also studied many arts, notably traditional sword, spear, bayonet arts, sumo, Judo, and, most influentially, Daito-ryu Aiki jiu-jitsu with Sokaku Takada Sensei. He consolidated this knowledge to develop his martial techniques. Aikido came to being after O’Sensei experienced a spiritual awakening that changed his view of martial arts and their place or purpose in the world. He declared that “The true nature of budo is in the loving protection of all things” and “that to intentionally or maliciously harm one’s attacker is to harm oneself, which is contrary to nature”. The approach was revolutionary, and Ueshiba O’Sensei refined his art to reflect those beliefs. His influence on Japanese martial arts and martial artists cannot be understated. Suenaka Sensei studied under O’Sensei with the Chief Instructor, Koichi Tohei Sensei, at the Aikikai Hombu (headquarters) in Tokyo for eight years, frequently serving as uchi deshi (live-in apprentice).

Koichi Tohei Sensei was a former highly ranked judoka who began his aikido study in 1939. He served as Morihei Ueshiba O’Sensei’s chief instructor at the Aikikai Hombu (headquarters) in Tokyo, Japan, until O’Sensei’s death in 1969. Tohei Sensei formally broke with the Aikikai in 1971 and formed the Ki no Kenkyukai (International Ki Society), teaching his Shin-Shin Toitsu-style of Aikido.

Suenaka Sensei began studying with Tohei Sensei during the latter’s historic visit to Hawaii in 1953 and continued again with Suenaka Sensei’s arrival in Tokyo in 1961. From that time, Suenaka Sensei continued his close relationship and practice with Tohei Sensei and participated in advanced studies with the Founder for the next 8 years.

Suenaka Sensei received an Okuda (advanced inner teachings) certificate from Tohei Sensei, served as a Shihan (senior instructor) for the Ki no Kenkyukai from 1971 until 1975, as well as and Southeastern U.S. director from 1972 to 1975. He resigned to form the American International Ki Development and Philosophical Society (AIKDPS)™ and developed his style of Aikido, Suenaka-Ha Tetsugaku-Ho Aikido. He later named his art Wadokai (the Peaceful Way) Aikido

Warren Suenaka Sensei was Roy Suenaka Sensei’s father, his first martial instructor, beginning when the younger Suenaka was four years old. Warren Suenaka Sensei was dan-ranked (black belt) in Aikido, Kempo, Judo, and jiu-jitsu and meticulously shepherded his elder son’s early martial education. Additionally, he studied karate, wrestling, and boxing and was an experienced street fighter.