History of the Madison Dojo: The East Madison Martial Arts Katori Shinto Ryu Dojo was founded in 1989. From Japan to the United States: The Our Katori Shinto Ryu Dojo is directly associated with Sugawara Martial Arts Institute (Sugawara Budo) in Tokyo Japan. Tetsutaka Sugawara Sensei began studying Katori in 1975, receiving his Kyoshi (instructor's license) in 1986. Sugawara Sensei is also a teacher in the art of Aikido. In 1960 he began Aikido at the Hombu Dojo, Tokyo, under O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido. In 1961 he became uchideshi (in-house student) under O-Sensei at the Ibaraki Dojo. In May of 1995 he was awarded the rank of 7th Dan by Kisshomaru Ueshiba. He has also trained in Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do, receiving the instructor’s license in 1992 from Yasuichi Miyagi. The "Way" of the Gods: Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-Ryu Dojo translated from the Japanese means "The martial tradition which is the way of the gods." It is a style of Japanese swordsmanship and weapons training which was founded in 1447 by Choisai Sensei and was the first martial art designated a "national living cultural treasure" by the government of Japan. It is the oldest continuously practiced martial tradition of Japan.