Seiichi Sugano (菅野誠一 17 December 1939 – 29 August 2010) was a Japanese Aikido teacher who lived and taught in many Western countries.

Sugano’s family was of samurai lineage, with his father being a Major in the Japanese Imperial Marines during WWII.

Sugano stated that his earliest memory was of his father cleaning his sword on leave from the war.

Sugano entered the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in 1957 and by 1959 was an Uchi-deshi of Morihei Ueshiba living at the main school.

[1] At the request of Nobuyoshi Tamura, Sugano went to Europe, living and teaching in Belgium while instructing in Luxembourg, France and other European countries.

From 1988 onward Sugano's primary instruction was at New York Aikikai teaching over 200 classes a year there, despite a grueling travel schedule.

Sugano maintained regular contact with the Aikikai Hombu Dojo and also the Ueshiba family.

He traveled extensively during the year to give aikido seminars, mainly in Europe and South East Asia.

Sugano's weapons instruction focused on correct body positioning (hanmi) and paired practice, which again emphasized the necessity of timing and distance.

In 2003, Sugano suffered a below the knee amputation,[2] but he continued to teach and demonstrate aikido without any severe limitation.

[4] The Foundation [1] he established in Australia prior to his death, continues to promote Sugano's aikido legacy internationally.

Three of Sugano's students were promoted to 7th dan on his recommendation: Tony Smibert (Tasmania), Robert Botterill (Melbourne) and Hanan Janiv (Canberra).

Sugano Sensei wrote the Aikido Moral Code for students and schools that follow his teaching: