Katsuaki ASAI was born in Tokyo on February 18, 1942.
Small in size, he was often abused by others during his youth. It was while looking for a way to defend himself against older ones that he discovered aikido. He enrolled at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo on March 31, 1955, at the age of 13.
Motivated by practice, Katsuaki trains daily in Hombu (Kayoi Deshi). Living near the dojo, he participates in the 6.30am class then returns home to change before going to school.
Still a teenager when he met Morihei UESHIBA , Katsuaki practiced without really understanding the founder’s teachings.
After a year and a half of practice, he also participates in the evening course led by Doshu Kisshomaru UESHIBA . The young ASAI also follows other instructors of the time, notably Koichi TOHEI and Hiroshi TADA .
During his first years of practice, there were few students in Aikikai and Katsuaki trained mainly with internal students (uchi deshis) of the dojo such as Nobuyoshi TAMURA , NISHIUCHI, Masamichi NORO, Yazuo KOBAYASHI, then later Yoshimitsu YAMADA, Seichi SUGANO, Kazuo CHIBA and Mitsunari KANAI.
In parallel with his martial practice, Asai continued his studies at MEIJI University until obtaining a diploma in economics relating to business management. After graduation, he landed an office job.
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