Tetsutaka Sugawara was born in Hokkaido in 1941. In 1960, he began Aikido at the Hombu Dojo, Tokyo, under O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido. The following year, he became uchideshi under O-Sensei at the Ibaraki Dojo.

In 1964, he returned to Tokyo and entered Chuo University. By 1973, he had established Minato Research and Publishing Co. (now Sugawara Martial Arts Institute, Inc.)

In 1975, he entered the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu, receiving the 'kyoshi' instructor's license in 1986.

In April 1992, he introduced Aikido to the Shanghai Institute of Physical Education at the Beijing University of Medical Science. In November that same year, he received Kyoshi-license in Okinawan Goju-ryu Karatedo from Yasuichi Miyagi. In June the following year, he introduced Aikido to the Wuhan Institute of Physical Education at the Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medical Science.

In May 1995, he received 7th Dan in Aikido from Kisshomaru Ueshiba. He subsequently introduced Aikido to the Chengdu Institute of Physical Education in China, and has received a Lecturer's License from the Shanghai Institute of Physical Education.

The Sugawara Martial Arts Institute is located at Machida-shi, and is affiliated with the Aikikai Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. Classes in Aikido, Katori Shinto Ryu, and T'ai Chi Ch'uan are taught there by Sugawara Sensei and Xing Yan Ling.

Besides teaching martial arts, Sugawara Sensei publishes books on Japanese and Chinese martial arts, and is actively involved in researching ancient swordmaking techniques.