HISTORY OF DAITO-RYU
AIKIJUJUTSU
Shinra Saburo Minamoto no Yoshimitsu [1045-1127] is
thought to be founder of the Daito-ryu. He lived in Daito-ryu and Daito name comes from
that. He dissected the dead bodies of soldiers to understand human bone structure. He
also learned his understanding of jujutsu from nature. He noticed that a spider making
its web could catch its prey that was bigger than the spider itself.His eldest son,
Yoshikiyo, moved to the village of Takeda in Koma and there the Daitoryu tradition was
handed down within the Takeda family for generations. Near the end of the 16th
century, Kunitsugu Takeda moved the family’s main base to the Aizu district.
Daito-ryu tradition asserts that Kunitsugu taught his family's secret techniques
to his lord Masayuki, who combined them with the principles of court etiquette that he
had learned as oshikiuchi, into a system of self-defense for use within the palace.
This amalgamation, together with the Itto-ryu Hoshina later studied, became the basis
for the martial arts training of the succeeding lords of the Aizu clan, as well as for
its highest ranking members. "The purpose of this art (Daito ryu) is not to
be killed, not to be struck, not to be kicked, and we will not strike, will not kick,
and will not kill. It is completely for self-defense. We can handle opponents
expediently, utilizing their own power, through their own aggression. So even women
and children can use it. However, it is taught only to respectable people. It's
misuse would be frightening..." -- Takeda Sokaku
SOKAKU TAKEDA (1859-1943)
Takeda Sokaku,who reorganized and firstly publicized Daito-ryu,
was born in Aizu Bangemachi in Fukushima Prefecture, on October 10, 1859, the second son of
Takeda Sokichi.As a boy, Sokaku learned kenjutsu, bojutsu, sumo, and Daito-ryu from
his father, and studied Ono-ha Itto-ryu at the Yokikan dojo under Shibuya Toba, a
former physician of the Aizu Han. In 1873, Sokaku traveled with his father to
the dojo of his father's friend, swordsman Sakakibara Kenkichi. There he stayed
on as a live-in student (uchi-deshi) and immersed himself in studying the
Jikishinkage-ryu. At the Sakakibara dojo Sokaku had opportunities to meet and train
with many of the top swordsmen of the day, many of whom had formerly been members of
the Tokugawa shogunate's Kobusho, the exclusive martial arts school for
government retainers. He studied diligently, and eventually mastered many different
skills and weapons including sword (ken), staff (bo), half-bow (hankyu), short-staff
(jo), and throwing darts (shuriken). Later he also received a license (inka) in
the spear arts of the Hozoin-ryu. Sokaku traveled around visiting dojos throughout
Japan, testing and polishing his martial skills wherever he went. He also deepened his
spiritual connections through constant visits for prayer, devotions, and ascetic
training to sacred places such as Udomyojin in Kyushu, Mt. Futara in Nikko, and Mt. Haguro
in Dewa Province (now Akita and Yamagata prefectures). His sword skills were
unparalleled and he was feared as Aizu no Kotengu, "the Little Goblin of
Aizu" (a tengu is a type of long-nosed demon; they are renowned for their
martial arts skills). In about 1875, rumor reached Sokaku that Saigo Takamori had
launched his rebellion in Satsuma against the forces of the new Meiji government. He
decided immediately that he would go to lend his support. He made it as far as
Kyushu but was unable to reach his destination, so he returned to Osaka where he spent the
next ten years as a guest in the Kyoshin Meichi-ryu dojo of swordsman Momonoi
Shunzo. Sokaku learned Daito-ryu from his father Sokichi, but it was from Saigo
Tanomo, former Chief Councilor of the Aizu domain, that he learned oshikiiuchi.
After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Saigo Tanomo had become a Shinto priest and
taken the name Hoshina Chikanori. In 1875 Sokaku visited him at Tsutsukowake Shrine
in Fukushima to study for entrance to the priesthood, and while he was there
received instruction in the arts of oshikiiuchi from Chikanori. Although Sokaku
decided not to become a priest, he visited his mentor many times after that, and
under Chikanori's instruction is said to have perfected seemingly miraculous
skills of understanding another's mind and thought, and to have grasped the true
depths of oshikiiuchi. On May 12, 1898 Chikanori presented him with a single poem,
inscribing it in Sokaku's enrollment book. One interpretation of Chikanori's
words is that he is likening the flow of a river to the flow of time. With the
beginning of the Meiji period, the age of the sword had ended, and no matter how
skilled a swordsman might be, he can no longer make any mark and will amount to
nothing. Therefore, it is time to pursue and make your way with jujutsu. With
this, the formal succession of Daito-ryu aiki jujutsu was assured. From that time on
Sokaku identified himself as a practitioner of both Daito-ryu aiki jujutsu and
Ono-ha Itto-ryu. He traveled around Japan teaching both arts and came to be recognized as
the reviver (chuko no so) of the Daito-ryu. Sokaku was not a large man--he
stood no more than 150 centimeters tall (4'11") --but his eyes were
piercing and his techniques were of an almost supernatural level. He is said to have
been able to sense a person's past, present, and future even before being
introduced. Among his more well-known students were Saigo Tsugumichi, Hokushin
Itto-ryu swordsman Shimoe Hidetaro, and aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba , as well as
army and navy officers, judges, police, martial artists, and other prominent
individuals. He is said to have taught as many as thirty thousand people during his
life, the signatures and seals of whom are all entered in enrollment books that are
preserved to this day. In his later years Sokaku focused his activities in
Hokkaido. He died on April 25, 1943 at the age of eighty-three while teaching in
Aomori Prefecture. Despite no official records nor anyone who can verify, it is claimed
that Choi Yong Sul, the founder of Hapkido studied Daito-ryu aiki jujutsu from
Sokaku Takeda. The only form of verificity is the seemingly similar of techniques
of Choi. As such, it is accpeted by practitioners of the Korean martial art of
Hapkido that their art was given birth to from the teachings of Sokaku
Takeda.
TAKEDA
TOKIMUNE(1916-1993)
Following Sokaku's
death in Aomori Prefecture in 1943, his third son Takeda Tokimune succeeded him as head
of the Takeda family and headmaster (soke) of the Daito-ryu. Tokimune was
born on October 7, 1916 in Shimoyubetsu in Hokkaido. As a boy, his father trained him
strictly in swordsmanship and Daito-ryu aiki jujutsu. He often accompanied Sokaku on his
travels and acted on his behalf as kyoju dairi (assistant instructor).
Following the Second World War he joined the police force as a detective, and after his
retirement took a position as a director with a large company called Yamada Fisheries.
In 1954 he established the Daitokan dojo in the city of Abashiri on the northern coast
of Hokkaido. He retired from Yamada Fisheries in 1976 to devote himself to traveling
around Japan teaching Daito-ryu and working to disseminate the tradition.Previous to
this time, Daito-ryu had been for the most part an exclusive art taught only to
prominent individuals such as descendants of the samurai class, military officers, and
teachers. Tokimune, however, began working toward sharing the art with a wider audience
by conducting what he called "Soke Seminars" in various places around Japan.
As a result of these seminars, the previously hidden techniques of Daito-ryu were
revealed to the public as Daito-ryu aiki budo. On February 7, 1981 Tokimune presented
Daito-ryu at a major public demonstration of classical martial arts that was broadcast
on Japanese national television. This demonstration included tachiai rokunin
zume (pinning six opponents attempting to hold him from a standing position) and
newaza kyunin nage (throwing nine opponents attempting to pin him on his back to
the ground); thus, the techniques of Daito-ryu and his own skill in executing them
immediately gained the attention of the Japanese budo world.These exhibitions not only
demonstrated the high quality of Daito-ryu as a body of unique martial technique, but
also suggested the art's importance as a Japanese cultural asset.In May 1988,
Tokimune awarded the menkyo kaiden (license of full transmission) and soke
dairi (official representative of the headmaster) to Kondo Katsuyuki, head of the
Shimbukan dojo in Tokyo, which oversees Daito-ryu branch dojos. In September of the same
year he also made Kondo Director of Overseas Dojos.
YUKIYOSHI SAGAWA
(1902-1998)
He was born in Uebetsu,
Hokkaido in 1902, and began studying Daito Ryu Jujutsu with Sokaku Takeda in 1914 after
receiving instruction from his own father, Nenokichi Sagawa. Sagawa received the
Kyoju-Dairi(teaching certification) from Sokaku Takeda on August 24th, 1932, in Sapporo,
Hokkaido. He also traveled with Sokaku Takeda often, acting as a demonstrator and later
as an assistant instructor. Sagawa was considered as the headmaster of Daito Ryu while
Tokimune Takeda was absent during his service in the army. However, since Tokimune
returned safely, Sagawa went on to teach independently, in his small private dojo in
Kodaira, a suburb of Tokyo.
Yukiyoshi Sagawa had with him a treasure of
experience from Sokaku Takeda. His techniques may not have been identical to those of
actual main-stream Daito ryu, because Sokaku Takeda did not teach always in the same
way, but his Daito ryu was nevertheless of great value. Respected and remembered, in
spite of his very low profile and humble ways, Yukiyoshi Sagawa was one of the last
great teachers of the ko dai(old ways), and deserves a place of honor in the history of
Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu.
HORIKAWA KODO
(1894-1980)
Takeda Sogaku
taught Horikawa Kodo over a period of many years, and Kodo founded, after Sogaku's
death, Daitoryu Aikijujutsu Kodokai, continuing the traditional techniques and spreading
the knowing of Daitoryu.
Horikawa Kodo received Hiden Mokuroku,
Hiden Okugi Mokuroku, Hiden Aiki Okugi Mokuroku and Daitoryu no Menkyo Kaiden. He
received in 1974 Eisei Meijin the highest sign of honor in budo from eight persons. One
of them was Ishida Kazusoto, at that time president of the Japanese Supreme
Court.
HISA
TAKUMA(1895-1980)
Hisa Takuma was born in Sakihama village, Aki district,
Kochi Prefecture, on November 3,1897. In 1916, he entered Kobe Kosho University, now
Kobe University, to study business and commerce. While at University he helped to
establish the student sumo club, in which he played an active role as captain. He was
later awarded an honorary student sumo 8th dan ranking in 1965. After graduating from
Kobe University, he worked at a store called Suzuki store which eventually went bankrupt
leaving him jobless. Soon after that, he joined the Asahi Newspaper Company on the
invitation of one of its executives, Ishii Mitsujiro, one of Hisa's former seniors
for Kobe University.
In the 1930's there were some instances of terrorist
attacks on the Asahi Newspaper Co. So they had to find a way to defend their newspaper.
In 1934, Hisa, who at the time held a position of importance as Chief of General Affairs
at Osaka Asahi Newspaper Co., received an introduction to Ueshiba Morihei through
Ishii Mitsujiro, who consequently invited Ueshiba to teach in Osaka. Hisa studied Daito-ryu
Aiki Jujutsu until he left the Asahi Newspaper. During that time, Ueshiba's style
did not have a formal name, but because he was teaching at the Asahi Newspaper Co., he
called it Asahi-ryu Jujutsu. The techniques were, nevertheless, from the Daito-ryu
curriculum.
One day in 1936 an old man came to the Asahi Newspaper
building and introduced himself to Hisa. He was reported to have said, "I am
Ueshiba's teacher, but I haven't taught him enough; so study under me."
After this, Ueshiba took his pupils and left Osaka without meeting the old man. This old
man was Takeda Sokaku. From then on Hisa received personal instruction from Sokaku as
he continued training in Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu. On March 26, 1939, Sokaku awarded Hisa
with a Menkyo Kaiden (Certificate of Full Proficiency) for his outstanding ability, and
told him to pass on Daito-ryu to coming generations.
Takeda Sokaku taught Hisa a
lot of techniques, but he taught each technique only once. If Hisa asked a question
about the techniques, Sokaku became angry. Later, Hisa came up with a good idea. After
practice, he took Sokaku to the bath. While he washed Sokaku's back, the others took
photos of the techniques they just practiced. At last Hisa was able to compile a book of
techniques he learned from Sokaku and Ueshiba which he divided Ten, Chi, and Jin. He
preserved these as Soden waza, a general list of techniques. He also orchestrated the
creation of such works as Kannagara no Budo, Joshi Goshinjutsu (Self defense for Women)
and Ohgi Hiden (The Secrets of Grappling Techniques), as well as a film on Ueshiba
entitled Ueshiba no Shidofukei (Ueshiba's Instructional Techniques) which was
directed by Hisa.
After leaving the Osaka Asahi Newspaper Co. in 1943, Hisa worked
as a public welfare director for Kobe Steel. Later he returned to his home town to
become head of the fisherman's cooperative. He finally worked as secretary general
of the National Policy Research Society. At the retirement party given in
recognition of his services, he received encouragement from Ishii Mitsujiro, who said
" Pass on Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu to future generations, as only you can do
it." After receiving financial support from the Kansai business community the
established the Kansai Aikido Club on October 10, 1959. However, while teaching during
the fall of 1961 he suffered s stroke and collapsed. The prospects for his recovery were
unencouranging, but with incredible determination and strong will, Hisa overcame his
sickness and resumed teaching. Even after he lost his wife in February of 1965 he
continued, living at the dojo and instructing with a devotion that produced many
outstanding students. In the end, persuaded by his family to look after his health, Hisa
closed the Kansai Aikodo Club in 1968 and moved to Tokyo.
In
accordance with the general will of his most devout students, the Takumakai was formed,
and Mori Hakaru was appointed as acting director by Hisa. Having entrusted the
responsibilities of the Takumakai to Mori Hakaru, Hisa passed away in Kobe at the age of
84, on October 31, 1980. His students are actively striving to carry on the vision and
wishes of Hisa Takuma's martial legacy.
MOREHEI UESHIBA (1883
– 1969)
Takeda Sokaku produced several
outstanding martial artists during his life, among the best being Ueshiba Morihei,
founder of modern day Aikido. Morihei Ueshiba (O-Sensei) trained and taught
Daito ryu Aikijujutsu diligently during the years before WWII (pre-war period), while
at the same time developing his Aikido style. After the war, O-Sensei resumed teaching
Aikido in Iwama, which he continously modified and refined until the time of his death
in 1969. Morihiro SAITO, one of Ueshiba's most recognized students, studied
seriously for 23 years until O-Sensei's death, being the only student who stayed
that long with O-Sensei during founder's prime at his experience when O-Sensei
organized the empty-handed and weapon's techniques of his aikido; Iwama-ryu takemusu
aikido.
REFERENCES
http://inside.webhs.org/figures.html
http://www.daitoryu-roppokai.org/history
.htm
http://www.geocities.com/aikiju-ji
tsu/History.html
http://www.daito-ryu.org/takedato.html
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~DE6S-UMI/t
km04.htm
http://www.iwama-ryu-tr.org/eng/aikido.ht
ml
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