Sokaku Takeda (武田惣角 Takeda Sokaku, October 10, 1859 - April 25, 1943) was known as the founder of a school of jujutsu known as Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu. October 10 is the 283rd day of the year (284th in leap years). ... 1859 (MDCCCLIX) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar). ... April 25 is the 115th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (116th in leap years). ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Daitō-ryÅ« aiki-jÅ«jutsu (大東流合気柔術), originally called Daito-ryÅ« jujutsu (大東流柔術), is a Japanese martial art that first became widely known in the early 20th century under the headmastership of Sokaku Takeda (武田 惣角 Takeda Sōkaku). ...

Born in the Aizu domain (modern-day Fukushima Prefecture), Sokaku grew up in a time of war and civil strife and was able to witness both first hand while still a young boy. The son of Takeda Sokichi, a man of samurai class who worked his farm and taught at a local school in a Buddhist temple, it is believed that Sokaku received his first martial arts training from his father who had a dojo on their property. Sokichi was apparentally expert in the use of both the sword and the spear and had once been a sumo wrestler of some rank (see ozeki). It is believed that Sokaku was exposed to the teachings of Hozoin-ryu Takada-ha and Ono-ha Itto-ryu, schools of spear and swordsmanship respectively at this time. Monument to the Byakkotai Samurai Aizu ) is a former feudal domain (Han), part of the modern-day Japanese prefecture of Fukushima, formerly a part of Mutsu province. ... Fukushima may refer to: Fukushima, Fukushima Fukushima Prefecture Fukushima, Hokkaido Fukushima, Matsumae, Hokkaido This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Japanese samurai in armour, 1860s. ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince of the Shakyas, whose lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 486 BCE. It had subsequently been accepted by... Hawaiian State Grappling Championships. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Hozoin-ryÅ« sōjutsu (寳藏院流,宝蔵院流), a school of martial arts, was founded by Hozoin Kakuzenbo Hoin ln-ei in the late Muromachi Period (c. ... Ono-ha Itto-ryÅ« is recognized as the senior line of the Itto-ryu styles of swordsmanship. ...

Sokaku then left to go on a period of austere training where he travelled, fought and trained at the schools of many teachers, a not uncommon practise of the time. Reputedly Sokaku spent some time as a live-in student of Sakakibara Kenkichi, headmaster of the Jikishinkage Ryu and considered to be one of the most famous and skilled swordsmen of the era. Unfortunately there exists no historical documents to confirm this relationship and so it is one of debate. What is however known is that Sokaku engaged in many matches and duels with both shinai and live blades and was considered a swordman of great skill in a period of time when such things were beginning to be forgotten. Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryū ), often referred to simply as Jikishinkage-ryū, is a traditional school (koryū) of the Japanese martial art of swordsmanship (kenjutsu). ... A Shinai made from Bamboo A shinai (Japanese: 竹刀) is a practice sword used primarilly in Kendo or Kumdo (Korean Kendo). ...

With the outlawing of the samurai class and the prohibition against carrying swords apparentally Sokaku decided to emphasize the empty handed jujutsu oriented techniques of his ancestors art which apparentally were referred to as 'oshiki-uchi', or secret teachings of the Aizu clan, up to that point. These along with other skills he had acquired were combined to create an art which he christened first 'Daito-ryu jujutsu' and later 'Daito-ryu aiki jujutsu'. Daitō-ryū (大東流), aiki-jūjutsu, originally called Daito ryu jujutsu, is a Japanese martial art that first became widely known in the early 20th century under the headmastership of Sokaku Takeda (武田惣角). Takeda had extensive training in several martial arts (including Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage ryu and sumo) and referred to the...

Sokaku lived a somewhat itinerant life, travelled the length and breadth of the country giving seminars in martial arts to military officers, police officers and martial arts enthusiasts, often of high social standing. He left extensive records of those he taught in the 'eimeiroku' and the 'shareikoku' which were attendance and fee ledgers of those who attended and payed for lessons from him. Included in these ledgers were admirals, generals and other famous martial artists of note.

Important students

Taking over the role of headmaster of the art was Sokaku's son, Takeda Tokimune, who established the Daitokan school in Hokkaidō to promote the art and re-christened it 'Daito-ryu Aiki Budo'. Tokimune is said to have contributed much of the teaching system which exists for the art today; naming and classifying the techniques and further simplifying the weapons component of the system. He emphasized the Ona ha Itto-ryu portion of the weapons curriculum over other elements that Sokaku taught to some advanced students. Hokkaidō   (北海道, literal meaning: North Sea Route, Ainu: Mosir), formerly known as Ezo and Yesso, is the second largest island and largest prefecture of Japan. ...

Sokaku's highest ranking students were Hisa Takuma and Tonedate Masao both security officers for the Asahi Newspaper in Osaka whose own students established the Takumakai and the Daibukan. Takuma Hisa (b. ...

Other important students of Sokaku's were Sagawa Yukiyoshi, who some believe was the most talented of his early students, Horikawa Kodo (Kotaro), whose students established the Kodokai and the Roppokai, Yoshida Kotaro, Matsuda Hosaku and Yamamoto Tomekichi.

Sokaku's far reaching influence

His most famous student was the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba and it is the popularity of this modern martial arts form that is responsible for much of the interest in Daito-ryu today. Aikido ), translated as the way of harmonious spirit, is a modern Japanese martial art (gendai budō) which was developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. ... Morihei Ueshiba 植芝盛平 (December 14, 1883 – April 26, 1969) was a famous martial artist and founder of aikido. ...

Matsuda Hosaku was taught by Sokaku, who in turn taught Okuyama Yoshiji who founded the Hakko Ryu Jujutsu school. Okuyama taught Nakano Michiomi, who later as Doshin So, founded Nippon Shorinji Kempo. Choi Yong-Sul claimed to have trained under Sokaku as well and Kisshomaru Ueshiba confirmed that his father had participated in seminars with Choi however this is hotly contested by some. Hakkoryu is a school or style of jujutsu related to Daito Ryu founded by Shodai Soke Okuyama Ryuho (1901-1987) a student of Sokaku Takeda and a practitioner of shiatsu. ... Shorinji Kempo (少林寺拳法 Shōrinji Kenpō -- note that the World Shorinji Kempo Organization prefers the Romanization kempo to kenpo) is a martial art form of Kempo that was invented by Doshin So (宗 道臣, 1911-1980) in 1947, who incorporated Japanese Zen Buddhism into the fighting style. ... Choi Yong Sul (1904 - 1986), alternative spelling Choi Yong Sool, was the founder of the martial art hapkido. ... Kisshomaru Ueshiba (植芝 吉祥丸 Ueshiba Kisshomaru) (June 27, 1921-January 4, 1999) was the third son of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido. ...

The influence of the teachings Takeda Sokaku are readily discernable in the physical techniques of aikido, Hakko Ryu, Nippon Shorinji Kempo, hapkido and judo's 'goshin-jutsu' self defense kata (via Kenji Tomiki) today. Hapkido (also spelled hap ki do or hapki-do) is a dynamic and somewhat eclectic Korean martial art. ... Judo ), meaning gentle way, is a modern Japanese martial art (gendai budō) and combat sport, that originated in Japan in the late nineteenth century. ... Kata (型 or 形) (literally: form) is a Japanese word describing detailed patterns of movements practiced either solo or in pairs. ... Kenji Tomiki (1900–1979) is a Japanese aikido teacher and the founder of aikido style Shodokan, often referred to as Tomiki Aikido. ...

External links

• Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu

• Takumakai Daito-ryu

• Daitokai Daito-ryu Aikibudo

• Daito-ryu Daibukan

• Daito-ryu Roppokai

Reference and Further Reading

Pranin, Stanley (Editor). Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu; Conversations with Daito-ryu Masters. Aiki News, Tokyo, Japan 1996.

Pranin, Stanley. The Aiki News Encyclopedia of Aikido. Aiki News, Tokyo, Japan 1991.

Kondo, Katsuyuki. Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu; Hiden Mokuroku. Aiki News, Tokyo, Japan 2000.