Sokaku Takeda
One of the most feared bujutsuka of the 20th century . Also known as the " little demon of Aizu " , Sokaku Takeda was born on October 10 1859 at the Takeda Mansion which resided at Oike , Aizu Bange - Cho ( present day Fukushima ) .Takeda Sokaku was one in a handful to have survived and witnessed the Meiji Restortation . He was the second son of Sokichi Takeda, a samurai of the Takeda clan who worked his farm and taught at a local school in a Buddhist temple. His mother, Tomi Kurokochi was a daughter of Dengoro Kurokochi, a Yari and Kenjutsu master.
Saigo Tanomo was an Aikijujutsu and Kenjutsu student under Takeda Soemon (1758 - 1853). Saigo had studied for years with the Takeda schools and was a famous warrior even though he was defeated by the Choshu and Satsuma clans. Because of this loss, however, the family of Saigo Tanomo, 21 in all, committed suicide thinking that Tanomo had been killed. Unknown to his family, Saigo Tanomo survived the battle of Shirakawaguchi! Now that his family was gone, Tanomo returned to Aizu and became a teacher of Mizoguchi Ha Itto-Ryu and Koshu-Ryu Gungaku kenjutsu. In 1876 Tanomo received a new student into his tradition named Takeda Sokaku
By the time he was 16 he had studied Jikishinkage-Ryu kenjutsu from Sakakibara Kenkichi and received his Menkyo Kaiden in Ono Ha Itto-Ryu from Toma Shibuya of Tokyo. For 3 years Sokaku studied Daito-Ryu with Tanomo Saigo and mastered many arts such as Aikijujutsu, Battojutsu, Yarijutsu and Kenjutsu. Finally in 1880 at the Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Tanomo passed on all his knowledge including the secret teachings to Sokaku. From that day forward, Sokaku would be headmaster of Daito-Ryu.
Sokaku Takeda had a reputation for being a fierce fighter . He had killed many men during his time . On 1876 when he was returning home from the funeral of his brother , he was ambushed by several men . He killed one of them and severely injured the other two . Also on another occasion , he visited Okinawa , defeating a Karate master . For almost 20 years Sokaku Takeda wandered from dojo to dojo, challenging every known martial arts master, and he was never defeated. He took time in his travels to instruct others, often staying with the student for a period of time before moving on. He intelligently concentrated on government officials and military leaders as well as local police departments for his student body. In this manner his reputation spread quickly.
After the dissolution of the samurai in the late 1800's contact with the Americans became more frequent for the Japanese. Not only was this the American's first contact with the Japanese culture, but also with the Japanese martial arts. Sokaku, in one single event sparked wonder in the minds of Americans about the martial arts of Japan. In 1904 a fateful meeting between American teacher Charles Parry and Takeda Sokaku occurred on a train in Japan. An argument ensued between the two about seating in the first class section of the train, and inevitably Sokaku found it necessary to restrain the large foreigner. Amazed at how helpless he was against a 4'11" man, Parry reported to his superiors in the U.S. of the great power of Aikijujutsu. President Roosevelt sent for an Aikijujutsu instructor to come to the U.S. and put on a formal demonstration of the art. Takeda sent Police Officer Shinzo Harade between 1904 and 1910, who immediately gained great renown and many students including Charles Parry. He involved himself in the instruction of Police forces and in exhibitions for dignitaries and public officials.
Later in life , he went all over Japan teaching the art , Daito Ryu Aikibujutsu . He had taught over 30 000 students .His teachings have influenced many of his students . Most notably , Morihei Ueshiba , whom he trained for a long time. His influence can be observed in modern Aikido . No doubt that his teachings has also far influenced arts like Brazilian Jiujitsu , Judo and Hapkido .
Despite being old and frail in his later years , he was very much feared and unmatched . His eyes were said to be piercing . He had the ability to read people's minds . He spent his last few years in Hokkaido and passed away on April 25 1943 .
Saigo Tanomo was an Aikijujutsu and Kenjutsu student under Takeda Soemon (1758 - 1853). Saigo had studied for years with the Takeda schools and was a famous warrior even though he was defeated by the Choshu and Satsuma clans. Because of this loss, however, the family of Saigo Tanomo, 21 in all, committed suicide thinking that Tanomo had been killed. Unknown to his family, Saigo Tanomo survived the battle of Shirakawaguchi! Now that his family was gone, Tanomo returned to Aizu and became a teacher of Mizoguchi Ha Itto-Ryu and Koshu-Ryu Gungaku kenjutsu. In 1876 Tanomo received a new student into his tradition named Takeda Sokaku
By the time he was 16 he had studied Jikishinkage-Ryu kenjutsu from Sakakibara Kenkichi and received his Menkyo Kaiden in Ono Ha Itto-Ryu from Toma Shibuya of Tokyo. For 3 years Sokaku studied Daito-Ryu with Tanomo Saigo and mastered many arts such as Aikijujutsu, Battojutsu, Yarijutsu and Kenjutsu. Finally in 1880 at the Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Tanomo passed on all his knowledge including the secret teachings to Sokaku. From that day forward, Sokaku would be headmaster of Daito-Ryu.
Sokaku Takeda had a reputation for being a fierce fighter . He had killed many men during his time . On 1876 when he was returning home from the funeral of his brother , he was ambushed by several men . He killed one of them and severely injured the other two . Also on another occasion , he visited Okinawa , defeating a Karate master . For almost 20 years Sokaku Takeda wandered from dojo to dojo, challenging every known martial arts master, and he was never defeated. He took time in his travels to instruct others, often staying with the student for a period of time before moving on. He intelligently concentrated on government officials and military leaders as well as local police departments for his student body. In this manner his reputation spread quickly.
After the dissolution of the samurai in the late 1800's contact with the Americans became more frequent for the Japanese. Not only was this the American's first contact with the Japanese culture, but also with the Japanese martial arts. Sokaku, in one single event sparked wonder in the minds of Americans about the martial arts of Japan. In 1904 a fateful meeting between American teacher Charles Parry and Takeda Sokaku occurred on a train in Japan. An argument ensued between the two about seating in the first class section of the train, and inevitably Sokaku found it necessary to restrain the large foreigner. Amazed at how helpless he was against a 4'11" man, Parry reported to his superiors in the U.S. of the great power of Aikijujutsu. President Roosevelt sent for an Aikijujutsu instructor to come to the U.S. and put on a formal demonstration of the art. Takeda sent Police Officer Shinzo Harade between 1904 and 1910, who immediately gained great renown and many students including Charles Parry. He involved himself in the instruction of Police forces and in exhibitions for dignitaries and public officials.
Later in life , he went all over Japan teaching the art , Daito Ryu Aikibujutsu . He had taught over 30 000 students .His teachings have influenced many of his students . Most notably , Morihei Ueshiba , whom he trained for a long time. His influence can be observed in modern Aikido . No doubt that his teachings has also far influenced arts like Brazilian Jiujitsu , Judo and Hapkido .
Despite being old and frail in his later years , he was very much feared and unmatched . His eyes were said to be piercing . He had the ability to read people's minds . He spent his last few years in Hokkaido and passed away on April 25 1943 .
The Gravesite of Sokaku Takeda
Stories
On July 6, 1904, Sokaku Takeda entered wild Hakodate City in Hokkaido at the request of the municipal court. Sokaku stayed at the home of Kishiro Yokoyama, a notary public in Hakodate. Public prosecutors Shigemori Fujita, Hachiro Hasegawa and Bansho Kimura were teaching (Daito-ryu) to employees of the court and policemen in Hakodate at that time.
About ten days after his arrival in Hokkaido, he went to a public bath in the town since he liked taking morning baths. Three gambler types were in the bath and were talking and laughing with each other as they pointed at Sokaku. Sokaku knew by intuition that they could provoke him into a quarrel, so he watched them carefully. They somehow found out who the man was who was newly-appointed as the court guardsman. They found Sokaku to be a small man, less than 5 feet tall (151.5 cm) and weighing only about 115 pounds (52.5 kg). They were waiting for an unguarded moment of Sokaku who was quite unarmed wondering how such a small man like him could possibly be a bodyguard. Sokaku exited the public bath house and walked for a while. However, five or six gamblers came to attack him all at once. He struck their faces with his wet towel. Striking an opponent with a wet towel using the “kokyu” method of Aiki was as powerful as hitting one with a young bamboo stick and they were scattered one after another. Since the ruffians were used to fighting, they persistently attacked Sokaku swishing their knives with their hands. But Sokaku dealt with them severely and broke arms and ribs and the group finally beat a hasty retreat.
Sokaku went back to Mr. Yokoyama’s house who explained that the “Mo” band had thousands of violent members and that he was sure that they would come back to exact revenge. Thinking he didn’t want to trouble his host, Sokaku moved to the second floor of an inn nearby and began to polish his cherished sword while waiting for nightfall.....
Another story recounted by his son ,
When these men came to visit Sokaku they found a small, thin old man bent with age with no teeth and clad in long drawers. They were shocked by his appearance and doubted that he was really the famous martial artist. They exchanged disappointed glances because of the trouble they had taken to visit this little old man.
Noting their dismay, Sokaku changed into his street clothes. He then arranged the floor cushions for the visitors in order starting from the seat of honor to the lowest position. Next, he pointed to each person one after the other beginning with the highest ranking member of the newspaper company and had them take their appropriate seats. After this, Sokaku exchanged name cards with each person again according to their rank.
All of the Asahi people were very surprised that Sokaku could tell their rank at the first meeting. Their disappointment was replaced by concern that he might have read their minds when they had made light of him. I was told that the men were afraid to the point they felt like running away from Sokaku.
When I arrived in Osaka in August, my father commented on the incident in the following words: “Since they made light of me because I’m a small man, I put them in order according to rank using aiki.” I asked the Asahi employees about this and found out what had happened. It was then that I understood what he meant by “putting them in order using aiki”.
After instructing at Mr. Nagatani’s residence, my father and I taught enthusiastic members of the Osaka Asahi Newspaper office at the annex dojo of the company. Sokaku’s way of training was very severe and the students were afraid of him. For that reason, Mr. Takuma Hisa (8th dan in Sumo and 5th dan in judo) mainly took falls for Sokaku.
On July 6, 1904, Sokaku Takeda entered wild Hakodate City in Hokkaido at the request of the municipal court. Sokaku stayed at the home of Kishiro Yokoyama, a notary public in Hakodate. Public prosecutors Shigemori Fujita, Hachiro Hasegawa and Bansho Kimura were teaching (Daito-ryu) to employees of the court and policemen in Hakodate at that time.
About ten days after his arrival in Hokkaido, he went to a public bath in the town since he liked taking morning baths. Three gambler types were in the bath and were talking and laughing with each other as they pointed at Sokaku. Sokaku knew by intuition that they could provoke him into a quarrel, so he watched them carefully. They somehow found out who the man was who was newly-appointed as the court guardsman. They found Sokaku to be a small man, less than 5 feet tall (151.5 cm) and weighing only about 115 pounds (52.5 kg). They were waiting for an unguarded moment of Sokaku who was quite unarmed wondering how such a small man like him could possibly be a bodyguard. Sokaku exited the public bath house and walked for a while. However, five or six gamblers came to attack him all at once. He struck their faces with his wet towel. Striking an opponent with a wet towel using the “kokyu” method of Aiki was as powerful as hitting one with a young bamboo stick and they were scattered one after another. Since the ruffians were used to fighting, they persistently attacked Sokaku swishing their knives with their hands. But Sokaku dealt with them severely and broke arms and ribs and the group finally beat a hasty retreat.
Sokaku went back to Mr. Yokoyama’s house who explained that the “Mo” band had thousands of violent members and that he was sure that they would come back to exact revenge. Thinking he didn’t want to trouble his host, Sokaku moved to the second floor of an inn nearby and began to polish his cherished sword while waiting for nightfall.....
Another story recounted by his son ,
When these men came to visit Sokaku they found a small, thin old man bent with age with no teeth and clad in long drawers. They were shocked by his appearance and doubted that he was really the famous martial artist. They exchanged disappointed glances because of the trouble they had taken to visit this little old man.
Noting their dismay, Sokaku changed into his street clothes. He then arranged the floor cushions for the visitors in order starting from the seat of honor to the lowest position. Next, he pointed to each person one after the other beginning with the highest ranking member of the newspaper company and had them take their appropriate seats. After this, Sokaku exchanged name cards with each person again according to their rank.
All of the Asahi people were very surprised that Sokaku could tell their rank at the first meeting. Their disappointment was replaced by concern that he might have read their minds when they had made light of him. I was told that the men were afraid to the point they felt like running away from Sokaku.
When I arrived in Osaka in August, my father commented on the incident in the following words: “Since they made light of me because I’m a small man, I put them in order according to rank using aiki.” I asked the Asahi employees about this and found out what had happened. It was then that I understood what he meant by “putting them in order using aiki”.
After instructing at Mr. Nagatani’s residence, my father and I taught enthusiastic members of the Osaka Asahi Newspaper office at the annex dojo of the company. Sokaku’s way of training was very severe and the students were afraid of him. For that reason, Mr. Takuma Hisa (8th dan in Sumo and 5th dan in judo) mainly took falls for Sokaku.