Obata Toshishiro (1948 - present)

height=5' 8"; weight=185 lbs

1948 Born October 20th in Gunma-ken, eldest of the two sons born of Kanekichi and Tama Obata. Toshishiro's father, Kanekichi, was a descendant of Obata Masamori (one of the top 24 Takeda strategists) and proficient at the art of jukenjutsu (bayonet). Kanekichi introduced martial arts to his son at an early age.

1966 (age 18) Was accepted as an uchi-deshi (live in disciple) under Shioda Gozo, founder of Aikido Yoshinkai, after viewing a demonstration by honbu shihan. This event began his professional career as a martial artist and instructor. Remained an uchi-deshi at the honbu for seven years. During this time, Yagyu Nobuharu, 21st headmaster of Yagyu Shinkage ryu, was borrowing the Yoshinkan dojo to instruct, and Obata was one of the few uchi-deshi free to train in Yagyu sensei's classes.

1973 (age 25) Hayashi Kunishiro sensei of the Tokyo Wakakoma invited Obata to join in them in the capacity of Budo Shihan. Conducted martial art instruction for stuntmen and actors, as well as working as a fight choreographer and actor. As part of the continued training of Wakakoma members, instruction was given in samurai etiquette, horsemanship, armored methods, sojutsu, kyubajutsu. Cross training in various other budo was encouraged, so Obata also trained in Nakamura ryu and Toyama ryu under Nakamura Taizaburo sensei, Ioriken battojutsu under Uchida Tetshinsai sensei, Kashima shin ryu under Tanaka Shigeho sensei, Ryukyu Kobudo under Inoue Motokatsu sensei, and various other arts under Nawa Yumio sensei.

1980 (age 32) Moved to America and created the Bugekikai USA branch of aikido. Also was charged by Nakamura Taizaburo to assume reponsibilities in America as the Chief Instructor of USA Battodo, Toyama ryu, and Nakamura ryu (swordsmanship traditions).

1986 (age 38) Wrote the book "Naked Blade - A Manual of Samurai Swordsmanship".

1987 (age 39) Wrote the books "Kama - Weapon Art of Okinawa" and "Crimson Steel - The Sword Technique of the Samurai".

1988 (age 40) Wrote the book "Samurai Aikijutsu - Techniques of the Samurai Swordsmen".

1990 (age 42) ?

1994 (age 46) Achieved a record breaking cut during an authentic kabutowari testing (helmet splitting using a sword). Also completed translation and published the important historical work "Heiho Okugisho - The Secret of High Strategy", by Yamamoto Kansuke.

1996 (age 48) Established and spearheaded the Aikibujutsu Tanren Kenkyukai (aiki based martial techniques practical research organization) in order to expand and better organize the previous Yoshinkan and Bugekikai teachings, as well as his own innovations.

1998 (age 50) Organized demonstrations and training seminars in Japan. Brought 14 instructors with to assist in introducing shinkendo to Japanese government officials, professors, and other interested parties.

1999 (age 51) Wrote first book on Shinkendo, called "Shinkendo - Japanese Swordsmanship".

2001 (age 53) Established and spearheaded the Kokusai Toyama Ryu Renmei (KTRR) in response to the growing number of students ranked in Toyama ryu internationally.

2003 (age 55) Obata Tama passed away (January), as well as Nakamura Taizaburo, one of Obata's main teachers (May 13th).

Shioda Gozo (1915 - 1994)

height=4' 11"; weight=108 lbs

1915 Born in Tokyo on September 9th, the second son. Martial arts experience began in elementary school where he trained in kendo, and later in Junior High school, at which time he studied Judo and became quite adept.

1932 (age 17) Already a sandan in Judo, requested and was accepted as a student of Ueshiba Morihei in May 23rd, and studied directly under Morihei for the next eight years. Later received the Hiden Mokuroku in Daito ryu aikijujutsu (lost after WWII).

1941 (age 26/27) Graduated Takushoku University. Acted as uke for Morihei during a fourty minute demonstration for the Emperor. Japan became involved with America in WWII. Broke from training to visit China, Taiwan, Southern Borneo and the Celebes Islands as the private secretary for General Hata Shunroku.

1946 (age 31/32) Returned to Japan in May following the conclusion of WWII. Moved to Iwama in September to continue training (for a short time) and pursue farming at what Morihei was calling the "aiki-en" (aiki farm).

1950 (age 35/36) Hired to assist with security for a few months at the Nihon Kokan Steel Company.

1952 (age 37/38) Asked to return to the Nihon Kokan Steel Company to teach aikido. Also visited 83 police departments, demonstrating at each of them and establishing a name of himself within the law enforcement community.

1954 (age 39/40) Performed an aikido demonstration in Tokyo at the Life Extension Society Martial Arts Exhibition and received the prize for "outstanding demonstration" over the other performers, including Tohei Koichi, who demonstrated in place of Morihei. Within a year, interested investors asked Gozo to found a training hall to teach aikido.

1955 (age 40/41) Opened the "Yoshinkan" ("hall for cultivating the mind & spirit") honbu June 10th in Tsukudo Hachiman, Tokyo. The dojo was hyaku-jo (100 tatami mats) in size, and the name of the facility was chosen after the his father's dojo of the same name.

1956 (age 41/42) Demonstration held in June for the American, English and German embassies.

1957 (age 42/43) The first twelve members of the Tokyo Police Kidotai (riot control unit) began intensive training.

1960 (age 45/46) Moved the Yoshinkan honbu to Yoyogi, Tokyo. The dojo would again move to a two story facility in Koganei, Tokyo, to accomodate increased membership.

1962 (age 47/48) Robert Kennedy visits the Yoshinkan. One of his body guards challenges Gozo and was immediately incapacitated. Popularity of Yoshinkan aikido jumped as a result of this visit and the media coverage that followed.

1964 (age 49/50) The Tokyo Police Kidotai arranges an annual program (senshusei course) in which ten candidates go through intensive training at the Yoshinkan.

1966 (age 51/52) Obata Toshishiro (age 18) was accepted as an uchi-deshi (live in disciple) after viewing a demonstration by honbu shihan.

1968 (age 53/54) Wrote the book "Dynamic Aikido".

1983 (age 68/69) Wrote the book "Aikido Gijutsu Kyohon" (later traslated to English and published as "Yoshinkan Aikido - an introduction to basic technique").

1984 (age 69/70) Opened a Yoshinkan dojo in Shinjuku, Tokyo (present location) June 10th.

1985 (age 70/71) Wrote the autobiography "Aikido Jinsei".

1989 (age 74/75) Moved the honbu officially from the Koganei location to the Shinjuku location, consisting of a 155 tatami mat training area on the third floor of the "Takayama" building.

1990 (age 75/76) Founded the "International Yoshinkai Aikido Federation" (IYAF) January 1st. Famed American boxer Mike Tyson visits the Yoshinkan and watches a demonstration.

1993 (age 78/79) Travelled to America to conduct seminars.

1994 (age 79) Passed away July 17th. His son, Shioda Tetsudaro (eldest son) succeeds Gozo as Aikido Yoshinkai Soke (a title Gozo assumed a few years prior to his death).

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Ueshiba Morihei (1883-1969)

height=5' 2"; weight=180 lbs

1883 Born December 14th (prematurely) in Tanabe, a castle town south of Osaka.

1890 (age 7/8) Studied Shingon Buddhism at Jizo temple under Fujimoto Mitsujo.

1901 (age 18/19) Studied Tenshin shin'yo ryu jujutsu under Tozawa Tokusaburo in Tokyo for less than a year, before falling ill with Beriberi and had to return to Tanabe.

1903-1906 (age 20/21-24/25) Marries Itogawa Hatsu. Enlisted in the 61st Army Infantry Regiment of Wakayama, and served in the Russo-Japanese war (1905). Morihei is believed to have studied part time in Goto-ha Yagyu shingan ryu jujutsu from Nakai Masakatsu (Sakai, Osaka) on days off from Military duty. While Enlisted, Morihei also became very adept at Jukenjusu (bayonet techniques).

1908 (age 26/27) Received the Shoden Menkyo (intermediate level) inka in Goto-ha Yagyu shingan ryu in July, though there is some controversey over the lack of official stamps (hanko) on the inka. Ueshiba Kisshomaru claimed that Nakai was not authorized to issue densho, and as such the densho was issued by him through Masanosuke Tsuboi (a senior instructor).

1911 (age 28/29) Possible brief study of judo under Kiyoichi Takagi in Tanabe.

1912 (age 29/30) Moved to Yubetsu (now Shirataki) in March, leading 54 families from Tanabe Hokkaido to take part in the cultivation and land clearing project in the Northern island of Japan.

1915 (age 32/33) Met Takeda Sokaku (at age 55) of Daito ryu at the Hisata Inn, Engaru Hokkaido, and began training as an uchi-deshi off and on for about a year (less than 100 days total. Upon meeting Takeda, Morihei stayed at the Inn and trained for 40 days, from February 24th to April 4th). In the next year, Morihei's name was entered eight times in Sokaku's enrollement book.

1916 (age 33/34) Was issued densho in February and March, as well as the "Hiden Mokuroku" in Daito ryu in May by Takeda Sokaku. Morihei decides to become a Jujutsu instructor.

1919 (age 37/38) Late spring received news that his father was in poor health, and took leave of Takeda sensei to return to Tanabe on the main island of Honshu. Diverted to Ayabe (near Kyoto) on the way back and stayed with Onisaburo sensei of the Omoto-kyo. Opened his first training hall.

1920 (age 38/39) Father Yoroku dies before Morihei reaches Tanabe. Returns to Ayabe and becomes more involved in the Omoto-kyo.

1922 (age 39/40) Mother Yuki dies. Takeda sensei (and his wife and three kids) came to stay with him for six more months. Was issued the "Kyoju Dairi" (license to teach in the absense of the headmaster) in Daito ryu and densho in "Shinkage ryu Heiho" in September by Takeda Sokaku. It is believed that his art began to drift away from the standard of Daito ryu around this time.

1924 (age 41/42) Left with Onisaburo in February on a quest to Mongolia to form a utopian society. Returned to Japan in July of that year after narrowly escaping a firing squad.

1925 (age 42/43) Received his infamous "divine enlightenment" that transformed his life and aikido drastically. Gave special demonstration in Tokyo.

1927 (age 44/45) Left Ayabe early in the year to move to Tokyo. Also took trips to Osaka and Kyushu on instructional tours.

1930 (age 47/48) Judo founder Kano Jigoro visits Ueshiba dojo. Sends several of his students to cross train with Ueshiba, including Mochizuki Minoru.

1931 (age 48/49) In April, opened the 80 tatami mat sized Kobukan dojo (imperial martial art training hall) in Ushigome, Wakamatsu-cho, where he taught aikibudo. Early students of the Kobukan include Yoichiro Inoue, Hisao Kamata, Hajime Iwata, Minoru Mochizuki, Kaoru Funahashi, Tsutomu Yukawa, Aritoshi Murashige and Shigemi Yonekawa. Takeda Sokaku visits and teaches for a few weeks at the dojo, and would come back several more times before 1936 to collect fees.

1932 (age 49-50) October 13th co-founded (with Onisaburo) the "Dai Nihon Budo Sen'yokai" (Greater Japan Martial Arts Enhancement Association) in Ayabe along with a 150 tatami dojo in Takeda, Tamba province. This was an organization set up to promote the now Omoto-kyo flavored art called "kobu budo" (imperial martial art) which drew 400 to 500 students. By this time, Morihei was no longer identifying his art as "Daito ryu", though he is reported to have issued Daito ryu look-alike mokuroku under the art name of "Aioi ryu aikijujutsu" sometime between the 1932 to 1937 with no mention of Takeda or Daito ryu. Shioda Gozo (age 17) begins training at the Kobukan, and would later receive one of these unusual mokuroku. Adopted famous kendo-ka Nakakura Kiyoshi into his family (which only lasted about five years), in hopes of eventually passing aikido to him (doshu). Since Morihei did not have a son of appropriate age at this time to succeed him, he also asked Mochizuki Minoru and Sugino Yoshio to be adopted into his family.

1933/1934 (age 50/51-51/52) Accepted invitation by Hisa Takuma to teach Daito ryu at the Asahi Shimbun in Osaka. Referred to the style as "Dai-Nihon Asahi ryu jujutsu". Between 1933 & 1935, Rinjiro Shirata, Zenzaburo Akazawa, Tetsuo Hoshi and Gozo Shioda began studying at the Kobukan. The Kobukan dojo was becoming know as the "Ushigome no Jigoku dojo" (the Hell Dojo of Ushigome) because of it's severe training.

1933 (age 50/51) Assembled a catalog of techniques (hand drawn) for the first level of initiation of training called the "aikijujutsu ogi" (secrets of aikijujutsu, later renamed "Budo Renshu"). Contained 166 techniques, similar to those found in Daito ryu's hiden mokuroku

1935 (age 52/53) Omoto-kyo is raided and shut down by Japanese officials. Morihei's connections in the government and military keep him from being imprisoned. Released a documentary film called "Budo", shot in Osaka under the direction of Hisa Takuma.

1936 (age 53/54) Takeda sensei shows up unexpected at the Asahi Shimbun and announces that he will assume any further instruction responsibilities. Ueshiba leaves suddenly upon hearing of Takeda's presense, and ends up breaking ties with Daito ryu. Ueshiba had received the Goshin'yo no te and Kaishaku Soden (the later was pictured on the wall in his Kobukan dojo) densho in Daito ryu by this time, which were the highest achievements possible at this time under Takeda Sokaku. Shoots extensive technical photographs (more than a thousand) at the Kodansha publication Noma dojo.

1937 (age 54/55) Japan goes to war with China. Morihei and Akazawa Zenzaburo's names appear in the enrollment books of the Kashima shinto ryu.

1938 (age 55/56) Writes the only technical manual (personally) on his art, privately published in small quantities, called "Budo".

1941 (age 58/59) Japan goes to war with America. Begins to experiment with a variety of names for his art, including "Ueshiba ryu aikibudo", "aikijutsu", "Ueshiba juku aikijujutsu", "aikibujutsu", "kobukai aikibudo", "tenshin aikibudo", "takemusu aiki" and "Aioi ryu". Demonstrates for the Imperial family at their request.

1942 (age 59-60) Left his son Kisshomaru in charge of the Tokyo honbu dojo and relocated to country land he had bought in Iwama (Ibaragi-ken), where he lived until his death. Also joined the Butokukai and formally settled on the name "aikido" for his art.

1948 (age 65/66) February 9th, following the aftermath of WWII, The Ministry of Education formally recognized the establishment of the Zaidan Hojin Aikikai (Aikikai Foundation).

1956 (age 73/74) Gave first public demonstration of aikido at his son's urging.

1958 (age 75-76) Founded the Aikikai, and renamed his Kobukan dojo in Tokyo the Aikido Aikikai Honbu dojo.

1961 (78/79) Makes the first and only trip to America (Hawai'i) with Tohei Koichi sensei for a forty day instructional tour.

1963 (80/81) First All Japan Aikido Enbukai held.

1964 (81/82) Awarded the Order of the Rising Sun (4th class) for his founding of aikido.

1969 (age 86) Passes away from liver cancer on April 26th.

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Takeda Sokaku Minamoto no Muneyoshi (1859-1943)

height=4' 11"; weight=114 lbs

1859 Born October 10th, the second son of Takeda Sokichi, in the Takeda mansion at 63 Oikeda Oaza, Hirosemura, Kawanuma-gun, Aizu near Aizu Bange-cho (now Fukushima-ken) of samurai lineage. Began learning bojutsu from his grandfather Takeda Soemon at a young age.

1867 (age 8/9) Studies Ono-ha itto ryu kenjutsu(1) at the Yokikan dojo in Tokyo under famed swordsman Shibuya Toma.

1868 (age 9/10) Aizu-han finally capitulates to Imperial forces. Sokaku becomes adopted son of Kurokochi family.

1873 (age 14) Mother dies.

1873 (age 14/15) Travelled with his father to be introduced to his friend, famed swordsman Sakakibara Kenkichi (1830-1894) of Jikishinkage ryu kenjutsu. Sakakibara admitted Sokaku as an uchi-deshi.

1875 (age 16/17) Left home to assist with the rebellion launched by Saigo Takamori (1828-1877) had against the new Meiji government (but only made it as far as Kyushu, and was unable to reach his destination). Becomes involved in a fight with gamblers - cuts down 4 or 5 men.

1875 (age 16/17) Summoned back to Aizu by his father to assume a hereditary position as a Shinto priest at the Tsutsukowake shrine under clan elder Saigo Tanomo (aka: Hoshina Chikanori - 1830-1903). Also spent a few months training in the Kyoshin Meichi ryu dojo in Osaka, led by Momoi Shunzo (1826-1886).

1876 (age 17/18) Said to have received Menkyo Kaiden in Ono-ha itto ryu kenjutsu. Sokatsu Takeda, Sokaku’s elder brother dies; Sokichi wants Sokaku to succeed his brother in the priesthood. Sokaku leaves after only a few weeks

1877 (age 18/19) Travelled to Kyushu in September. Joined an acrobat group in Nagasaki.

1878 (age 19/20) Travelled to Okinawa, challenging various karate-ka.

1880-1898 (age 21/22-39/40) Began a long period of "musha shugyo", in which he travelled throughout Japan training in various traditions and dojo in search of higher skills. In 1882 he returned to Aizu and used a sword to fight off a gang of angered construction workers, who fought using tobiguchi, spear points, iron rods and bricks. Of the roughly fifty workers, nine of them were killed and many others injured during the fight. Sokaku himself suffered near-fatal injuries. Though he was found innocent of charges, Sokaku was forced to give up his Kotetsu sword to authorities.

1887 (age 29) Travelled to Hokkaido with Saigo Tsugumichi (younger borther of Saigo Takamori).

1888 (age 30) Began to earn a reputation as a premier martial arts instructor. While in Aizu, married for the first time to a woman named Kon, and gave birth to two children (the eldest named Munekiyo). It is also believed that Sokaku visited Hoshina Chikanori a number of times during this period.

1898 (age 39/40) Hoshina Chikanori (Tanomo Saigo) is said to have taught and entrusted Sokaku with the complete teachings of the Aizu-han Oshikiuchi (Court Self-Defense Art) at the Ryozen shrine in Fukushima. Hoshina inscribes in Sokaku's enrollment book on May 12th a poem advising him to focus on teaching jujutsu, as the time of the sword was now over. Sokaku heeds his advice, teaching Yamato ryu (Daito ryu) jujutsu and Ono-ha itto ryu kenjutsu. Sokaku would later begin teaching this system, combined with the methods his father Sokichi taught previously referred to as "Takeda ryu", Oshikiuchi, and a mixing of jujutsu and weapon work learned elsewhere. This he named "Yamato ryu" until 1912, at which time he changed to the alternate kanji reading, "Daito ryu".

1898-1910 (age 39/40-51/52) Travelled throughout primarily Northern Japan conducting seminars (centered in the area of Tohoku, as well as Miyagi [including Sendai city], Iwate and Yamagata prefectures). Short trips to Aizu and Aikita are also recorded. Taught members of the Second Army Division in Sendai for several years, starting around 1903.

1904 (age 45/46) Took a short trip to Hokkaido. Sokaku stood off against some 200 gangsters, and though no violence occured, was asked to leave Hokkaido. Escorted American Charles Parry to the rear of a train using a "yonkajo" wrist grab, after finding out that he had complained to the ticket inspector about being seated near him. Mr. Parry later became one of his first foreign students (Harada Shinzo was sent to America as his representative after receiving a request for instruction from President Roosvelt).

1910 (age 51/52) Moved to Hokkaido. Taught Oshikiuchi and other methods, and was involved in the well known incident in which Sokaku apparently warded off an attack from a thief, throwing him down head first so hard that his the felon was found with his head deeply embedded in the soft mud.

1912 (approx.) Marries to a women named Sue, and bore seven children: Takemune, Tae, Tokimune, Eiko, Munemitsu, Shizuka and Muneyoshi. Began to refer to his art as "Daito ryu", at the suggestion of Yoshida Kotaro, who informed Sokaku that the kanji were no longer read as "Yamato".

1915 (age 56/57) Was introduced to Ueshiba Morihei (at age 32, through Yoshida Kotaro) while conducting a seminar at the Hisada Inn in Engaru (Hokkaido), at which time Morihei requested to be accepted as a student of his in Daito ryu.

1916 (age 57/58) Moved to Shirataki-mura, Hokkaido. Sue gives birth to Takeda Tokimune.

1917 (age 58/59) Shirataki-mura, including Ueshiba Morihei's house, is destroyed by what is referred to as "the Great Fire of 1917".

1922 (age 63/64) Sokaku, Sue and their three kids visit Aizu for four months, and then go to Tokyo and stay with Ueshiba Morihei in Ayabe (near Kyoto) for about five and a half months. Taught at the Ueshiba Juku with his wife Sue from April through September. During this time, it was suggested to Sokaku to change the name of his art from "Daito ryu jujutsu" to "Daito ryu aikijujutsu".

1929 (age 70/71> Student, Admiral Isamu Takeshita publishes the article "The Story of the Bravery of Sokaku Takeda".

1930 (age 71/72) Wife Sue dies in a fire in Shirataki. After reading Admrial Takeshita's article, the Tokyo Asahi Shimbun sends a reporter to Hokkaido to interview Sokaku. Reporter Yoichi Ozaka publishes an article called "Ima Bokuden".

1931 (age 72/73) Sokaku apparently visits Ueshiba Morihei (evidenced by an enrollment book entry), just prior to Morihei opening his Kobukan dojo, and several more times there after (until 1936) to collect fees.

1934 (age 75/76) Travelled, visiting mostly in the Iwate Prefecture.

1935 (age 76/77) Spends several weeks in each of Aizu, Yamagata and Iwate Prefectures before returning to Hokkaido.

1936 (age 77/78) Visited Miyagi, Saitama and Tokyo. Taught 20 prominent people in Sendai connected to either the military or Sendai Police Department. Later assumed instructional responsibilities at the Asahi Shimbun in Osaka. Ueshiba Morihei, who had been teaching previous to his arrival, moves away suddenly.

1939 (age 80/81) Awarded menkyo kaiden to Hisa Takuma and Tonedate Masao (honorary), the only two he ever awarded. Returned to Hokkaido.

1941 (age 82/83) Suffers a stroke, resulting from partial paralysis.

1943 (age 83) Left early in the year to go to Tohoku, but passed away April 25th in Aomori-ken, at the Northern tip of Honshu. Said to have taught some 30,000 students over his lifetime.

(1)Itto ryu was founded by Ito Ittosai. Itto ryu was later seized by Ono Jirozaemon Tadaki. Obata Kagenori, founder of Koshu ryu, recommended Ono to the second Shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada. As a result, Ono was assigned as the Kendo Shinan (kenjutsu instructor) for the Shogun family with Yagyu Munenori, and was granted the rank of Hatamoto with a 300 koku salary. After his death, the Itto ryu (Ito-ha) was given to his first son, while the Itto ryu (Ono-ha) was given to his second son.

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