GRANDMASTERS
TAKAMATSU SENSEI
Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei's real first name was Hisatsugu but he changed it later in Toshitsugu using the same Kanji but different pronounciation. He was born on 10 March 1889 in Akashi and passed away on 2 April 1972. He was also known under different other martial arts names and nicknames: Jutaro, Chosui (Pure Water), Uoh (Winged Lord), Nakimiso (Cry-baby), Kotengu (Little Goblin), Moko no Tora (Mongolian Tiger), Kikaku (Demon Horns), Yokuoh (Running In The Sky Old Man), Kotaro (Young Tiger), Shojuken, Garakutabujin (Enjoy Sketching Martial Artist), Kozan and Kyosha. His posthumous name is Junshokakuju Zenjomon. His house (a motel/tea-inn) was in front of Kashihara Shrine, in Kashihara City (Nara Prefecture). He had a cat (Jiro) and enjoyed painting very much.
He was married to Mrs. Uno Tane who was born on 28 June 1897 and who passed away on 4 February 1991. They adopted a girl named Yoshiko. His father (Takamatsu Gishin Yasaburo) owned a match-factory and received Dai-Ajari (Master) title in Shingon Buddhism from the mountain priest Kumano Shugendo. His Dojo was named "Sakushin" (Cultivating Spirit).
From his grandfather (on mother's side), Toda Shinryuken Masamitsu Sensei, he became Grandmaster in Shinden Fudo Ryu Ju-Taijutsu (age 13), Koto Ryu Koppo-Jutsu, Gyokko Ryu Kosshi-Jutsu, Togakure Ryu Ninpo, Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo and Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo. From Mizuta Yoshitaro Tadafusa Sensei he became Grandmaster in Hontai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Ju-Jutsu (age 17) and from Ishitani Matsutaro Takakage Sensei he became Grandmaster in Kukishin Ryu, Gikan Ryu, Hontai Yoshin Takagi Ryu and Shinden Muso Ryu too. He was a good friend of Jigoro Kano Sensei (Kodokan Judo) and took care of his younger brother. They both lived in the same region. He had 9 mothers throughout his whole life.
He traveled through Korea and Mongolia to China at the age of 21, taught martial arts and delivered many battles on life or death. He learned 18 Korean and Chinese martial arts from Kim Kei-Mei. He taught martial arts at an English school in China and had over 1000 students. He was the bodyguard of the last Chinese Emperor Pou-Hi. He became Tendai Buddhism priest in 1919. In 1921 he was permitted to copy the Kukishin-Ryu scrolls (+ Amatsu Tatara scrolls) of the Kuki family. During the Second World War (1945) the original scrolls were destroyed and lost. In 1949 he presented new scrolls to the Kuki family which he had rewritten based on his copies and memory.
He lost an eye during one of his mortal combats. It was replaced by a glass eye. He was deaf on one ear also due to one of his fights. He said that a Shaolin fighter and a boxer were the most dangerous enemies he ever met. He was buried on Kumedra cemetary in Nara. He used to write articles for the Tokyo Times newspaper. He was well known in Japan as a Grandmaster of Ju-Jutsu and Bojutsu but many people were surprised by his death to hear that he was a true Ninja Grandmaster (of 9 schools).
He taught and formed many next generation Grandmasters under which: Kimura Masaharu Sensei, Akimoto Fumio Sensei, Sato Kinbei Sensei, Ueno Takashi Sensei, Tanemura Tsunehisa Shoto Sensei, Fukumoto Yoshio Sensei, Hatsumi Yoshiaki Sensei.
SATO SENSEI
Grandmaster Tanemura Tsunehisa Shoto Sensei met Grandmaster Sato Kinbei (Kiyoaki) Sensei for the first time at the University in Japan when he was 19 years old. Grandmaster Sato Kinbei Sensei was born on 5 January 1925 in Fukushima Prefecture and graduated at Tohoku National University as a Doctor/Professor. He had his own hospital in Tokyo were he worked as a Doctor. His martial arts name was Jushinsai (Lilac Heart Man).
He started training at 11 years old and had many Menkyo Kaiden Grandmasterships in: Daiwa Ryu (his family art), Takeda Ryu, Araki Shin Ryu, Yagyu Shingan Ryu, Tenjin Shinyo Ryu, Asayama Ichiden Ryu, Daito Ryu, Hakko Ryu and Isshin Ryu. Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei gave Sato Kinbei Sensei 13th generation Grandmastership in Gikan Ryu Koppo-Jutsu (because Akimoto Fumio Sensei, who held Menkyo Kaiden in Gikan Ryu Koppo-Jutsu, died before he had the next generation made up) and Menkyo Kaiden (Grandmastership) in Hontai Kukishin Ryu and Hontai Yoshin Takagi Ryu Ju-Jutsu (Ishitani line).
He started learning Chinese martial arts in 1956 and was the first Japanese who became 4th generation Grandmaster (Denjin) in the Chinese martial art Hakkesho (Pa-Kua). He taught arrest techniques to police officers at the Japan Police College since 1954. He opened his own Dojo in Itabashi, Tokyo in 1958.
He was President of the All Japan Chinese Kenpo Federation and Director of the Japanese Classical Budo Federation (Kobudo Shinkokai). He was a well known excellent martial artist in Japan and was self-defense adviser at the Police University. He was a personal student of Pa-Kua Grandmaster Li Zu Ming Sensei, who passed away on 23 January 1993 at the age of 91.
It was Grandmaster Sato Kinbei Sensei who introduced Grandmaster Ueno Takashi Sensei to Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei. He passed away on 21 January 1999. He died in the hospital due to pneumonia at the age of 73.
KIMURA SENSEI
Grandmaster Kimura Masaharu (Masaji) Sensei was born on 3 February 1901.
Grandmaster Tanemura Tsunehisa Shoto Sensei: "The first time we met, he looked exactly like Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei. He took a look at me and told me that I looked like Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei as a young man. It seems to be that Deshi (personal students) pick up the look or feeling of their teacher. Now that I've been together with Grandmaster Sato Kinbei Sensei for a while, when people see us, they mistake us for father and son. I am happy to know about that!"
At 17 years old, the young Grandmaster Kimura Masaharu Sensei joined the Dojo of Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei and had to respect the 3 following rules: no liquor, no smoking, no fights! He trained hard in Hontai Yoshin Takagi Ryu Ju-Jutsu and Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu in which he received Menkyo Kaiden (Grandmastership) at the age of 36.
He lived also in Kashihara, near by the house of Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei and was able to train and spar with him almost every day. He is considered as the second most accomplished student of Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei.
He has witnessed Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei's true fighting style as someone grabbed at Takamatsu Sensei's shoulder and was thrown, flying across the room. Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei once told him: "Ju-Jutsu is not for fighting, it is something you must develop for your life during the entirety of your life."
Grandmaster Kimura Masaharu Sensei passed away on the 14th of January 2000. He was 100 years old and died due to illness.
FUKUMOTO SENSEI
Grandmaster Fukumoto Yoshio Sensei was born on 22 February 1921 and lived in Noda City, Chiba Prefecture, as a doctor, specialized in bone disorders.
He started learning martial arts under the direction of Grandmaster Ueno Takashi Sensei.
He became Menkyo Kaiden (Grandmaster) in Shinto Tenshin Ryu Kenpo and Asayama Ichiden Ryu.
Later he joined Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei's group in Nara, where he learned Togakure Ryu Ninpo, Koto Ryu Koppo-Jutsu, Gyokko Ryu Kosshi-Jutsu, Shinden Fudo Ryu Daken-Taijutsu and Amatsu Tatara Shintoism.
His father was a Shinto priest of the Wakamiya Shrine.
He started learning under Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei in 1960 and was made a secret Shihan (by his own will) formed by Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei.
He passed away on 4 October 1995 at the age of 75.
Before he died, he passed all Kuden and Densho he got from Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei and Grandmaster Ueno Takashi Sensei (including the final secret part of Shinden Fudo Ryu) onto Grandmaster Tanemura Tsunehisa Shoto Sensei.
KOBAYASHI SENSEI
Grandmaster Kobayashi Masao (Hosho) Sensei was born on 6 September 1932 and lived in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture.
He was a student of Grandmaster Ueno Takashi (Chosui) Sensei and an Instructor at his Dojo.
He built up the Tatara Shrine in Kamagaya city, Chiba Prefecture.
He had many Menkyo Kaiden (Grandmasterships) in Asayama Ichiden Ryu, Hontai Kijin Chosui Ryu Kukishinden Daken-Taijutsu, Izumo Tatara Shinto, Takamagahara Shinpo Tatara Shinden, Iga Ryu Ninjutsu, Shinto Tenshin Ryu Kenpo, etc. ...
He gave Grandmastership (Menkyo Kaiden) in Hontai Kijin Chosui Ryu Kukishinden Daken-Taijutsu, Izumo Tatara Shinto, Iga Ryu Ninjutsu and others to Grandmaster Tanemura Tsunehisa Shoto Sensei.
On 3 April 1998 he passed away at the age of 65.
He was a true fighting style traditional martial artist.
AKIMOTO SENSEI
Grandmaster Akimoto Fumio Sensei was born on 30 November 1894 in Asuka-Mura, Takachi-Gun, Nara-Ken.
He was 5 years younger than Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei and was his highest ranking and leading pupil.
He died on 20 July 1962. He was especially good at Taijutsu and Bikenjutsu. Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei once said: "I have to be on guard seriously when I teach him or have training with him in Ken!"
Grandmaster Akimoto Fumio Sensei held Menkyo Kaiden (Grandmastership) in Gikan Ryu Koppo-Jutsu and Shoken Ryu Daken-Taijutsu.
Unfortunately, he passed away before he had next generation made up, so Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei decided to make next generation Grandmaster in Gikan Ryu Koppo-Jutsu Grandmaster Sato Kinbei Sensei.
He won a match against the famous Judoka Mr. Mifune Kyuzo and later he entered the Kodokan where he became 5th Dan (the highest grading in that time). He was married to Mrs. Mitsu Abe.
Their son, Dr. Koki Akimoto has a good relationship with Grandmaster Tanemura Tsunehisa Shoto Sensei.
UENO SENSEI
Grandmaster Ueno Takashi (Chosui) Sensei was born on 21 February 1899 and lived in Natsumi-Cho, Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture.
His martial arts name were Tenshin (Heaven's Heart) and Chosui (Pure Water, which he received from Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei).
His Dojo was named "Renseikan" (Practice makes perfect).
He had strong connections to Kodokan where he taught Jo-Jutsu.
He had many Menkyo Kaiden (Grandmasterships) in Asayama Ichiden Ryu (Okura-Den and Naganuma-Ha), Shinden Fudo Ryu Taijutsu, Shinto Tenshin Ryu Kenpo, Hontai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Ju-Jutsu, Bokuden Ryu Jujutsu, Amatsu Tatara Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu, Hontai Kijin Chosui Ryu Kukishinden Dakentaijutsu, Koto Ryu Koppojutsu, Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu, Gyokushin Ryu, Tenshin Shinyo Ryu Jujutsu, Yagyu Shingan Ryu Taijutsu, etc. ...
He was known as one of the most important teachers of his generation. He mastered Shito Ryu Karate-Do, Shotokan Karate-Do, Shindo Jinen Ryu Karate-Do and Okinawa Kobudo and was a student of Funakoshi Gichin Sensei and Mabuni Kenwa Sensei. He also learned Chugoku Kenpo (Chinese martial arts) in China and Taiwan and exchanged martial arts with other Grandmasters.
He passed away on 25 January 1976 at the age of 76.
He was the teacher of Sato Kinbei Sensei, Fukumoto Yoshio Sensei, Kobayashi Masao Sensei, Kaminaga Shigemi Sensei, Sakagami Takejiro Sensei, Hatsumi Yoshiaki Sensei (Hamon), etc. ...
NAGAO SENSEI
Grandmaster Nagao Zenyu Sensei (1948) lives in Tomakomai, Hokkaido.
He is still active as the main teacher of the Daito Ryu Shintojushinkai.
Grandmaster Nagao Zenyu (Kakuzen) Sensei was given Grandmastership (Kyoju Dairi) from Grandmaster Yamamoto Kakuyoshi Sensei (the last student of Grandmaster Takeda Sokaku Sensei) in Daito Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu, Mugen Shinto Ryu Iaijutsu and Aizu Handen Onoha Itto Ryu Kenpo and Iaijutsu.
Grandmaster Tanemura Tsunehisa Shoto Sensei received Menkyo Kaiden (Kyoju Dairi) from Grandmaster Nagao Zenyu Sensei in Daito Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu, Mugen Shinto Ryu Iaijutsu and Aizu Handen Onoha Itto Ryu Kenpo and Iaijutsu in December 2003.