Brief History of Aikido: Part 3 - Old

Sokaku Takeda (1860-1943)

Sokaku Takeda

For many years Sokaku Takeda travelled Japan testing his skill and proved to have superior natural fighting skills. Of Samurai stock he was well versed in the fact that real fights are always unfair and perfected his skill around this fact, weapons and multiple attackers being an expected part of training.

Takeda passed rigorous tests in surviving numerous attempts on his life. And it was this that was the primary qualification that allowed him to live to teach selected students. In those days merely appearing at a dojo and paying fees did not mean you would be accepted.

KEEPER OF THE FLAME

Sokaku Takeda was born in the province of Aizu. From a very early age he was taught jujitsu and weaponry by both his father his grandfather who were noted members of the Aizu clan. As he grew up he expanded his martial prowess and was inducted into the secrets strategic skills of the Daito-Ryu Aikibujutsu.

That was an era where much experience was gained in real life and death combat, not merely dojo dancing, waffle and politics. You had to 'put your money where your mouth was' as it were, or you risked getting injured or killed. The very real skill of surviving life and death battles qualified these ancients. Not rote, nor association, membership cards or coloured belts counted for much in the face of real qualification... namely: ability. And the fact of actual combat survival.

Being one of the last surviving exponents of these arts in a rapidly changing era where the 'old ways' seemed to be dieing out, proved a great challenge, but he capitalised on the challenge by instructing police, law enforcement officers and sent some of his students to teach this 'strange art' in the USA after an incident with a Mr. Charles Parry which led to an invitation by President Teddy Roosevelt.

One of the last generation of real Samurai, Sokaku Takeda was a vital link in the transmission of an art which would lead to the development of Aikido when Morihei Ueshiba met Takeda at the Kubota inn at Hokkaido, in 1911...