History of Takeda Ryu
The Takeda Ryu is believed to have been founded by Shinra Saburo Minamoto No Yoshimitsu in the 11th century in Japan.
It was passed down secretly from generation to generation until the last Soke (head) of Takeda Ryu, Oba Ichio.
Oba Ichio Soke started to teach Takeda Ryu in public, Nakamura Hisashi became one of his students. When Oba Soke passed away in 1959, the year after, Nakamura Hisashi started his own branch of the school to assured the survival of the school.
Nakamura Soke improved the structure and teaching methods of the school and modernised it by adding competitions and sparring as a way of teaching; it is in modern life, the only way to be close to the true fighting situation.
Nakamura Soke splits this comprehensive
Martial Art into different disciplines, the main disciplines are:
- Aikido : the art of gathering and combining forces, using throwing, controlling and locking techniques (not to confuse with the Aikido from Morihei Ueshiba)
- Jukenpo : combining old jujutsu techniques with punching and kicking
- Iaido : sword fighting practice with metal sword
- Jodo : staff arts
- Kendo : sword fighting practice with wooden sword or bamboo
At a higher level, all the disciplines are combined into one.
In 2018, Nakamura Hisashi Soke passed away, his son Nakamura Shuji is now the current Soke of Takeda Ryu Nakamura Ha.
Below is a simplified lineage chart:
