According to the Takumai Kai Training Handbook, Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu is one of the oldest forms of Jujutsu. It’s roots come from the Aizu clan in modern Fukushima prefecture.

Historically the roots of Aiki Jujutsu have been passed on orally. All paper records have been destroyed by time or war. According to those traditions, in the 11thcentury Minamoto no Yoriyoshi was the leader of one of the largest families in Japan, the Genji. His son Yoshimitsu, started Daito-ryu at that time. Yoshimitsu studied nature, “He noticed that a spider making its web could catch it’s prey that was bigger than the spider itself. This gave him the idea that the small could defeat the large.” Later Yoshimitsu would move to Yamanashi prefecture and take on the name Takeda. For over 1,000 years Daito-ryu was passed on from generation to generation as a secret budo until Sokaku Takeda brought it to the public in the late 1800’s. Sokaku Takeda is the father of modern Daito ryu Aiki Jujutsu. As a child in a samurai family, “he learned kenjutsu, bojutsu, sumo, and other martial arts.” Takeda sensei only taught Daito ryu to a select number of high level people. While Sokaku traveled Japan teaching for 70 years he was never beaten in a fight. Sokaku Takeda’s most famous student was Ueshiba Morihei sensei, the founder of Aikido. Much Aikido is based on Daito ryu. Later in Osaka, Ueshiba sensei was teaching Takuma sensei when Takeda returned to Osaka. Ueshiba sensei and many of his students left without seeing Takeda sensei. After that Takuma Hiza started training under Takeda sensei, eventually getting Menkyo Kaiden (Certificate of Full Proficiency) from him in 1939.Takuma Sensei started teaching and later his students started the Takumakai. After his health started to fade he passed on the responsibilities of the Takumakai to Mori Hakaru sensei, who is still the leader of the group. What kind of Martial Science is Daito ryu AikiJujutsu Daito ryu is a kobudo, an old budo made before the Meji restoration in 1867.There are 2,884techniques, 118 techniques make up the Shoden, the basic waza. These include standing, sitting, throwing, pinning and disarming techniques, etc. Daito ryu Jujutsu and Aiki movements both of which are based on Kenjutsu, sword techniques. Jujutsu waza are logical physical movements that are fairly straight forward and easy to understand. Aiki is, “made up of the movements of the mind and breathing,” and therefore are very difficult to understand. “When you practice aiki techniques, you should grab your teacher’s hand and be thrown many times. When we learn aiki, it is necessary for us to switch our common sense and the way of thinking in daily life. ”The mix of Jujutsu and aiki techniques makes Daito ryu effective and interesting is many ways. It can be practiced by just about anyone of any age.

Daito Ryu at ABC. Lortie sensei is a direct student for over 10 years of Kiyohiro Kobayashi 8^th dan, Kyoju Dairi. At ABC we continue the Takuma kai tradition of study of both Aiki and Jujutsu waza. Daito ryu is extremely detailed. Use of the fingers and toes in movement, how to focus the mind, and methods for building Ki are studied thoroughly. This type of in-depth practice is a unique point of Aiki Jujutsu.