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Inside Takeda Ryu there was taught the
complex art of war, including many more martial disciplines as Jujutsu,
Aikijutsu, Ju-Kenpo (fighting with empty hands, based on suppleness
principles), Iaido / Kenjutsu (the art of fighting with sword), Jodo, Shugi
Jutsu (the fight with batons of different dimensions), Shuriken Jutsu
(cutting blades). However, Takeda Ryu school remained in martial arts history, pointing out especially through its uncommon techniques with empty hands, generic named Takeda Ryu Aikijutsu, and through a very combative Iai, managed by the same Aiki principle. Aiki Jutsu or Aikijutsu is a special form of Jujutsu, with its origins in China, as many other disciplines, but with extremely hermetical evolution in Japan.
It seems that the Aiki theory is inspired by the Confucians and Taoist systems from China where appear the YIN-YANG duality idea, the one of the two universal complementary principles in which the perfect equilibrium goes to the Great Harmony (AI). These Confucians doctrines were brought in Japan from China, along with the fundamental principles of martial arts, but also Buddhist and Taoist esoteric doctrines, the notion of Internal Energy KI, and all of these gave birth to a new martial art AIKI-JUTSU. The oldest documents which testify the existence of AIKI JUTSU appear in IX-X centuries and allude to a special fighting method, kept secret by Takeda clan. There is still a reknown secret scroll called “Takeda
Ryu Aiki-no-Jutsu” (The harmony art with the energy of Takeda school) in
which is even related a legend of AIKI tradition: “It is said that in 27
year of Keiko Emperor, Okumi-no-Mikoto prince get the mission to conquer the
Kumaso territory. Before the battle, he followed for a few days a
purification ritual (misogi), the one of meditation under the falls. He also
trained himself under cold as ice water, flowing over him. Realizing that
his adversaries are stronger and more numerous, he broke through disguised
behind them, trying even to capture their leader. But this one felt him when
he got into his room and got the sword trying to hit him, but
Okumi-no-Mikoto was faster and through a sliding aside made his adversary
losing his balance and falling into his own weapon, dying in that moment.”
The same document mentioned that the prince didn’t stop at that level and
continued to perfection his fighting method, passing it on inside the
family. The one who systematized better the
fighting methods specific to Takeda school is the general Saburo
Minamoto-no-Yoshimitsu (1036-1127), who introduced all of these principles
in the training program of all the samurais from Takeda clan, without
allowing the spread of this method. It was kept and transmitted secretly,
becoming extremely famous through the efficiency of its techniques. The Aiki
Jutsu art principles, sometimes named Oshikuchi, were reserved to the elite
of the Takeda Ryu school samurais. Aiki Jutsu is translated in fact the art
of obtaining the victory through the bringing in harmony with the
environment, especially with the actions of the adversary. Aiki means the
union with the adversary Ki, the taking over and the control of it. ![]() Looking for traditional Aikijutsu schools, closer to the source, Sensei Roland Maroteaux, first Europeean Shihan in Hakko Ryu Jujutsu (a recent school, also derivated from Takeda family, see the school genealogy) discovers into a bookstore from Tokyo a book entitled Takeda Ryu Aikido, which represented antique techniques of Aikijutsu. In this manner, he meets Soke Nakamura and begin to practice Takeda Ryu SoBudo, a tradition considered by many peoples being disappeared. With the help of Sensei Maroteaux, Soke Nakamura promotes the method also in Europe, by completing many stages for perfecting in France, Belgium and Spain. In 1990, Sensei Maroteaux is promoted at the level of Joden Shihan, 6 Dan Aikijutsu, 5 Dan Iaido, 5 Dan Jodo, after more than 10 years of study dedicated to Takeda school, without any rank, and more than that, he is authorized to teach the school in his proper manner – Maroto Ha. Later, in 1999, especially due to moral causes, Sensei Maroteaux is constrained to continue the school independently by Japanese branch. He was afterward recognized by IBA and in 2005 by the famous Japanese federation Dai Nippon Butokukai – recognized for the quality of the promoted martial arts. |
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© 2006.
ROMANIA TAKEDA RYU - Ryuko Media |