Nathan Scott
4th November 2003, 02:42
I thought I had already submitted a thread about this article, but it appears that I forgot.
An American student of Kondo Katsuyuki, Ted Howell, has written an article on this subject on behalf of Kondo. The article was published online at the Aikido Journal website, and can (currently) be found here (complete with photos):
http://www.aikidojournal.com/new/article.asp?ArticleID=434
I've pasted the text only below, but divided it into two posts in consideration of the length:
MAINLINE DAITO-RYU AIKIJUJUTSU REVISITED
by Ted Howell
Published Online
The art of Daito-ryu has recently become a topic of discussion among certain circles of budo practitioners. Along with the endless debates generally found in such circles, discussions of late have placed much importance on history, legitimacy, and succession. In a world plagued by war, some would question as to why people even study martial traditions that appear to be archaic and take a lifetime to master. The new trend seems to take on a philosophy akin to the aspirin age and I'm sure many are asking why is it we don't study modern fighting systems more appropriate for the times we live in? Thankfully, there are still martial artists that treasure these traditions and wish to preserve the integrity of their great histories.
With the advent of the Internet age, readily accessible information is without a doubt presenting an opportunity for even the average practitioner to become much more knowledgeable. With this new era of information, one should think it reasonable to hold people accountable for what is said and or printed. In this vein, I believe that researching history and the pursuit of truth to be paramount.
In a world inundated with illegitimate and self-proclaimed masters, it is sad that even legitimate teachers are forced to defend their claims due to those who attempt to gain recognition through slander and lies. Fortunately, such people are often called out, so to speak, and dismissed by the public after careful research has been conducted. However, it is unfortunate that there are still many who are swayed by those unable to stand on their own merits and slander others in a vain attempt to gain recognition.
My purpose for writing this essay is to address the confusion being created on the Internet regarding mainline Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu and Katsuyuki Kondo Sensei. My concern is that there are certain issues being posed by those who have been led to believe falsehoods or partial truths. Some of these issues have already been discussed in public forums such as the Aikido Journal, but deserve to be revisited due to continued misunderstanding. Other issues addressed are in direct response to misconceptions and questions posed on the Internet of late. I do not claim to be a representative of Kondo Sensei per se, but have been asked by him to address certain issues of confusion.
Mainline Daito-ryu and Succession
The first issue I will address is the assertion that mainline Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu refers to all Daito-ryu presently taught by the living students of Tokimune Takeda Sensei. Although some may make this claim, it is simply not the case. I believe it is understood that the various schools of Daito-ryu will differ slightly in training methodologies. But when discussing succession, I believe the technical and administrative dissemination of the art lays in the hands of those qualified and who can legitimately take on such a task.
The mainline Daito-ryu, in both a legal and official capacity, refers only to the organization under the direction of Katsuyuki Kondo Sensei. Because Katsuyuki Kondo was appointed Soke Dairi and awarded both the Kyoju Dairi and Menkyo Kaiden by Tokimune Takeda Sensei, he has been charged with the responsibility of preserving the mainline tradition as it was passed down from Sokaku Takeda to Tokimune Takeda. I do not make this distinction to place a value judgment on the validity of other schools or teachers, but do so only to indicate the legal representation of the Takeda family traditions under the main line of succession. At this time, Katsuyuki Kondo Sensei serves the art of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu in both its technical and administrative dissemination.
It appears that much of the confusion surrounding the issue of succession stems from the unfortunate fact that Tokimune Takeda Sensei failed to officially appoint a successor. This, along with a multitude of other factors, has created a type of springboard for the opportunist. No less than four family members have come forward and claimed to be the art's next headmaster. In addition to this, confusion has been fostered by an organization located in Abashiri, Japan. This organization, under the direction of Shigemitsu Kato, was established by senior students of Tokimune Takeda Sensei who separated from the mainline Daito-ryu prior to the Headmaster's death. Originally known as the Seishinkai, this organization was renamed in 1994 and is called the Nihon Daito Ryu Aikibudo Daito Kai.
History of Events
To understand the issues at hand, I believe it is essential to provide a brief history of events. Although not all inclusive, the following should allow readers to build a basic understanding of the events leading up to the present-day situation of mainline Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu. Since much about Daito-ryu and Tokimune Takeda Sensei has been made public through various sources, I will begin at the turning point in the art's history.
Tokimune Takeda Sensei's health began to deteriorate in 1989 (soon after the death of his wife) at the age of 73 years old. Due to the Headmaster's failing health he was hospitalized after being declared mentally incompetent by the Abashiri Branch of the Kushiro Family Court (from September 6, 1991). On September 7, 1991, the Takeda family called a meeting in Abashiri. The purpose of this meeting was twofold. First, it was formally announced that Tokimune Takeda Sensei was being hospitalized and undergoing medical treatment. Secondly, the Takeda family announced that the future headmaster of Daito-ryu was to be Mrs. Nobuko Yokoyama, the second daughter of Tokimune Sensei.
The announcement regarding succession made by the Takeda family was posed as an interim position until the grandsons of Tokimune Sensei could feasibly succeed him. It should be noted that Mrs. Nobuko Yokoyama was designated to be the legal representative of Tokimune Takeda Sensei during his hospitalization. She did not actually assume the title of Soke in a formal sense, but acted in the capacity of Tokimune Takeda's legal representative. During this time, Mrs. Nobuko Yokoyama, with the assistance of Katsuyuki Kondo Soke Dairi, represented Tokimune Takeda and the family's interest in the art of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu.
In December of 1991, shortly after the Takeda family declared Mrs. Nobuko Yokoyama the interim headmaster, she instructed Shigemitsu Kato Sensei to stop all instruction of Daito-ryu at the Daitokan dojo due to the absence of Tokimune Sensei. At this point, a group of senior students under the direction of Shigemitsu Kato Sensei (5th dan) officially resigned from the Daitokan dojo en masse. Upon their resignation, these students signed official forms from the Daitokan dojo that indicated their withdrawal from the school. After soliciting students to break off from Tokimune Takeda's organization, Shigemitsu Kato Sensei formed his own organization and later proclaimed himself the Hombucho of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu.
Shortly after the death of Tokimune Takeda Sensei (December 2, 1993), Mrs. Nobuko Yokoyama resigned from her position as interim headmaster of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu. Upon her sister's resignation, the elder daughter of Tokimune Sensei, Mrs. Kyoko Oshima, claimed the position. This appears to be an important point in the history of events, as Mrs. Oshima never acted in the capacity of legal representative for either her father or the martial traditions of the Takeda family. To make matters even more confusing, Mr. Masanobu Oshima, husband to the elder daughter, changed his name to Masanobu Takeda and then unilaterally declared himself the next headmaster of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu.
In September of 1994, the heads of those dojos still remaining with Tokimune Takeda's organization met and formally appointed Katsuyuki Kondo Sensei as the group's leader. Fearing the tradition of Daito-ryu would fall into disarray, this meeting was planned and held with the intention of restoring unity within a badly fractured organization. The decision to appoint Kondo Sensei as Headquarters Hombucho and Somucho occurred naturally as it was quite clear he had been singled out by Tokimune Sensei as Soke Dairi (Official Representative of the Headmaster) in 1988.
Position of the Nihon Daito Ryu Aikibudo Daito Kai
It is the position of this group that Tokimune Takeda Sensei did, in fact, appoint a successor. This point of view is supported by an assertion that Tokimune Sensei left such appointment in a written will he presented while being hospitalized. It is claimed that this will stipulates Tokimune Takeda's wish to have his two grandsons succeed him. Furthermore, it is claimed that Tokimune Sensei wanted his two daughters (Mrs. Nobuko Yokoyama and Mrs. Kyoko Oshima) to preserve the tradition of the Takeda family until one or both of the grandsons could succeed.
The Abashiri group claims that Kato Sensei relinquished his position held at the Daitokan dojo (claimed position of Kancho) to squelch the internal rivalry occurring between Tokimune Sensei's two daughters. Additionally, these senior students deny that they officially resigned from the Daitokan dojo and claim their motivations were noble. They have stated that they adhered to the wishes of the interim Soke, Mrs. Nobuko Yokoyama, and only wrote letters of disagreement in response to her decision to stop the training being conducted at the Daitokan.
The Abashiri group also states that the aforementioned meeting held in September of 1994 was conducted without the approval or authorization of the new (self-proclaimed) headmaster (renamed Masanobu Takeda). This organization claims that Kondo Sensei refused to acknowledge the new headmaster and thus separated from the mainline and formed his own ryuha, the Shinbukan-ha Daito-ryu organization. Moreover, it has been asserted that Kondo Sensei took advantage of a confusing time and registered the name "Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu" (and variations thereof) without the consent of the new headmaster and the Takeda family.
The Abashiri group claims Shigemitsu Kato Sensei legitimately holds the position of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Hombucho. The crux of their argument is the claim that Tokimune Takeda Sensei taught Shigemitsu Kato the entire Daito-ryu curriculum, thus placing him in a superior technical position. It has even been argued that the titles of soke dairi and kyoju dairi (actually a certification, not a title) were not specific to Kondo Sensei alone and actually ended after the passing of the late Headmaster.
Position of the Mainline Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu
Let me point out that, to date, no will has been produced. Consequently, the myth surrounding this mysterious will differs even among the students of the Nihon Daito Ryu Aikibudo Daito Kai. I have read from one student that the will existed in written form and was displayed in court by Kyoko Oshima. It has also been asserted that this will was possibly passed on verbally. It appears that the circular reasoning of this group has even confused its own members as others submit that no legal will exists.
A will is a legal declaration or document and thus requires the consultation and service of an attorney. This so-called will is claimed to have been passed on by Tokimune Takeda, who at the time was hospitalized due to his failing health. As indicated before, Tokimune Takeda Sensei lacked the mental and legal ability to make any such decision. Furthermore, while hospitalized, the legal representative for Tokimune Takeda Sensei was his younger daughter, Nobuko Yokoyama, who to my knowledge has never seen this will. However, Tokimune Sensei did in fact express his wishes of succession verbally to Katsuyuki Kondo Sensei (and possibly to others) on at least one occasion, but the fact remains, no legal will exists.
Kondo Sensei has stated that upon being designated Soke Dairi in May of 1988, he was asked to assume the responsibility of training Tokimune Sensei's two grandsons in order that they may succeed. Kondo Sensei prepared the following statement for Aikido Journal in July of 2000:
I invited the grandson residing in Saitama Prefecture to practice on many occasions. Saitama and Tokyo are very close to each other. I invited him to my house many times to eat and train with my family and students. His reply was," I have already read Tokimune Takeda Sensei's transmission scrolls so I'll be all right". In other words what he meant was that he could do Daito-ryu because he had read the scrolls! (The important points about Daito-ryu are not written in the scrolls. The reason is that even if the scrolls were to be lost or stolen the secrets of the school would not be revealed.) Given the fact that there are hundreds and thousands of students training assiduously, these words brought unstoppable tears to my eyes. I was shocked and could find no further words to say. Even though Tokimune Takeda Sensei had attempted to train him for many years, I understood it was to no avail.
The mother of the grandson living in Abashiri did not want him to get involved in Daito-ryu. Under these circumstances, I had to resign myself to the fact that I could not carry out one of my duties as Soke Dairi and keep my promise to Tokimune Sensei to train a successor.
Kondo Sensei has strongly stated that for the next headmaster of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu to be legitimate, he must be taught under the direction of someone who, at the very least, holds a kyoju dairi certification. I understand this to mean that although many in the Takeda family may have an arguable right to be a figurehead in Daito-ryu, the art would not prosper from such a decision. On a final note regarding the issue of the next Soke, the words of Tokimune Takeda Sensei are resoundingly clear (from letter dated November 10, 1987 Aikido Journal, Sokaku Takeda and Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu:
Regardless of who becomes the new headmaster, anyone unskilled enough to be defeated by his own students would truly be a disgrace for Daito-ryu and such a person cannot be recognized. Consequently, I believe it is necessary to nurture the martial skills of the new headmaster.
The resignation letters signed by the senior students have been made public. These senior students resigned by way of signing official Daitokan dojo forms labeled "Notification of Withdrawal / Resignation." On these forms, there is a checklist indicating the reason for such a decision. Shigemitsu Kato, Gunpachi Arisawa, Matsuo Sano, and others checked the box "other" indicating they resigned for unspecified reasons. The resignation from the Daitokan cannot be denied. It appears this group continues to attempt to salvage its image by claiming they never resigned from the mainline Daito-ryu organization of Tokimune Takeda Sensei, but no reasonable rebuttal has been offered.
Members of the Nihon Daito Ryu Aikibudo Daito Kai continue to confuse public understanding and seem to direct focus from truth. The legitimacy of this group appears to be in their association with the self-proclaimed headmaster, Masanobu Takeda (previously named Masanobu Oshima). Again I wish to point out that this group officially resigned from the Daitokan during Tokimune Sensei's hospitalization, approximately two years prior to the Headmaster's death. Additionally, the association with Masanobu Takeda began after the seniors resigned from the Daitokan. The question one must ask is, if the senior students are in fact representing mainline Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu, why was it necessary for them to form a separate organization?
It has been asserted by the Nihon Daito Ryu Aikibudo Daito Kai that Katsuyuki Kondo Sensei founded his own organization called the Shinbukan-ha Daito-ryu upon being appointed Hombucho and Somucho in September of 1994. It should be noted, the Shinbukan dojo was actually founded in October of 1982 and that the organization under Kondo Sensei's direction is comprised of those students who remained loyal to Tokimune Takeda and mainline Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu.
The issue of registering the Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu trademark has also become a subject of attack. Kondo Sensei prepared the following statement regarding this issue a few years ago:
Tokimune thoroughly examined the possibility of applying for trademark registration. However, it was thought that as a result of the application Tokimune Sensei's illness and Daito-ryu's private information would be revealed to the Kobudo world. For these reasons, the family convinced Tokimune Sensei not to be the one to make the application. Following this, Tokimune Sensei's guardian and next Soke, Yokoyama Nobuko, began making preparations to apply for the trademark rights. Yokoyama Nobuko then held a meeting with her elder sister, who was at the time called Oshima Kyoko, regarding this matter. The meeting, at which the matter was thoroughly investigated, spanned three days. The result was that should there be an infringement on the trademark right, the family would reserve the right to bring forward a lawsuit against the offender.
However, for procedural and financial reasons, and the psychological burden, the Takeda family decided to not apply for the trademark rights. At this point in the process I, as Soke Dairi, intervened and continued the application process for the trademark rights at the Patent Office. I was very concerned about the future of Daito-ryu. Given past events, I felt it was both important and necessary to secure the rights. After much consultation, I eventually secured the trademark rights.
The rights legally awarded to Katsuyuki Kondo Sensei include the trademarks of the names "Daito-ryu," "Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu," and "Daito-ryu Aikibudo." Additionally, Kondo Sensei was awarded the rights to plan, hold events and classes under the trademarked names as well as all rights for magazines, newspapers, and videos. The application for trademark rights was in direct response to certain challenges made within the Takeda family regarding the position of Soke. Tokimune Sensei's younger brother, Munemitsu Takeda of Rubeshibe as well as Minemitsu Takeda, the great-grandson of Sokaku Takeda (Sokaku Takeda's first marriage) of Fukushima Prefecture both vied for the position of Soke and created uncertainty for the future of Daito-ryu. Fearing the future decline of the Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu tradition, Katsuyuki Kondo Sensei acted in a responsible manner, as his position of Soke Dairi would require.
It should also be noted that in July of 1994, Masanobu Takeda registered an appeal with the patent office for the purpose of being able to refer to himself as "Soke." The appeal process continued until October of 1998 at which time, Masanobu Takeda was denied the right to refer to himself as the Soke of Daito-ryu. It is interesting that members of the Nihon Daito Ryu Aikibudo Daito Kai claim Kyoko Oshima presented the will of Tokimune Takeda Sensei in court. If this was the case and such a document was determined to be authentic, then the present situation would be much different, as the court would have denied Katsuyuki Kondo the rights he has been awarded.
Members of the Abashiri group continue to point out that Kondo Sensei's position as Soke Dairi ended at the time of the late Headmaster's death. This has never been disputed, but clearly shows whom Tokimune Takeda Sensei trusted as his direct and official representative (both in Japan and overseas) while he was still alive. Kondo Sensei does not claim, nor has he ever claimed, to be the Headmaster of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu. He adamantly states that the art's hierarchy traditionally does not include the title of headmaster. The titles used by Kondo Sensei are Hombucho and Somucho and are the same titles that were used by Sokaku Takeda Sensei. The title of Soke or Headmaster is separate from the aforementioned titles as it was used by Tokimune Sensei after he created a composite art (Daito-ryu Aikibudo) by combining Daito-ryu, Ono-ha Itto-ryu, aiki kenpo, and Nihon Kendo kata. Historically speaking, the adoption of the title Soke and the system of Daito-ryu Aikibudo occurred post-World War II. No one in the Takeda family before him used such a title.[continued below]
An American student of Kondo Katsuyuki, Ted Howell, has written an article on this subject on behalf of Kondo. The article was published online at the Aikido Journal website, and can (currently) be found here (complete with photos):
http://www.aikidojournal.com/new/article.asp?ArticleID=434
I've pasted the text only below, but divided it into two posts in consideration of the length:
MAINLINE DAITO-RYU AIKIJUJUTSU REVISITED
by Ted Howell
Published Online
The art of Daito-ryu has recently become a topic of discussion among certain circles of budo practitioners. Along with the endless debates generally found in such circles, discussions of late have placed much importance on history, legitimacy, and succession. In a world plagued by war, some would question as to why people even study martial traditions that appear to be archaic and take a lifetime to master. The new trend seems to take on a philosophy akin to the aspirin age and I'm sure many are asking why is it we don't study modern fighting systems more appropriate for the times we live in? Thankfully, there are still martial artists that treasure these traditions and wish to preserve the integrity of their great histories.
With the advent of the Internet age, readily accessible information is without a doubt presenting an opportunity for even the average practitioner to become much more knowledgeable. With this new era of information, one should think it reasonable to hold people accountable for what is said and or printed. In this vein, I believe that researching history and the pursuit of truth to be paramount.
In a world inundated with illegitimate and self-proclaimed masters, it is sad that even legitimate teachers are forced to defend their claims due to those who attempt to gain recognition through slander and lies. Fortunately, such people are often called out, so to speak, and dismissed by the public after careful research has been conducted. However, it is unfortunate that there are still many who are swayed by those unable to stand on their own merits and slander others in a vain attempt to gain recognition.
My purpose for writing this essay is to address the confusion being created on the Internet regarding mainline Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu and Katsuyuki Kondo Sensei. My concern is that there are certain issues being posed by those who have been led to believe falsehoods or partial truths. Some of these issues have already been discussed in public forums such as the Aikido Journal, but deserve to be revisited due to continued misunderstanding. Other issues addressed are in direct response to misconceptions and questions posed on the Internet of late. I do not claim to be a representative of Kondo Sensei per se, but have been asked by him to address certain issues of confusion.
Mainline Daito-ryu and Succession
The first issue I will address is the assertion that mainline Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu refers to all Daito-ryu presently taught by the living students of Tokimune Takeda Sensei. Although some may make this claim, it is simply not the case. I believe it is understood that the various schools of Daito-ryu will differ slightly in training methodologies. But when discussing succession, I believe the technical and administrative dissemination of the art lays in the hands of those qualified and who can legitimately take on such a task.
The mainline Daito-ryu, in both a legal and official capacity, refers only to the organization under the direction of Katsuyuki Kondo Sensei. Because Katsuyuki Kondo was appointed Soke Dairi and awarded both the Kyoju Dairi and Menkyo Kaiden by Tokimune Takeda Sensei, he has been charged with the responsibility of preserving the mainline tradition as it was passed down from Sokaku Takeda to Tokimune Takeda. I do not make this distinction to place a value judgment on the validity of other schools or teachers, but do so only to indicate the legal representation of the Takeda family traditions under the main line of succession. At this time, Katsuyuki Kondo Sensei serves the art of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu in both its technical and administrative dissemination.
It appears that much of the confusion surrounding the issue of succession stems from the unfortunate fact that Tokimune Takeda Sensei failed to officially appoint a successor. This, along with a multitude of other factors, has created a type of springboard for the opportunist. No less than four family members have come forward and claimed to be the art's next headmaster. In addition to this, confusion has been fostered by an organization located in Abashiri, Japan. This organization, under the direction of Shigemitsu Kato, was established by senior students of Tokimune Takeda Sensei who separated from the mainline Daito-ryu prior to the Headmaster's death. Originally known as the Seishinkai, this organization was renamed in 1994 and is called the Nihon Daito Ryu Aikibudo Daito Kai.
History of Events
To understand the issues at hand, I believe it is essential to provide a brief history of events. Although not all inclusive, the following should allow readers to build a basic understanding of the events leading up to the present-day situation of mainline Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu. Since much about Daito-ryu and Tokimune Takeda Sensei has been made public through various sources, I will begin at the turning point in the art's history.
Tokimune Takeda Sensei's health began to deteriorate in 1989 (soon after the death of his wife) at the age of 73 years old. Due to the Headmaster's failing health he was hospitalized after being declared mentally incompetent by the Abashiri Branch of the Kushiro Family Court (from September 6, 1991). On September 7, 1991, the Takeda family called a meeting in Abashiri. The purpose of this meeting was twofold. First, it was formally announced that Tokimune Takeda Sensei was being hospitalized and undergoing medical treatment. Secondly, the Takeda family announced that the future headmaster of Daito-ryu was to be Mrs. Nobuko Yokoyama, the second daughter of Tokimune Sensei.
The announcement regarding succession made by the Takeda family was posed as an interim position until the grandsons of Tokimune Sensei could feasibly succeed him. It should be noted that Mrs. Nobuko Yokoyama was designated to be the legal representative of Tokimune Takeda Sensei during his hospitalization. She did not actually assume the title of Soke in a formal sense, but acted in the capacity of Tokimune Takeda's legal representative. During this time, Mrs. Nobuko Yokoyama, with the assistance of Katsuyuki Kondo Soke Dairi, represented Tokimune Takeda and the family's interest in the art of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu.
In December of 1991, shortly after the Takeda family declared Mrs. Nobuko Yokoyama the interim headmaster, she instructed Shigemitsu Kato Sensei to stop all instruction of Daito-ryu at the Daitokan dojo due to the absence of Tokimune Sensei. At this point, a group of senior students under the direction of Shigemitsu Kato Sensei (5th dan) officially resigned from the Daitokan dojo en masse. Upon their resignation, these students signed official forms from the Daitokan dojo that indicated their withdrawal from the school. After soliciting students to break off from Tokimune Takeda's organization, Shigemitsu Kato Sensei formed his own organization and later proclaimed himself the Hombucho of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu.
Shortly after the death of Tokimune Takeda Sensei (December 2, 1993), Mrs. Nobuko Yokoyama resigned from her position as interim headmaster of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu. Upon her sister's resignation, the elder daughter of Tokimune Sensei, Mrs. Kyoko Oshima, claimed the position. This appears to be an important point in the history of events, as Mrs. Oshima never acted in the capacity of legal representative for either her father or the martial traditions of the Takeda family. To make matters even more confusing, Mr. Masanobu Oshima, husband to the elder daughter, changed his name to Masanobu Takeda and then unilaterally declared himself the next headmaster of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu.
In September of 1994, the heads of those dojos still remaining with Tokimune Takeda's organization met and formally appointed Katsuyuki Kondo Sensei as the group's leader. Fearing the tradition of Daito-ryu would fall into disarray, this meeting was planned and held with the intention of restoring unity within a badly fractured organization. The decision to appoint Kondo Sensei as Headquarters Hombucho and Somucho occurred naturally as it was quite clear he had been singled out by Tokimune Sensei as Soke Dairi (Official Representative of the Headmaster) in 1988.
Position of the Nihon Daito Ryu Aikibudo Daito Kai
It is the position of this group that Tokimune Takeda Sensei did, in fact, appoint a successor. This point of view is supported by an assertion that Tokimune Sensei left such appointment in a written will he presented while being hospitalized. It is claimed that this will stipulates Tokimune Takeda's wish to have his two grandsons succeed him. Furthermore, it is claimed that Tokimune Sensei wanted his two daughters (Mrs. Nobuko Yokoyama and Mrs. Kyoko Oshima) to preserve the tradition of the Takeda family until one or both of the grandsons could succeed.
The Abashiri group claims that Kato Sensei relinquished his position held at the Daitokan dojo (claimed position of Kancho) to squelch the internal rivalry occurring between Tokimune Sensei's two daughters. Additionally, these senior students deny that they officially resigned from the Daitokan dojo and claim their motivations were noble. They have stated that they adhered to the wishes of the interim Soke, Mrs. Nobuko Yokoyama, and only wrote letters of disagreement in response to her decision to stop the training being conducted at the Daitokan.
The Abashiri group also states that the aforementioned meeting held in September of 1994 was conducted without the approval or authorization of the new (self-proclaimed) headmaster (renamed Masanobu Takeda). This organization claims that Kondo Sensei refused to acknowledge the new headmaster and thus separated from the mainline and formed his own ryuha, the Shinbukan-ha Daito-ryu organization. Moreover, it has been asserted that Kondo Sensei took advantage of a confusing time and registered the name "Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu" (and variations thereof) without the consent of the new headmaster and the Takeda family.
The Abashiri group claims Shigemitsu Kato Sensei legitimately holds the position of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Hombucho. The crux of their argument is the claim that Tokimune Takeda Sensei taught Shigemitsu Kato the entire Daito-ryu curriculum, thus placing him in a superior technical position. It has even been argued that the titles of soke dairi and kyoju dairi (actually a certification, not a title) were not specific to Kondo Sensei alone and actually ended after the passing of the late Headmaster.
Position of the Mainline Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu
Let me point out that, to date, no will has been produced. Consequently, the myth surrounding this mysterious will differs even among the students of the Nihon Daito Ryu Aikibudo Daito Kai. I have read from one student that the will existed in written form and was displayed in court by Kyoko Oshima. It has also been asserted that this will was possibly passed on verbally. It appears that the circular reasoning of this group has even confused its own members as others submit that no legal will exists.
A will is a legal declaration or document and thus requires the consultation and service of an attorney. This so-called will is claimed to have been passed on by Tokimune Takeda, who at the time was hospitalized due to his failing health. As indicated before, Tokimune Takeda Sensei lacked the mental and legal ability to make any such decision. Furthermore, while hospitalized, the legal representative for Tokimune Takeda Sensei was his younger daughter, Nobuko Yokoyama, who to my knowledge has never seen this will. However, Tokimune Sensei did in fact express his wishes of succession verbally to Katsuyuki Kondo Sensei (and possibly to others) on at least one occasion, but the fact remains, no legal will exists.
Kondo Sensei has stated that upon being designated Soke Dairi in May of 1988, he was asked to assume the responsibility of training Tokimune Sensei's two grandsons in order that they may succeed. Kondo Sensei prepared the following statement for Aikido Journal in July of 2000:
I invited the grandson residing in Saitama Prefecture to practice on many occasions. Saitama and Tokyo are very close to each other. I invited him to my house many times to eat and train with my family and students. His reply was," I have already read Tokimune Takeda Sensei's transmission scrolls so I'll be all right". In other words what he meant was that he could do Daito-ryu because he had read the scrolls! (The important points about Daito-ryu are not written in the scrolls. The reason is that even if the scrolls were to be lost or stolen the secrets of the school would not be revealed.) Given the fact that there are hundreds and thousands of students training assiduously, these words brought unstoppable tears to my eyes. I was shocked and could find no further words to say. Even though Tokimune Takeda Sensei had attempted to train him for many years, I understood it was to no avail.
The mother of the grandson living in Abashiri did not want him to get involved in Daito-ryu. Under these circumstances, I had to resign myself to the fact that I could not carry out one of my duties as Soke Dairi and keep my promise to Tokimune Sensei to train a successor.
Kondo Sensei has strongly stated that for the next headmaster of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu to be legitimate, he must be taught under the direction of someone who, at the very least, holds a kyoju dairi certification. I understand this to mean that although many in the Takeda family may have an arguable right to be a figurehead in Daito-ryu, the art would not prosper from such a decision. On a final note regarding the issue of the next Soke, the words of Tokimune Takeda Sensei are resoundingly clear (from letter dated November 10, 1987 Aikido Journal, Sokaku Takeda and Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu:
Regardless of who becomes the new headmaster, anyone unskilled enough to be defeated by his own students would truly be a disgrace for Daito-ryu and such a person cannot be recognized. Consequently, I believe it is necessary to nurture the martial skills of the new headmaster.
The resignation letters signed by the senior students have been made public. These senior students resigned by way of signing official Daitokan dojo forms labeled "Notification of Withdrawal / Resignation." On these forms, there is a checklist indicating the reason for such a decision. Shigemitsu Kato, Gunpachi Arisawa, Matsuo Sano, and others checked the box "other" indicating they resigned for unspecified reasons. The resignation from the Daitokan cannot be denied. It appears this group continues to attempt to salvage its image by claiming they never resigned from the mainline Daito-ryu organization of Tokimune Takeda Sensei, but no reasonable rebuttal has been offered.
Members of the Nihon Daito Ryu Aikibudo Daito Kai continue to confuse public understanding and seem to direct focus from truth. The legitimacy of this group appears to be in their association with the self-proclaimed headmaster, Masanobu Takeda (previously named Masanobu Oshima). Again I wish to point out that this group officially resigned from the Daitokan during Tokimune Sensei's hospitalization, approximately two years prior to the Headmaster's death. Additionally, the association with Masanobu Takeda began after the seniors resigned from the Daitokan. The question one must ask is, if the senior students are in fact representing mainline Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu, why was it necessary for them to form a separate organization?
It has been asserted by the Nihon Daito Ryu Aikibudo Daito Kai that Katsuyuki Kondo Sensei founded his own organization called the Shinbukan-ha Daito-ryu upon being appointed Hombucho and Somucho in September of 1994. It should be noted, the Shinbukan dojo was actually founded in October of 1982 and that the organization under Kondo Sensei's direction is comprised of those students who remained loyal to Tokimune Takeda and mainline Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu.
The issue of registering the Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu trademark has also become a subject of attack. Kondo Sensei prepared the following statement regarding this issue a few years ago:
Tokimune thoroughly examined the possibility of applying for trademark registration. However, it was thought that as a result of the application Tokimune Sensei's illness and Daito-ryu's private information would be revealed to the Kobudo world. For these reasons, the family convinced Tokimune Sensei not to be the one to make the application. Following this, Tokimune Sensei's guardian and next Soke, Yokoyama Nobuko, began making preparations to apply for the trademark rights. Yokoyama Nobuko then held a meeting with her elder sister, who was at the time called Oshima Kyoko, regarding this matter. The meeting, at which the matter was thoroughly investigated, spanned three days. The result was that should there be an infringement on the trademark right, the family would reserve the right to bring forward a lawsuit against the offender.
However, for procedural and financial reasons, and the psychological burden, the Takeda family decided to not apply for the trademark rights. At this point in the process I, as Soke Dairi, intervened and continued the application process for the trademark rights at the Patent Office. I was very concerned about the future of Daito-ryu. Given past events, I felt it was both important and necessary to secure the rights. After much consultation, I eventually secured the trademark rights.
The rights legally awarded to Katsuyuki Kondo Sensei include the trademarks of the names "Daito-ryu," "Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu," and "Daito-ryu Aikibudo." Additionally, Kondo Sensei was awarded the rights to plan, hold events and classes under the trademarked names as well as all rights for magazines, newspapers, and videos. The application for trademark rights was in direct response to certain challenges made within the Takeda family regarding the position of Soke. Tokimune Sensei's younger brother, Munemitsu Takeda of Rubeshibe as well as Minemitsu Takeda, the great-grandson of Sokaku Takeda (Sokaku Takeda's first marriage) of Fukushima Prefecture both vied for the position of Soke and created uncertainty for the future of Daito-ryu. Fearing the future decline of the Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu tradition, Katsuyuki Kondo Sensei acted in a responsible manner, as his position of Soke Dairi would require.
It should also be noted that in July of 1994, Masanobu Takeda registered an appeal with the patent office for the purpose of being able to refer to himself as "Soke." The appeal process continued until October of 1998 at which time, Masanobu Takeda was denied the right to refer to himself as the Soke of Daito-ryu. It is interesting that members of the Nihon Daito Ryu Aikibudo Daito Kai claim Kyoko Oshima presented the will of Tokimune Takeda Sensei in court. If this was the case and such a document was determined to be authentic, then the present situation would be much different, as the court would have denied Katsuyuki Kondo the rights he has been awarded.
Members of the Abashiri group continue to point out that Kondo Sensei's position as Soke Dairi ended at the time of the late Headmaster's death. This has never been disputed, but clearly shows whom Tokimune Takeda Sensei trusted as his direct and official representative (both in Japan and overseas) while he was still alive. Kondo Sensei does not claim, nor has he ever claimed, to be the Headmaster of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu. He adamantly states that the art's hierarchy traditionally does not include the title of headmaster. The titles used by Kondo Sensei are Hombucho and Somucho and are the same titles that were used by Sokaku Takeda Sensei. The title of Soke or Headmaster is separate from the aforementioned titles as it was used by Tokimune Sensei after he created a composite art (Daito-ryu Aikibudo) by combining Daito-ryu, Ono-ha Itto-ryu, aiki kenpo, and Nihon Kendo kata. Historically speaking, the adoption of the title Soke and the system of Daito-ryu Aikibudo occurred post-World War II. No one in the Takeda family before him used such a title.[continued below]