Takeda Sōkaku · Lineage tree

Also known as

源正義 · 竹田惣角

Description

Japanese martial artist, founder of Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu

Students (3)

• person
  Choi Yong-sul

  sports_martial_artsDaitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu Possiblebalance

  Possible – conflicting evidence recorded

  Choi's own account, reported as tradition; no document supports it.

  Some evidence points to the claim, but it is thin, indirect, or in unresolved conflict with other evidence.

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Choi's own account, reported as tradition; no document supports it.

  “According to tradition, Choi was taken to Japan from Korea at the age of eight. There, he was abandoned, but subsequently taken into the household of Takeda Sokaku (1859–1943), teacher of Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu. Choi reported that he remained in Takeda’s employ for some 30 years before being repatriated to Korea at the end of World War II.”

  — Green, Thomas A.; Svinth, Joseph R.. (2010). Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation info

  blockdisputes search_offNegative

  “To date, no documentation has been found to support Choi’s statements regarding either his residence with the Takeda family or his instruction in the art of Daito-ryu.”

  — Green, Thomas A.; Svinth, Joseph R.. (2010). Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation info
• 
  Ueshiba Morihei

  sports_martial_artsDaitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Independent sources state it, including Ueshiba's own interview.

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  (1915–1922)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Independent sources state it, including Ueshiba's own interview.

  “The young Ueshiba met Takeda Sōkaku, the founder of Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu, at the Hisada Inn in Engaru, in March 1915 [...] He received a kyōju dairi certificate, a teaching license, for the system from Takeda in 1922, when Takeda visited him in Ayabe.”

  — Morihei Ueshiba - Wikipedialink history

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “while staying at Hisada Inn in Engaru, Kitami Province, I met a certain Sokaku Takeda Sensei of the Aizu clan. He taught Daito-ryu jujutsu. During the 30 days in which I leamed [sic] from him I felt something like an inspiration. Later, I invited this teacher to my home and together with 15 or 16 of my employees became a student seeking the essence of budo.”

  — Interview with Morihei Ueshiba and Kisshomaru Ueshiba (Aikido Journal)link
• 
  Kōtarō Yoshida

  sports_martial_artsDaitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Multiple sources confirm Yoshida began studying Daito-ryu under founder Takeda Sokaku in Hokkaido in 1915 and received the kyoju dairi representative instructor title

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  (1915)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Multiple sources confirm Yoshida began studying Daito-ryu under founder Takeda Sokaku in Hokkaido in 1915 and received the kyoju dairi representative instructor title

  “In 1915, Yoshida apprenticed himself to Takeda Sōkaku, head of the Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu school”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Kōtarō Yoshida (martial artist) - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)link history info

  “He began his study of DAITO-RYU JUJUTSU under Sokaku TAKEDA in 1915.”

  — Gold, Josh. (2011). Kotaro Yoshida 吉田幸太郎 - Aikido Journal Encyclopedia. Aikido Journallink history info

  “Yoshida started training in Daitō-ryū aikijūjutsu in the early 1910s under the founder Takeda Sōkaku in Hokkaidō, and eventually he was awarded the kyōju dairi (representative instructor) title by Takeda”

  — Gottner, Richárd Gábor. (2025). The Self-Defence Scroll of Kyokushinkai Karate: Analysing the Mokuroku Ōyama Masutatsu Received from Daitō-ryū Aikijūjutsu Master Yoshida Kōtarō link history info

Honours (1)

• receipt_longSoke Probable

  Probable

  Founder and headmaster of Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu, stated in JA and EN Wikipedia; Wikipedia only

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Title

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Founder and headmaster of Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu, stated in JA and EN Wikipedia; Wikipedia only

  “武田 惣角（たけだ そうかく、安政6年10月10日（1859年11月4日） - 昭和18年（1943年）4月25日）は、日本の武術家。武号は源正義。大東流合気柔術の実質的な創始者。”

  — 武田惣角 - Wikipedialink history

  “Takeda Sōkaku (武田 惣角; October 10, 1859 – April 25, 1943) was known as the founder of a school of jujutsu known as Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu.”

  — Takeda Sōkaku - Wikipedialink history

Sources

Identifiers