Description

Japanese Daitō-ryū aikijūjutsu master and representative instructor (kyōju dairi) under founder Takeda Sōkaku. He introduced Morihei Ueshiba, founder of aikidō, to Takeda in 1915. After World War II he taught Daitō-ryū in Tokyo, training students including Masutatsu Oyama, Richard Kim, and Choi Yong-sul.

Teachers (1)

• 
  Takeda Sōkaku

  linkDaitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu 3

  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

  (1915)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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)linkinfo

  "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 Journallinkinfo

  "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 linkinfo

Students (2)

• 
  Richard Kim

  linkDaitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu 3

  Confirmed

  Wikipedia, the Zen Bei Butoku Kai biography, and the Kokusai Butokukai timeline all identify Kotaro Yoshida as Richard Kim's principal teacher in Daito-ryu, who granted him the menkyo kaiden

  (1939)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  fact_check

  Wikipedia, the Zen Bei Butoku Kai biography, and the Kokusai Butokukai timeline all identify Kotaro Yoshida as Richard Kim's principal teacher in Daito-ryu, who granted him the menkyo kaiden

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "In 1939, in addition to continuing to train under Sawai, Kim began studying Daito-ryu aikijujutsu, and Japanese and Okinawan weaponry under Kotaro Yoshida, who he came to regard as his primary Sensei."

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Richard Kim (karate) - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

  "Richard Kim continued his martial arts training while in Japan with Yoshida Kotaro, this time in daito ryu."

  — Zen Bei Butoku Kai. O'Sensei Richard Kim - Zen Bei Butoku Kailinkinfo

  "1945 Richard Kim started studying Daito Ryu and Kobudo under his principal teacher Yoshida Kotaro. From Kotaro he received the award Menkyo Kaiden."

  — Kokusai Butokukai. Richard Kim, Hanshi, 10. Dan - Kokusai Butokukai linkinfo
• 
  Mas Oyama

  linkDaitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu 3balance

  Confirmed - conflicting evidence recorded

  Oyama called Yoshida 'the greatest of all my teachers' in 'This is Karate' (1965), and the relationship is confirmed by Yoshida's student registry and Kondo Katsuyuki's testimony (Gottner 2025). The training dates are contested between sources; the relationship itself is not.

  (1943-1945) balance (1954-1966)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  4 sources

  fact_check

  Oyama called Yoshida 'the greatest of all my teachers' in 'This is Karate' (1965), and the relationship is confirmed by Yoshida's student registry and Kondo Katsuyuki's testimony (Gottner 2025). The training dates are contested between sources; the relationship itself is not.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "C'est Richard Kim qui présente Mas Oyama à Kotaro Yoshida en 1943. Bien que la relation entre les deux hommes ait été relativement courte (deux ans), elle n'en sera pas moins intense."

  — Ashura (Overblog). (2013). Kotaro Yoshida, Mas Oyama et Daito-Ryulinkinfo

  blockdisputes

  "Nevertheless, there is no evidence of the connection between Ōyama and Tokimune, nor Yoshida during the war—and in the absence of circumstantial evidence, most likely it never occurred."

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

  "While Tokimune sensei used the name Aikibudo when generally referring to the art, the name Aikijujutsu would always be used for densho and later koryu demonstrations held by national organizations. Most importantly, it suggests that Oyama probably practiced between 1954 and 1966."

  — Trudel, Marc. (2025). The Next Generation: Yoshida Kotaro, Mas Oyama, and cultural influenceslinkinfo

  blockdisputes

  "C'est Richard Kim qui présente Mas Oyama à Kotaro Yoshida en 1943."

  — Ashura (Overblog). (2013). Kotaro Yoshida, Mas Oyama et Daito-Ryulinkinfo

Honors (1)

• receipt_longKyōju Dairi (representative instructor) 3

  Confirmed

  Aikido Journal and the Gottner 2025 article both confirm Yoshida received the kyoju dairi representative instructor title from Takeda Sokaku

  Title

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Aikido Journal and the Gottner 2025 article both confirm Yoshida received the kyoju dairi representative instructor title from Takeda Sokaku

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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 linkinfo

  "He later received the KYOJU DAIRI certification from Takeda and was one of those who accompanied him as an assistant instructor."

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

Sources