Also known as

Description

Japanese kendo and iaido master (9th dan Hanshi in both) and aikidoka, one of Japan's top swordsmen and the top kendo student of Nakayama Hakudo. Entering the Yushinkan in 1930, he became Ueshiba's adopted son in 1932 through his marriage to Matsuko Ueshiba, taking the name Morihiro Ueshiba and training at the Kobukan; he left the Ueshiba family in 1937 over Oomoto-kyo differences. After the war he returned to Kagoshima, overcame a 1951 leg injury by developing the left jodan stance, won nine straight at the East-West Kendo Tournament, and taught kendo in Europe from 1969, helping found the European Kendo Federation. Georges Stobbaerts was his uchi-deshi in kendo and iaido.

Teachers (2)

• 
  Nakayama Hakudō

  linkKendo 3

  Confirmed

  Nakakura entered the Yushinkan of Hakudo Nakayama in 1930 and was his top kendo student, documented by the English Wikipedia, the ABKF biography and his own Aikido Journal interview; the kenshi247 article records that Yushinkan students like Nakakura learned only Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido and Kendo.

  (1930)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  fact_check

  Nakakura entered the Yushinkan of Hakudo Nakayama in 1930 and was his top kendo student, documented by the English Wikipedia, the ABKF biography and his own Aikido Journal interview; the kenshi247 article records that Yushinkan students like Nakakura learned only Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido and Kendo.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Nakakura was originally the top kendo student of Nakayama Hakudō."

  — Kiyoshi Nakakura - Wikipedia EN. Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

  "1930-May - Entranced into the Yushinnkan of Hakudo Nakayama sensei"

  — Nakakura sensei - All Belgium Kendo Federation linkinfo

  "Students of the Yushinkan (under Hakudo) were selected to learn specific styles ... Nakakura Kiyoshi ... learned only Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido and Kendo."

  — Jeff Karinya. (2011). A Lineage all but Forgotten - The Yushinkan (Nakayama Hakudo)linkinfo

  linkMuso Shinden Ryu 3

  Confirmed

  The kenshi247 article states that Yushinkan students such as Nakakura Kiyoshi learned only Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido and Kendo under Hakudo; his iaido grades are in this school.

  (1930)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  The kenshi247 article states that Yushinkan students such as Nakakura Kiyoshi learned only Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido and Kendo under Hakudo; his iaido grades are in this school.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Nakakura Kiyoshi, Danzaki Tomoaki and Nakajima Gozoro learned only Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido and Kendo."

  — Jeff Karinya. (2011). A Lineage all but Forgotten - The Yushinkan (Nakayama Hakudo)linkinfo
• 
  Ueshiba Morihei

  linkAikidō 3

  Confirmed

  Nakakura married Ueshiba's daughter Matsuko in 1932, was adopted into the Ueshiba family as Morihiro Ueshiba, and lived and trained at the Kobukan until leaving the family in 1937; documented in both the Aikido Journal interviews and the Wikipedia articles.

  Uchi deshi sports_kabaddiKobukan dojo badge (1932-1937)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  fact_check

  Nakakura married Ueshiba's daughter Matsuko in 1932, was adopted into the Ueshiba family as Morihiro Ueshiba, and lived and trained at the Kobukan until leaving the family in 1937; documented in both the Aikido Journal interviews and the Wikipedia articles.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "I married the daughter of Ueshiba Sensei in 1932. ... Therefore, when I was in the Kobukan I was known as Morihiro Ueshiba. ... It was just before I left the Kobukan. I departed in 1937."

  — Hideo Yamanaka; Stanley Pranin. (2015). Interview with Swordmaster Kiyoshi Nakakura, Part 1 (Aikido Journal). Aikido Journal linkinfo

  "Nakakura married Ueshiba's daughter Matsuko and was legally adopted into the Ueshiba family, taking the name Morihiro Ueshiba."

  — Kiyoshi Nakakura - Wikipedia EN. Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

  "同年10月、剣道を続けてもよいとの条件で清は植芝の婿養子となった。植芝と中山の名前から一字ずつ貰い、「植芝盛博」と名乗った。"

  — 中倉清 - 日本語版ウィキペディア. Wikipedia (Japanese) linkinfo

Ranks (3)

• linkKendo

  military_tech8 dan3

  Confirmed

  8th dan in kendo in 1959, per the ABKF biography.

  Dan-Kyu System (1959)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  8th dan in kendo in 1959, per the ABKF biography.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "1959 - Kendo 8th dan"

  — Nakakura sensei - All Belgium Kendo Federation linkinfo

  military_tech9 dan 3

  Confirmed

  9th dan in kendo in 1978, per the ABKF biography; corroborated by the interview series title describing him as 9th dan hanshi in both Kendo and Iaido.

  Dan-Kyu System (1978)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  9th dan in kendo in 1978, per the ABKF biography; corroborated by the interview series title describing him as 9th dan hanshi in both Kendo and Iaido.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "1978 - Kendo 9th dan"

  — Nakakura sensei - All Belgium Kendo Federation linkinfo
• linkMuso Shinden Ryu

  military_tech9 dan 3

  Confirmed

  9th dan in iaido (Muso Shinden Ryu) in 1983, per the ABKF biography.

  Dan-Kyu System (1983)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  9th dan in iaido (Muso Shinden Ryu) in 1983, per the ABKF biography.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "1983 - Iaido 9th dan"

  — Nakakura sensei - All Belgium Kendo Federation linkinfo

Students (2)

• Cl
  Claude Durix

  linkMuso Shinden Ryu 3

  Confirmed

  Durix himself, in Le Sabre et la Vie, states he was introduced to iaido by his sensei Kiyoshi Nakakura (9th dan, disciple of Nakayama Hakudo), who brought him to practice at the dojo of Morihiro Okada.

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Durix himself, in Le Sabre et la Vie, states he was introduced to iaido by his sensei Kiyoshi Nakakura (9th dan, disciple of Nakayama Hakudo), who brought him to practice at the dojo of Morihiro Okada.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Introduit par son Sensei, Nakakura Kiyoshi, 9e dan, disciple de Nakayama Hakudo Sensei, C. Durix est amené à pratiquer au Dojo de Morihiro Okada Sensei (disciple de Nakayama Hakudo Sensei également) qui enseignait alors à plusieurs français."

  — Claude Durix. (1985). Le Sabre et la Vie (Claude Durix)linkinfo
• 
  Georges Stobbaerts

  linkMuso Shinden Ryu 3

  Confirmed

  The same interview states Stobbaerts was uchi-deshi of Nakakura in the disciplines of kendo and iaido; Nakakura's iaido was Muso Shinden Ryu, the style he taught at the Yushinkan.

  Uchi deshi (1970)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  The same interview states Stobbaerts was uchi-deshi of Nakakura in the disciplines of kendo and iaido; Nakakura's iaido was Muso Shinden Ryu, the style he taught at the Yushinkan.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Fui também uchideshi de Kiyoshi Nakakura Sensei, nas disciplinas de Kendo e Iaido."

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2000). Entrevista ao Professor Georges Stobbaerts (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistoryinfo

  linkKendo 3

  Confirmed

  Stobbaerts states in his 2001 interview that he was uchi-deshi of Kiyoshi Nakakura in kendo and iaido, living in the same house as him; a 1970 World Kendo Championships photograph is captioned with Nakakura as his master.

  Uchi deshi (1970)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Stobbaerts states in his 2001 interview that he was uchi-deshi of Kiyoshi Nakakura in kendo and iaido, living in the same house as him; a 1970 World Kendo Championships photograph is captioned with Nakakura as his master.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Fui também uchideshi de Kiyoshi Nakakura Sensei, nas disciplinas de Kendo e Iaido. Era um Hanshi, 9º Dan de Kendo e de Iaido que se casou com Matsuko, filha do Mestre Morihei Ueshiba... Foi nessa altura que eu pratiquei com ele, pois segui Nakakura Sensei durante algum tempo."

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2000). Entrevista ao Professor Georges Stobbaerts (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistoryinfo

Honors (5)

• descriptionNihon Budō Shōgi Kai Budō Kōrōsha 2

  Probable

  The Japanese Wikipedia infobox lists the Nihon Budo Shogi Kai Budo Korosha (martial arts merit) award; the award year is not stated.

  Other

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  The Japanese Wikipedia infobox lists the Nihon Budo Shogi Kai Budo Korosha (martial arts merit) award; the award year is not stated.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "日本武道協議会武道功労者表彰"

  — 中倉清 - 日本語版ウィキペディア. Wikipedia (Japanese) linkinfo
• descriptionBronze statue at Higashikushira (Kensei Nakakura Kiyoshi) 3

  Confirmed

  A bronze statue of Nakakura was erected in his home village of Higashikushira in 1981, per the Japanese Wikipedia.

  Other (1981)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  A bronze statue of Nakakura was erected in his home village of Higashikushira in 1981, per the Japanese Wikipedia.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "1981年（昭和56年）、郷里東串良町に清の銅像が建立される。"

  — 中倉清 - 日本語版ウィキペディア. Wikipedia (Japanese) linkinfo
• receipt_longHanshiHanshi 3

  Confirmed

  Hanshi title in kendo in 1962, per the ABKF biography.

  Title (1962)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Hanshi title in kendo in 1962, per the ABKF biography.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "1962 - Kendo Hanshi"

  — Nakakura sensei - All Belgium Kendo Federation linkinfo
• receipt_longHanshiHanshi 3

  Confirmed

  Hanshi title in iaido (Muso Shinden Ryu) in 1978, per the ABKF biography.

  Title (1978)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Hanshi title in iaido (Muso Shinden Ryu) in 1978, per the ABKF biography.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "1978 - Iaido Hanshi"

  — Nakakura sensei - All Belgium Kendo Federation linkinfo
• receipt_longKyoshiKyoshi 3

  Confirmed

  Kyoshi title in kendo in 1939, per the ABKF biography; also the youngest ever at 29 per the Japanese Wikipedia.

  Title (1939)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Kyoshi title in kendo in 1939, per the ABKF biography; also the youngest ever at 29 per the Japanese Wikipedia.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "1939 - Kendo Kyoshi"

  — Nakakura sensei - All Belgium Kendo Federation linkinfo

Sources