Description

Japanese martial artist who specialized in aikido and judo, founder of Shodokan Aikido (competitive aikido).

Teachers (2)

• 
  Kanō Jigorō

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Independent sources state it.

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

  location_onKodokan badge (1910)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Independent sources state it.

  “Circa 1910, Tomiki began practising at the Kodokan, under Judo founder Jigoro Kano.”

  — Kenji Tomiki - Wikipedialink

  “Kenji Tomiki (1900–1979) was a student of both judo (under Kano) and aikido (under Ueshiba).”

  — Stevens, John. (2013). The Way of Judo: A Portrait of Jigoro Kano and His Studentsinfo
• 
  Ueshiba Morihei

  sports_martial_artsAikidō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Independent sources state it, including Mochizuki's first-hand account.

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

  (1926)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Independent sources state it, including Mochizuki's first-hand account.

  “In early 1926, he encountered the founder of aikido Morihei Ueshiba. [...] Tomiki introduced himself and became one [sic] Ueshiba's early students.”

  — Kenji Tomiki - Wikipedialink

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Je ne pense pas qu'une autre personne au monde ait reçu du Maître ce genre de certificat. Tomiki Sensei avait reçu son manuscrit un peu avant moi.”

  — Garnier Sinclair, Eric. (2005). Minoru Mochizuki, le dernier des géants - entretien en deux parties info

Ranks (2)

• sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō

  military_tech8 dan Probable

  Probable

  Kodokan awarded Tomiki with the 8th Dan blackbelt in 1971.

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

  Dan-Kyu System (1971)

  granted by Kodokan

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Kodokan awarded Tomiki with the 8th Dan blackbelt in 1971.

  “In 1971, Kodokan awarded Tomiki with the 8th Dan blackbelt.”

  — Kenji Tomiki - Wikipedialink
• sports_martial_artsAikidō

  military_tech8 dan Probable

  Probable

  In 1940, he was the first 8th dan black belt to be awarded by Morihei Ueshiba in Aikido history.

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

  Dan-Kyu System (1940)

  granted by Ueshiba Morihei

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  In 1940, he was the first 8th dan black belt to be awarded by Morihei Ueshiba in Aikido history.

  “In 1940, he was the first 8th dan black belt to be awarded by Morihei Ueshiba in Aikido history.”

  — Kenji Tomiki - Wikipedialink

Students (2)

• 
  Shizuya Satō

  sports_martial_artsAikidō Probable

  Probable

  INJA's own biography of its founder states Sato instructed aikido 'under' Tomiki Kenji at the SAC program at Kodokan; no independent corroboration of this specific relationship was found (Tomiki's own Wikipedia article does not mention Sato or the SAC program)

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

  history_eduTradition only

  Tradition only: every supporting source is the lineage's own account of itself

  location_onKodokan badge (1952–1956)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  INJA's own biography of its founder states Sato instructed aikido 'under' Tomiki Kenji at the SAC program at Kodokan; no independent corroboration of this specific relationship was found (Tomiki's own Wikipedia article does not mention Sato or the SAC program)

  “Sato-sensei, who instructed both aikido (under head aikido instructor Dr. Tomiki Kenji)”

  — Sato Shizuya - International Nihon Jujutsu Associationlink history info
• person
  Tsunako Miyake

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Mentioned in interview extracts discussing meeting Tomiki sensei at the Kodokan and the importance of training both judo and aikido together

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

  location_onKodokan badge

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Mentioned in interview extracts discussing meeting Tomiki sensei at the Kodokan and the importance of training both judo and aikido together

  “Then, I met Tomiki sensei at the Kodokan [...] Now that he is gone, I think that it is very important for us to understand his idea, that to improve judo we must train in judo and aikido together.”

  — MIYAKE Sensei, Extracts from an Interview by R.J.Lawrance, The E.A.A. Newsletter, Issue 90.2 (in: Study Group Tomiki Aikido - The simplification of Ueshiba's Aikido)link

  sports_martial_artsAikidō Probable

  Probable

  Explicitly mentioned as one of Tomiki Sensei's three top students in Aikido Journal interview with Hiroaki Kogure Sensei

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

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Explicitly mentioned as one of Tomiki Sensei's three top students in Aikido Journal interview with Hiroaki Kogure Sensei

  “Tomiki Sensei had three top students. they were Hideo Oba, Senta Yamada, and Tsunako Miyake Sensei.”

  — Interview with Hiroaki Kogure Sensei, part 2 (interview by Josh Gold, 2004, Aikido Journal)link

Honours (1)

• receipt_longFounder of Shodokan Aikido Probable

  Probable

  Founded his own Aikido system called Tomiki-Ryu/Shodokan Aikido, which he taught from 1960.

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

  Title (1958)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Founded his own Aikido system called Tomiki-Ryu/Shodokan Aikido, which he taught from 1960.

  “He is the founder of Japan Aikido Association and the competitive aikido (aikido kyogi) style.”

  — Kenji Tomiki - Wikipedialink

Sources

Identifiers